Dragonfly Donna

Hi, I am new to this Forum thing but hope someone can help me as I am at the end of my tether . We are currrently living in England and had hoped by now to be spending at least half our time in our beautiful villa near Ayamonte.

We started our project over 3 years ago and have only completed a third of the build, we have had so many problems even though we have full planning permission, proper architects etc. The final straw came when the builder disappeared after promising to restart in January. Does any one know any English builders who are looking for work. We have tried to keep it all Spanish but it hasnt worked.

David and Margaret

we have a town house on esuri and see much activity in the building of villas
we assume spanish builders so a villa owner should help you

david

Dragonfly Donna

Thank you for replying, i have had a few people sending me help. Do you know of a builder who is looking for work ? Or any one who may know?

Donna

jdr

Did you read the post you are answering ?

angiescarr

Hi. First of all. Good luck. Looks like you're self builders! (Autopromotores) Us too. This is very rare in Spain for new builds.
We have had 2 Spanish builders. The first one had good builders on the team but a bit too greedy. The second were really good and trustworthy(for builders) But I'm up in the Aracena area and I don't think they'd go that far... But you can ask!gbaracena.com We wrote the website for them as a thank you. But we had to let them go. We're now literally putting brick on brick ourselves due to the 'crisis' dissolving the value of our ££s ...we have none. :-( I'm learning a lot along the way, I do have to say *Be Very Careful!* Don't, whatever you do take only one quote. Make sure you get at least 3. Talk face to face with all 3 contractors and don't be tempted to take them on because they have a nice smile. That's what we did first time round and that builder nearly cost us the price of a full build for the foundations and party walls! Go away and think about it. We chose the mid priced one from our 3 on instinct. But NOT immediately. We were right.
We Also asked for a quote for a 'casa en bruto'. That is, without all the finishes. Just a basic building. It was because that's all we could afford. But also that way you keep your builders on their toes and you're never stuck with a set of builders for the whole deal when you can only afford part of it. If you don't like their work you don't have a contract which ties you to everything.
There may be issues around getting a new 'estudio basico de seguridad y salud' with the new builders and your aparejador (surveyor)
And if your time period for the licencia for your proyecto has run out/ or is running out, go to the ayuntamiento and ask for a Proroga de licencia(extension) . Make sure it's long enough. (at least 3 years) You just never know how long it's going to take. It doesn't cost anything as you've already paid for your Licencia. You might be charged a little by your Aparejador for putting in the new seguiridad y salud thingy with the new builders names on. Technically you're supposed to close down the site formally between builders. But I don't think this often happens.
Good luck!

angiescarr

Removed

Jon-Bxl

Hi Donna

I just went you 2 PM's with some details of a British builder - I have no idea if he is free - but you can check - and if not he may know someone. Also a local firm of British architects that may be able to help

Amazing with all the unemployment in Andalucia (25%) that you cant find decent people looking for honest work!

Good luck - it will be worth it in the end!
Jon

Dragonfly Donna

Thank you for all the info, Some of this we didnt know. We have someone helping us so I will ask him about the break between builders.
I really appreciate your time to reply

Donna

jdr

Closer than the Magic Roundabout.

She only has to walk to one of the villas being built and ask.

AndyS

That will be a bit tricky as she is in England.
Good luck Donna, hope you get the info you need.

Dragonfly Donna

Thank you, its good that there are so many people sending me their positiveness !!

jdr

In that case she has no chance of arranging it, she needs to get a cheap flight over and do as I said, or even better get one of you friendly neighbours to act as a go between for her.

Jur

Donna, have you talked to the local carpenter in Vilablanca, Antonio? He speaks Spanish & German and built a door for us for a reasonable price. I´m just thinking of him because he might know people.

Or perhaps the son of "Mala Leche" (only know the nickname), he owns the hardware store behind the church.

Keep us posted, Jur

angiescarr

Ha Ha Mala Leche... Translates pretty much as grumpy bugger:-D

Dragonfly Donna

Everything you say sounds fine in theory, however we have spent 3 years trying to pull this together in just the way you have suggested. 3 people all english have said they would help over the past 18 months , so we flew over had meetings and within a month or two they had decided they didnt have time to co-ordinate this for us. So much money and time has been wasted. We have always been willing to pay well for the right help but it seems no-one wants to work !
We are extremely positive people but its difficult to be that way 100% of the time.