07 Jul 2008 10:35 PM:

Hi 

I used to visit this site a lot but now only occaisionally as We have been in occupation since July 2006.

I am President of R5b2/3 phase VI. We are only 27 properties in total.

The Presidents do try and meet from time to time but it is difficult for some of us who are not out there permanently. But we do exchange a lot of information between us especially ref Quara and ongoing snagging problems that we all encounter.

We have just had our second AGM and one of the main tasks was to sack the original administrators that Quara initially set us up with in April 2007. 4 communities have now sacked them!

I could write a book on what we have experienced over the last few years. We are still happy with our purchase as it was lifestyle as opposed to investment and the views are fabulous and the course good.

If as a President you want to talk to someone please do contact me via the direct email links.

Philip Sagar

We are out every 6 to 8 weeks and are next ther on the 17th July for 5 days.

Community thread: Solicitor/Lawyer fees on conveyancing matters

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22 Jul 2007 11:49 AM:

If you go back to the postings of September to December last year you will see that quite a few of us have had refunds (thank God).

It is all down to how effective your lawyer is and it does help if they had got the paperwork for the bank guarantee, in which case you will get a refunfd plus interests (this % does vary on the rate quoted in your guarantee as their were some stating 6%).

Because we wanted the money back asap and put this mess behind us our lawyer did a deal and got us refund plus 4% although we had been promised 6% this was because she had trused the administrator to honour his first offer, then the administrator spotted the mistake and back tracked. If my original lawyer (same practice)had got the guarantee as promised back in 2005 it would have been 6%. The young female lawyer who was given about 11 clients to help did an excellent job for all her clients because she literally hounded the administrator and he responded with action. They  (Spanish Lawyers and so called estate agents) have had it too easy for too long and now they have to work for their clients - some clearly do not know how or cannot be bothered!!

We are still enoying our place at La Finca Golf in Algorfa, 15 mins from Guadamar Del Segura, south of Alicante near the border with Murcia- a diffrent experience completly and can recommend to anyone but it helps to have the experience and know who, when were and how much!!!

Good luck to all.

Philip

Community thread: Has anyone got any ADVICE, please???

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02 Apr 2007 3:27 PM:

I have it on good authority that the developer never actually paid for the car. It was part of the securitas deal to get the contract to first fix the properties!!

They were talking about a second car and a manned entrance gate. I think securitas realised that they had probably gone past thier agreed offer date late in the day!!

Never forget that the car also prtoects the various builders materials as well as the developers offices, restaurant and the Golf course.

This is just a penny pinching exercise by a developer who seems to be running out of sales. But as said elswher very shortsighted as word does spread and whilst you want to be positive about what is a great development you sometimes wonder if they are not intent on shooting themslves in the foot!

Still a fantastic place but could be so much better with a little attention to detail and some marketing!!!!!

Philip

Community thread: new home urgently required for 2 small dogs

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30 Jan 2007 4:14 PM:

Hi , As it seems the same issues are being raised I am reposting an earlier comment  (updated) that I posted prior to the rejig of this site for the benefit (if anyone thinks it a benefit?) of others late to this site.

We are on on R5 b/2 . Security is an issue on all developments in Spain. You get 9 months free Alarm cover on La Finca but have to pay for additional sensors over the 1 set of contactors and 2 Pir'S already fitted. The alarm company currently appear to have one patrol during the day and now 2 patrols at night.(the additional one paid by the developer) The female security ladies are the best!

The thieves know what they are after having watched people moving in whilst working on the site! Plasma TV's, jewellery, passports, cameras, mobile phones credit cards etc, Anything quickly extracted before the alarm brings the patrol. They obvoiusly watch were the patrol is and then act. I am afraid the properties near to the ew algorfa road seem to have been hit the worst of late. All you can do is take sensible precautions such as a bolted down safe for small items, passports etc. Bolts through sliding patio windows and shutter clips to make them more difficult to force up from the outside (the shutters are not secure in themselves and can be cut and/or forced) .As prevoiusly posted we have had the dreaded grills fitted to the patio doors. A word of caution again. There are now numerous companies offering grills. Some are very ugly (the prison look)and expensive and others just totally ruin the effect of the building. We took some time comparing and in the end chose a company who took some care to blend in with the railings (see posting below) although even then they have had to correct a coupe of things.. They were not the dearest or cheapest!

