28 Jun 2008 8:31 AM:
Hi Keighty,
There is demand for sat TV installation depending on where you go of course (ie Galicia = not many Brits, low demand - Costa Del Sol = loads of Brits, high demand) the thing is there are hundreds of people already doing it. It's probably the most popular business after being a builder or an estate agent. Another problem you'll have now of course is that the number of new arrivals (your potential customers) is dropping because of the economic situation. I wouldn't count on it unless it's part of a whole raft of other services you plan on offering.
Thread: sky tv in spain.
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20 Jun 2008 5:32 PM:
Hi Alb,
There was another thread on this subject about a couple who had their place demolished in January. I can't find it now - maybe it's been deleted. Anyhow I posted a reply which I didn't get much response to but I'll try again as this is a newer thread. I find it unbelievable this is happening in a European country and think it's something that every foreign national that has property in Spain should get together on and try and do something about. The web is a very powerful resource and if enough pr is generated then this country might stop acting like some tin pot African dictatorship and realise what they're doing will worsen what is already a very serious property crash.
One of the ideas I mentioned were somehow getting an email together (preferably written by a Spanish abagado - there must be a few that read posts here?) that individiuals could send to the Ministry of Housing. One email means nothing, but 1000's might get someone thinking? A link to the letter and a relevant email address could be placed on sites like this, mine and all the other people that have web sites and post here? The same approach could apply to the Spanish and British Media.
It would take some co-ordinating but I am willing to help as much as I can if others are interested.
Greg
Thread: Demolished villa in Catral
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18 Jun 2008 9:17 AM:
Hi,
We had a child out here so I know it's not the same but we have known people who've come over with older kids and it is much harder for them. I would say no problem at all for the 9 year old - but a 14 year old girl who loves her school, has lots of friends and is doing well may be a different matter. Then again people have to move all the time for various reasons so it is just part of life now. You may also find being on the Costa del Sol in an international school may not be much of a culture shock - just hotter. You don't mention what your kids think about it? If they're excited and positive about it now then that's half the battle - if they (particularly the 14 year old) aren't keen they may resent it from the beginning and resent you for doing it to them.
You say you have to make a decision in 10 days but it's a huge thing to decide. Is there any way you can hedge your bets for the summer? ie, delay buying the business, keep the girls in the UK schools and enrol in the Spanish ones, rent the house short term and give it 2 or 3 months trial? The last thing you want to do is jump in then feel you've made the wrong decision and can't go back on it.
I hope this is some help,
Greg
Thread: Should we /should'nt we
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18 Jun 2008 8:50 AM:
...just thought I'd stick my oar in on this one. Lots of people seem to think Spain is just about Andalucia and Comunidad Valenciana. I've lived in Seville, Granada and near the coast in Andalucia and what I really missed more than anything else? Trees! I now live in Catalunya - there's pine forests everywhere and they go right down to the coast - there's nothing like sitting on a beach under a pine tree. For me it's easily the most beautiful community on Spain's Mediterranean coast and can only be rivalled by Pais Vasco, Galicia and Cantabria on the Atlantic coast (but those were too wet for us). It has a very unique identity and culture (Catalan not Spanish) and also has the best city in Spain, if not Europe, as its capital - Barcelona. You've also got Girona and Tarragona which are beautiful, the Pyrenees and the Balearic Islands a few hours away. What more could you want?
Greg
GoCatalunya
Thread: Where in Spain?
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17 Jun 2008 7:39 AM:
Hi Isma,
As the previous post says if you have an EU passport you're entitled to work anywhere within the EU, but I'm guessing you're from California? Being an EU resident I'm not sure of the procedure for getting a work permit however I would say that the work situation is getting harder all the time and foreign nationals, especially those without fluent Spanish will be at the bottom of the heap. There was also a story in El Pais yesterday that the Spanish government plans to offer any legal immigrant who has been made unemployed a lump sum payment to return to their country providing they give up residency and their work permits and do not come back to Spain for at least 3 years. This will give you some idea on how confident the government is about the state of the economy.
All the best,
Greg
GoCatalunya
Thread: working permits...
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