01 Feb 2015 4:58 AM:

Thanks Pommers

You have been most informative,and I take the point about finding out for ones self,I am not short of resourcefulness. We have an intimate knowledge of the area, from ferreterias to restaurants to supermarkets and now every furniture shop within a 30km radius of Roda I'm pained to say. Most confusion nowadays is caused through lack of communication which seems to be the problem here,by which I mean Roda, not the forum. We have visited Roda three times in October, November and January. We went to the minimarket on several occasions each time we visited with no sign of life and no notice to enlighten you,definite lack of communication. We only want to know when they are open and what they stock with a view to giving them our custom.We are business owners in our large village and know how important it is to have local support. It wouldn't worry me if they were slightly more expensive than Lidl or Mercadona,I would use them if for no other reason than the well being of Roda going forward. If I owned a business on Roda I would be watching this Forum like a Hawk. Every business likes to know how they are performing,and pay companies to do it for them, when here, all they have to do is keep an eye on the Forums. I suspected the meters would be a minefield. There was nothing overlooked at point of purchase,that was all taken care of by the lawyers, being a Scotsman I just like to keep on top of things. On Sandras point about getting involved, I'm afraid that, much as I would like to, I would not do it justice. Unfortunately business demands, and a seasonal hobby(not Golf) dictate when we have  holidays,so attending AGMs and such like would be a stab in the dark.Unfortunately I dont think weve met any other owners on our thee visits( I didn't realise you could lose weight shopping,as that's all I seemed to do)  so can't even use a proxy vote. I rather naively thought three women could furnish an apartment in a week,how wrong could I be.

To reiterate what you have all said, I'm sure Roda will grow on us, and I apologise if it seems like I'm nit- picking, criticising, or taking "the high moral ground" that's not my intention, I just want to see the Resort going forward, after all it is, for us, a lifestyle investment. 

Thank you all

John

 

This message was last edited by rexana on 01/02/2015.
Community thread: Welcome Pack

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31 Jan 2015 4:30 PM:

Hugh

Thanks to you, I now know Roda is not a resort as such, but by the same token you cannot liken it to a normal village or town. In most towns there are more permanent residents than renters, with nothing approaching the sales activities and changes of ownership you have on Roda. The various "Resorts" around Murcia province remind me of transient camps rather than villages or townships, where I suspect, Roda fares better than most ,which is why I bought on Roda. You can go round the rather large village I live in and you will be lucky to see more than two "for sale" signs and probably no "for rent" signs

You ask who should provide the information,? that I can't say as it would not be fair to put that responsibility on any person or group of persons who are not being financially rewarded for anything they do except for the personal satisfaction they get from creating something.

I first bought in Spain over 40 years ago and believe me it is a cakewalk now compared to then, the whole process has become more transparent, with less language problems for instance,and less corruption?????.

I appreciate many owners who are renting, compiling their own Welcome Pack for their clients as they have a pecuniary interest,and the information will be used many times over and will reward the time spent.

However there is no guarantee that all the info. is correct or up to date which is why I'm suggesting a General information pack created by someone "in the know" where everyone is singing from the same hymn sheet. Even if it meant paying someone, such as Resortalia,  to create such a document.

I appreciate what you say in your opening sentence,and in the short time I've been at Roda I'm quickly catching on, but wouldn't a helping hand make it so much easier in the early days of ownership. I've been down this road before and  Roda integration has been relatively easy (possibly in part due to the efforts of you guys who've been there for some time) for me with only a few minor niggles, but it must be fairly daunting to someone completely new to Spanish ownership,and the systems they have to adapt to.

I'm not having a go at anyone ,or trying to belittle any of the achievments made to date, just making a suggestion.

My daughter is going out soon with her two children and asked if the on site shop will be open and I can only say "I DONT KNOW" I should be able to do better than that.

Regards

John

 

 

This message was last edited by rexana on 31/01/2015.
Community thread: Welcome Pack

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31 Jan 2015 1:51 PM:

Thank you Sandrab and Hugh_man.

Firstly my apologies for splitting the post, as you will see, I'm new to this game.

To answer some of Hughs comments. You have certainly enlightened me on the Roda situation and I can see where you are coming from. I live in a large village,same neighbours for decades,any one of whom could tell you everything you need to know about the village. Roda is seasonal, and the three times we have been there (off-season) we've hardly seen a living soul,and the people we've spoken to seem ill informed. We were not so rude as to ask them if they were owners or renters. If they were renters, you could understand their lack of interest in the community.

