Marketing & Well#2

» NOTES

When I started Residencias Los Jardines, I started writing a weekly news letter —determined to tell all the good, bad, and the ugly. I knew some readers would be interested in the construction process. I expected others might be interested in the lifestyle of two people who had decided to live outside the box. For others, the adventures of lita, the parrot and the cat took on an entertainment saga all its own.

Residencias Los Jardines is finished. We periodically have resales and rental availabilty. Some readers may be interested in this information.

More and more, the content will be dominated by events of our new project, "El Dorado" for short. While the future is always uncertain, I again aim to tell it like it happens —the good, the bad, and the ugly, and that is what follows.

In an effort to make the format more interesting and visually appealing and to field inquiries re. El Dorado, the news letter is now being distributed by Jan Kozak, Marketing Manager, Hacienda El Dorado. I will remain the author.

» MARKETING, WEBSITE & SALES

Website: Bugs have been dealt with and new information added. It still isn't completely up to date but has moved closer to that goal.

Marketing & Sales:  This week has seen an explosion of interest and the beginnings of a number of conversations which we expect to yield a number of sales. A considerable number of this past week's interest has been for larger 3 and 4 bedroom homes. We had a realtor from Canada here on Monday; we have a mutual friend who referred her to me. She reviewed Los Jardines, the Santa Ana area, and El Dorado. She has three people plus herself interested and she's only been back to Canada for three days. We have a number of interested Ticos and several American clients interested—one of whom is interested in purchasing multiple units. We had an Indian couple who visited us for the second time today and appears to be seriously interested in purchasing a 3 bedroom single family home. IF all the conversations result in sales and IF everyone wants different units, we could be 50% sold very soon. Jan is managing these conversations—as he should—and trying to keep things organized. I BELIEVE THIS WILL TO BE AN INTERESTING WEEK.

E-brochure: On our website at www.eldoradocostarica.com/e-flip/index.html you can see a newly created feature—you can use the cursor to turn the pages.

» CONSTRUCTION LOG

Architect: Maya Tower:  On Tuesday, we assembled and reviewed the total set of designs.  Two were sent back for further work the results of which we now have.  We priced the entire set and Jan sent them to various people who had been waiting and is having them uploaded on the website.  This now completes the designs we have been working on. We have several lots yet waiting for designs but I expect we will take a breather and see what happens with what we do have.

We expect to have the floor plans, prices and rendering of the building posted on the website this week.  The building looks great.

Well: The drilling went much faster than the first—less rock.  The preliminary flow test was done on Friday and we now have ample water to meet criteria which is highly unlikely to ever occur—all 80  houses occupied with 5 people each.  At Los Jardines this assumption would mean 145 people; at our busiest times, we have never had more than 35-40.

Retaining Walls:  This has been a source of consternation and frustration. Paul will have a firm discussion with the architect on this and a number of other issues—we're frustrated.

Land Fill / Earth Moving: This is now nearing completion.

» RESIDENCIAS LOS JARDINES

For Sale:  Nothing available at the moment but January should see two units on the market.

For Lease:

FEBRUARY 1:  Unit 115 – 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 1450 sf, one level. LOTS and LOTS of cabinets for storage and display.  Fully furnished with 50" flat screen TV and home theater system. $1,450 mo.

MARCH 1:  Unit 121 – 2 bedroom, 2 1/2 bathroom (one with Jacuzzi), living room, dining room, den and kitchen on first floor,  view terrace, 2 levels,  1,620 sf, fully furnished.  $1,550 mo.

» OUR LIVES

Weather: The strong winds of last week blew themselves out and this week has seen gentle to no breezes.  Partly sunny and beautiful all the time.  Absolutely perfect!

Work: Steady stream of interested people and finishing the details of the Maya tower.

Parrot:  On Wednesday, Lita and I took our guests to Puriscal—about 45 min. west of Santa Ana.  Our destination was the cigar factory there as well as to walk the town for their show and tell.  Lita they try chicharrones and beer.  We bought a substantial inventory of cigars and have begun to enjoy them.

Parrot and the Cat: Upon our return, Lita got the parrot from the tree and went off to the bedroom to play with it and watch TV. I looked in on her and found her sound asleep on her back, the parrot cuddled in her hands laying on ITS back with its head on Lita's neck and the CAT laying beside both on his back also sound asleep. It reminded me of that biblical passage about the lion laying down with the sheep…….  I think there was some violent movie playing on the TV.

Friends: After spending 4 nights with us, Quebec friends spent an equal amount of time in Jaco.  They visted with us for 4 days then to Jaco for another four.  Another set of friends followed much the same pattern. The each developed different assessments of Jaco and area but overall they loved CR.

The Past Fast Forwards to the Present: When my friends of 14 year absence arrived in CR, they found they knew three people living here—I was the common denominator but I had forgotten.—Diff had worked on my boat years ago and met Terry, a friend now living here.  Diff had also met my partner Paul—they had both worked on a loft conversion I did in Toronto in '93 / '94. AND lastly, Diff and Leo  (Quebec) were both ushers at our wedding—Lita pulled out the pictures and we had a good review of the event. Moral? One never knows when associations are going to reconnect.

Brian, Lita, Hugo, irreverent Vicka, the pigeon toed parrot, and the newbies— Chico and Chica.