Homes for sale and homes for rent in Santa Ana, San José, Costa Rica | Newsletters

INTERNET WOES -AGAIN AND AGAIN!!

Brian Timmons

Dear friends,

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 availability. 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.

Brian Timmons
DEVELOPER:
Residencias Los Jardines / https://www.residenciaslosjardines.com
Hacienda El Dorado / https://www.eldoradocostarica.com
E-mail:
brian@eldoradocostarica.com
info@residenciaslosjardines.com
ResidenciasPropertyManagement@gmail.com

Construction Log
Updates about Hacienda El Dorado

Rio Oro: We continue to supply technical information to several groups helping them assess what we have accomplished... One group is looking at doing exactly what we planned; another has a different idea. We have two more conversations beginning. We'll see.

Residencias Los Jardines
Property Management, Rentals, Re-Sales

Market Activity: --

Sales: We had one European looking (not seriously), however and one additional inquiry.

Rentals: We've had several rental inquires but no commitments.

INTERNET Woes: After having a week's problems, we no sooner got back up and running reasonably reliably (however there were still issues which needed addressing) than the service provider AMNET went down for 24 hrs. When they cam back up, we insisted that our tech. address the issues.....our own analysis raised some questions. One of the issues was that the signal was not being distributed to each of the house wall outlets. After months of baffle gab he finally admitted that it didn't know why. (This was a breakthrough admission--at least we can now begin working on a common understood and accepted deficiency). One of the residents here who likes (and understands some of this better than I) volunteered to map our system and identify the equipment. This is in preparation for an independent review. As of now, we are waiting for a new AMNET modem and the signal is now being distributed to most of the wall outlets in the compound. Perhaps the new AMNET modem wondering will solve the other issues. Regardless, we're going for an independent assessment.

FOR SALE

FOR RENT

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HOUSES FOR SALE

UNIT #103
FOR SALE $172,500

See a complete description of this unit

Total Area (Sq Ft): 1000
Total area (Sq M): 93
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2
Floor(s): 1
Type: Detached
Furnished: Yes

1000 sf., single story, detached, two bedroom, two bathroom, with a nice covered terrace overlooking a nicely landscaped tropical backyard. Breakfast counter, dinning room table for 4, parking for one car. Vaulted ceilings in master bedroom and kitchen/dining area.

UNIT #106B
FOR SALE $159,000
Purchaser financing available

See a complete description of this unit

Total Area (Sq Ft): 1270
Total area (Sq M): 115
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2
Floor(s): Ground
Type: Apartment
Furnished: Yes

This is a fully furnished 2-bedroom unit situated in a 2-story building, which has two nits on the ground floor and two units on the 2nd. floor. Each unit is the same size 1,250sf) divided into 800 sf of interior space and 450 sf of covered front and back erraces. Floor. The solid masonry demising wall (common wall) as well as the 5" oncrete slab prevent sound transference.

UNIT #115
FOR SALE $205,000

See a complete description of this unit

Total Area (Sq Ft): 1345
Total area (Sq M): 124
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2
Floor(s): 1 Story
Type: Attached
Furnished: Yes

This 1,345 sf single floor home includes a 200 sf private terrace plus parking for one car. It is attached on two sides by a 6” solid concrete block wall which prevents sound transfer. This is an extremely well decorated home with lots of natural wood built ins.

UNIT #125
FOR SALE $140,000
Owner financing available

See a complete description of this unit

Total Area (Sq Ft): 662
Total area (Sq M): 61
Bedrooms: 1
Bathrooms: 1
Floor(s): 2nd Floor
Type: Semi-Detached
Furnished: Yes

This 662 sf, + parking for one car and 33sf locker is a one bedroom home on the 2nd floor overlooking the large pool. It is ideal for a single person or couple —or investment property.

HOUSES FOR RENT

UNIT #112
FOR RENT $1,450 mo.
Available March 15

See a complete description of this unit

Total Area (Sq Ft): 1290
Total area (Sq M): 120
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2
Floor(s): 1 Story
Type: Attached
Furnished: Yes

This 1,290 sf single floor home includes a 300 sf front terrace plus parking for one car. It is attached on two sides by a 6 inch cement demising (common) wall, which prevents sound transfer.

UNIT #116
FOR RENT $1,550 mo.
Available March 1

See a complete description of this unit

Total Area (Sq Ft): 1290
Total area (Sq M): 120
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2
Floor(s): 1
Type: Semi-Attached
Furnished: Yes

This 1,290 sf single floor home includes a 300 sf front terrace plus parking for one car and a separate, secure storage locker. It is and end unit and therefore attached on only one side by a 6 inch cement demising (common) wall, which prevents sound transfer.

Our Lives

WEATHER: beautiful... not too windy and beautiful temperatures -lots of people using the pool.

GETTING THINGS DONE -A REAL CHALLENGE: First, buy a bottle of Valium and a bottle of your favorite... you're going to need them. Despite 35 years of experience including 10 years in CR things still go off the rails even when I anticipate they will and use every technique I've learned over that 35 years. Such was the case this past week when I volunteered to help a new owner get a dining table they wanted.

On Wednesday, we did the follow up with all suppliers to make sure work was in progress, that the dimensions / instructions were being followed, and that all was on time and to reinforce the delivery times for each. (I've learned to do this.) When ordering the chairs the client wanted a two inch cloth cushion added the the back. This meant that the seat should be extended and additional two inches (from 16" to 18") such that the same sitting dimensions would exist and the chair comfortable. This issue was discussed with the supplier, drawn out and dimensions added so there would be no misunderstanding. (I fully expected this would be a possible source of problems so I went to the "now normal " task of drawing, dimensioning, and discussion why, etc)... I knew at the time he was not paying close attention to this and that when the papers were all put together at the order time, the relevant drawing was not secured or included to the order (and we called this to this attention)... Well, the chairs were delivered as per the schedule minus the two additional inches to the seat... I sent them back, followed up with the shop (the owner wasn't there but his son was who knew nothing of this -by the time I left the third time he bloody well knew they had screwed up-) and yes, they had... however, what could be done to fix the problem... after all, the cushions had been completed with the wrong information as well so now wouldn't work as designed... I tried looking for an easy solution... finally came up with one which would salvage the chairs with a minor modification and the cushions as well... they didn't have a clue and didn't know where to begin. Two trips later, several drawings later, they are now making the modifications and we're hoping that the chairs and cushions will be delivered (correctly modified) by 3pm Saturday afternoon.

Comment: In reviewing what had happened and what could I have done to ensure it didn't, I came up empty. I did everything I've learned to prevent this. I wasn't successful... sometimes people here just don't listen, don't think, just don't get it... and because of this, I know it will happen again, despite every effort -drawings, dimensions, explanation, follow up- and this was such a simple issue.
Sometimes these things just really set you back on your hammock and you are left wondering "why"... I shared my experience over a few drinks with another and we came up with some discouraging explanations...

Internet: I'm so tired (as are others) of this issue that I'm frustrated beyond the unhappy point. I don't know if a fresh look from a third party will help identify the issue(s) or not and I don't know how to distinguish baffle gab from knowledge and competence so I'm usually left with paying the money and taking the chances that what is promised will be delivered... there's been some discrepancies before... changing tech support may or may not be the answer -a straight answer would be refreshing, starting with "I don't know why... but I will solve it- and not just end up patching / masking the issue.

Brian, Lita, Hugo, irreverent Vicka, the pigeon toed parrot, Chico II and Chica II