Having had my battles with utility companies both here in Scotland and in Spain over the last 40years I would think easy access to the meters would be a must. My last property in Spain had a meter room where you could inspect your meter at will, allbeit accompanied by the Porter who was always at hand,and happy to oblige,I suspect it wont be so easy on Roda. In Scotland both my meters are attached to the house and accessible at any time.

Before you say it---different country, different culture,etc.etc. but surely some basic info. about the site instead of a Welcome Pack which literally welcomes you and then proceeds to ask for direct debit/bank info etc would be more helpful to everyone. 

I am well aware of all the facilities outside Roda,and have used many of them over the years,and commend them for their level of service and most of the time,reasonable prices. I am a new purchaser on Roda but have been visiting the area for many years,hence the purchase.

It would appear the developer has divorced himself from Roda (or has he?) and left things to the usual bunch of volunteers, to whom I am indebted, and please be clear, I am not having a go at them,they do a great job.

I have no intention of ever living in Spain only holidaying,and when I'm holidaying I don't want to waste a lot of time problem solving,as I have done in the past, I rather naively thought this time it would be plain sailing,which comparitively speaking it has been, but still far from perfect

Everyone we have done business with (purchase of goods,such as furniture etc)have been excellent.

Even the Banks have improved!!! you don't have to wait until they finish their cigarette now before they notice you standing there, and I actually got a smile once, or was it a smirk?

Again,thank you for your replies, I am now considerably more enlightened as to the infrastructure of Roda than I was previously

Kind Regards

John

 

 

       

Community thread: Welcome Pack

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31 Jan 2015 11:24 AM:

Hi Nigel

Thanks for the link, but it doesn't answer any of my questions,it's more of a sales blurb than anything else,full of the sort of information I take with "a pinch of salt".

Having read many of the posts concerning Roda I'm left with the impression that everything is shrouded in mistery, no one seems to know anything for sure,and a lot of the information bouncing about seems to be "hearsay". In saying that ,Roda is not alone in that respect, just ask about Corvera Airport or Paramount Theme Park and you'll know what I'm talking about.

The information I seek is to do with the functioning of my apartment,and the site as a whole. Just very simple things like;

When does the shop open? where are my utility meters? can I have access to them? Golf club restaurant opening hours?

I'm not interested in the "distant Beach Club" which everyone seems to have disowned, or the ambience of the Resort, (I'll decide that for myself) all I want to know are everyday things to help us function,and save precious holiday time.

It's possible that amongst the many items posted here is the information I seek, but the point I am making is that I should not have to search for it, there should be a "Purchase Pack" containing everything you need to know,which I suspect would save everyone a hell of a lot of time,and concern.  

  

Community thread: welcome pack

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31 Jan 2015 3:51 AM:

Have just purchased on ph.1

Contacted Resortalia about general info. on Resort and was reminded that they had sent me a "Welcome Pack" and that they were only responsible for the Administration. I did say that if the information I required was not part of their remit perhaps they could suggest who could supply the information   They suggested the Golf Club.

Their idea of a Welcome Pack just consists of information they want from you for Admin purposes, plus a list of useful telephone numbers.

The sort of information I want is ; When does the site shop open ( on two recent visits no sign of life,not even a note with some info)   Large sign above club house all lit up so we walked up there on a cold winter night for dinner only to find the place closed at 5.00 pm.were not best pleased . We pay for three utilities, which are obviously metered, where are the meters? and do we have access to them?. I assume the community has a President, who is he/she?

These are just a few of the things we would like to know. Perhaps the selling agents should have supplied me with more information, I don't know, but either way I would like to be more informed about the Resort. A real Welcome Pack full of useful information would be a boon to new purchasers instead of having to seek out what should be readily available.

Our previous property on the Costa del Sol was on a much smaller community where information was easier to obtain, with a huge notice board in the Foyer telling you everything you needed to know.

Perhaps there is a similar Notice board on Roda that I don't know about, if so why didn't Resortalia tell me when I asked them?

We love the Resort ,but at the moment it all seems like " disconnected jottings" with a little "mystery" thrown in for good measure.

Any help in my quest would be much appreciated    

  

 

This message was last edited by rexana on 31/01/2015.
Community thread: Welcome Pack

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