 There is a danger of overreacting also in that it appears the thefts are targeted at those households who have the most to steal, ie those living out there on a permanent basis and the opportunist sneak thieves who in the season pretend to be fellow holiday makers looking for open patio or front doors to walk in on to pinch things lying about whilst you are on the solarium or around the pool!!

But then again my wife has had her handbag stolen twice in last 24months  in 2 different UK market town! My car broken into in a Peterborough hotel car park and our house burgled with us and guests in it in October 04. My daughter her flat door kicked in in a leafy London suburb with passports and jewellery stolen - So is Spain really that different?? Only less rain to deter but more daylight to make it more difficult but these thieves do not seem to care. Better occupation with less building work should help. So enjoy the sun, be observant and avoid paranoia

Pressure on the developer seems to have worked, a manned entrance gatehouse on the main way in is almost finnished with CCTV cameras being errected around the complex (??the Algorfa back entrance as well!) Best everyone exchange ideas and advice on sites like this. Apparently the story goes that the Mayor of Algorfa was orinally not keen to have the copmplex gated off from the locals?

Still the best complex in the Costa's!! But remeber it's Spain so everything takes longer.  Best to exchange experieces good and bad to avoid the heartache were possible - especially when you see some of the cowboy air con that has been fitted after completion!!!

Good luck to all.

Philip

Community thread: Air Conditioning and Security Grills

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30 Jan 2007 2:46 PM:

we used 'Tommy Kindberg Nilsen' 0034 966 718 498 for the grills I mentioned in a previous post. We have had another grill to the front door fitted so we can allow the breeze to blow through without fear of opportunist sneak thieves popping in (but will not be leaving car keys in hallway!!). You can see his work at  number 487 and at our's 510 - cost 950 euros. You can see 'Joost' work at 451 @ 875 euros and Omac work at 459 and 481 at 1080 euros. There is also a ground floor apart (491 ?) in next block to 487 by Omac. You can make up your own mind from these examples. I was slightly dissapointed with the fixing of mine because there had been a mistake in the measurements hence the corrections yet to be done. As long as Tommy allows for the frame depth to ensure to fixings on the return arm it will be fine and the workmanship on the Grills is very good and stylish. Avoid the sliding grills that are being fitted if you can - ugly and a bit tinny! However each to their own. Omac grills look well made and good paint finnish but they like any real styling and no attempt to put the turned effects in. Also be careful or you will end up with a prison cell, ie fixed side panels and thick central column that prevents you from ever openning up fully.

Tommy does aircon but we are having a retro fit to our main bedroom done by 'Ambifuego' from Los Montesinos who fitted the gas fire in our lounge. Very neat and tidy work (they even touch up the paint work!) unlike some of the others and at a fair price for aircon but expensive for the fire but then they seem to have the monopoly on Gas fires. Gas fire and heating essential in winter. Get a gas fire fitted in the summer as they usually have an offer on on fires then. 

You can buy efficient wall mounted 500 watt or higher rated Digital Eco -Emisor white and very stylish heaters from Media Mart north of alicante (best price and choice) or from Carefour in Torrevieja for about 237 euros for the 500 watt model or 257 euros for the 750 watt model. These are better than the free standing oil heaters that are useually rated at 2000 watt and will cost the earth to run (when off builders supply!). Remember that each property is rated to accept a load of about 5 kilowatts only. So a few oil heaters, a kettle and the air con providing heating plus the cooker and everything will trip out long before its all on!!! So the energy efficient wall heaters are better. See www.fagor.com you can also download the english instructions from here.

Hope this helps.

Philip

Community thread: Air Conditioning and Security Grills

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