Dear Neil,
In reply to your post dated 13 Feb 2011 on Eye On Spain I too agree that the costs your community pays in respect of garden and pool cleaning services are very much indeed rather excessive.
In fact, I am hearing that the majority of communities in Spain suffer from the same scenario and for that reason I have began to research ways to reduce such costs.
Currently I am a supervisor of the garden and maintenance team at a very large community and I know from first hand experience what the difference is between what me and my staff receive in salary payments in comparison to what is being charged, which unfortunately does not fall into our favor. However, the company that I currently work for, does provide a more complete service to that of the previous garden maintenance company and for a lot less money.
As for the community, working on my own initiative, I had inspected and produced photographic reports complete with plans detailing the irrigation, lighting system and other areas of concern. I also initiated the community to carry out a complete overhaul of the irrigation circuit and when doing so I uncovered 33 major water leaks which had been unnecessary leaking into the soil 24/7 for quite a few years.
I also found that the street and garden lighting system still had old style bulbs in use which modern technology has long since proved that these are extremely high in energy consumption and now gradually part by part these are being replaced for new energy saving style bulbs.
For these reasons above and for your extreme cost evaluation, this is why I am in the process of setting up a new venture called Independent Community Surveys (ICS for short).
I have used “Independence” as it is a statement that my company will be free from any administrator influences as it works direct to the community of owners via the president of the community.
Please if you feel that my services could be of benefit to your community then please pass on this email to your residing president. I can also send you a sample of the plans which I made for community which would be similar to what I could do for you.
Cost reduction as well as value for money are very important factors of the lives we lead today not forgetting the most important concern of vital resource waste management.
I hope this information helps.
ICS Spain