Buying through Atlas

I also entered the following in  Buying Direct on the main forum, but I am putting it here as it refers to phase 3 of Luz de Almoradi.

Be careful if buying direct from builders/developers.

Myself, husband and another couple had arranged to buy direct and had sorted out a low deposit with the builder and mortgage and the 10 percent costs were to be added onto the mortgage at the end.  One week before we were due to fly out to meet with them, Atlas had left a message on my answering machine saying that they were taking over the flights and they would be meeting us instead and that the builders had been 'naughty'..The builders have their own website and are still selling themselves.
Anyway we were told by the builders (onthe one phone call that they would return and speak to us, any thereafter have been ignored) that all deals, deposits etc would remain exactly the same as if we were still going with them but that it was better we went with Atlas.
Now we've been out at the weekend, told that Atlas would do everything apart from the mortgage which the builder would still do, came home and got a call yesterday, mortgage will be fine but now Atlas are doing it and cannot add on the costs which they say will not be 10 percent but 14 PERCENT.  They are giving a 3000 euro cashback but this doesn't even cover the extra 4 percent they will be charging! and it means myself and my friend if going ahead with purchase have one year to find an extra 14,000 approximately euros, which we just can't do.  We had paperwork which we've faxed off to Atlas this morning stating the deposits and that the costs would be added on, so unless they can do something about that we've lost our dream holiday home which took us 6 month to sort out, I think all Atlas are thinking about is they'll get 2 fat fees from the developers if they sell to us.
Watch this space and I'll let you all know what happens, but beware of offers like Atlas's - the extra euros cashback do not cover their inflated costs.

Hi Leeabby,

Sorry to hear you are having so much trouble with your purchase.We bought  in April and completed in july after attending a "Road Show" for properties in Spain through Amba Sun at Cabo Roig on the N332 near La Zenia. We have had no problems as they accompanied us to the relevant people,   they dealt with everything from Solicitor, Notaria to Mortgage our N.I.E cards and our Spanish Bank Accounts. They also have an after sales service for 12 months after purchase. They made weekly phone calls to us in the U.K making sure we were ok and we had no problems thus far.We have just been back to Spain for a week and visited our bank to discover that one of the transactions on our statement was infact a refund from the solicitor as one of our fees were less than expected.Hope all goes well with you as it will be worth it in the end!!! We love it.

Best Regards

Bill & Carol

Hi Bill45rabbit,

Where have you bought and what phase??

Hi Tricia, thanks.

Have just sent you an e-mail.

Sharon

Hi Leeabby,

Thanks for getting back to us, we have bought a 2 bed apt in Luz De Almoradi which is the yellow block at the top of Callor Mayor Road? not sure what phase it is.

Carol

Hi bill45rabbit,

You must be in phase 1&2 if your property is already built.  I am buying in phase 3 which will be across the road from the exit in your building(the large flat square of land with fencing around it).

It is going to be different from yours in that the pool and jacuzzi will be on the rooftop.

Have got our own lawyer sorted out now and paid reservation fee so just awaiting lawyer checking everything out before balance of deposit is paid.  I'm hoping that it will be a bit more starightforward from here, but this is probably just the beginning!!!

My friend and her husband have also purchased in phase 3 so we have been told it will be ready January 2008 but know that this date will probably overrun by a few months.

I also read about bother with cigarette ands etc around the pool, surely people who smoke can take an ashtray down with them, you don't want the odd person spoiling it for everybody, or get a 'no smoking ban' around the pool enforced by your committee???

Sharon & David

Hi Sharon & David, Nice to hear from you we have been watching avidly for responses. Your block next to ours has not started yet!! We were talking to Michelle the Sales Negotiator for Vegaelx "the builder" she reckons they are waiting on digging equipment to be delivered to start excavations. We are non smokers and agree that people who do smoke should be more considerate of those who dont. I had the occassion to ask a long term tenant to remove his dog from the pool area just last week when we were out, total disrespect as there is a sign up of do's and dont's. I wish i could be there more often as i would apply to be part of the committee to protect our investment. Keep in touch.

Carol & Bill