—Vida y tiempo—
2023-09-24
Dear friends,
When I started Residencias Los Jardines, I started writing a weekly newsletter -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 re-sales and rental availability. Some readers may be interested in this information.
Brian Timmons
Developer / Property manager
Residencias Los Jardines
Web: https://residenciaslosjardines.com
Emails: info@residenciaslosjardines.com
ResidenciasPropertyManagement@gmail.com
Residencias Paradisus (Rohrmoser)
FOR RENT
$1.550 mo.
+ Cable / Internet / water / electricity / one month security deposit
Two bedroom, two bathroom, two car parking + separate bodega. Fully furnished. Ceramic tile throughout. One queen bed / one double bed. Full terrace with furniture, office table, one 55" smart TV (second TV optional), west facing, black-out curtains, modern SS appliances, stacked washer and dryer. Very clean. No dogs / no cats / no smoking. Long term lease, $1.550 mo. + Cable / Internet / water / electricity / one month security deposit.
Santa Barbara / San Bosco
FOR SALE
1 hectáreas finca with two houses. Main house is 158m2 - 1,675 SF, three bedrooms, 1 bathroom , metal and gypsum construction / built in 2019-2020. Caretaker house and bodega / paved municipal road, two AyA water meters, 8 ICE electrical meters / USO de Suelo —agricultural use or residential / 90m2 with black water treatment / 120m2 with septic systems / valley view / two sources of year round water / fenced
$250,000
possible Bridge financing for up to 2 years
Sales: Los Jardines: Unit #116
Rentals:
Los Jardines: Nothing available
Paradisus: Nothing available
Weather: We have had a bit more rain this week than in previous weeks but many clear days as well.
1. 13-4 Paradisus: It is fixed up, being marketed, two clients each with dogs, sorry, no... too much damage... I will wait...
2. San Bosco: Two people are interested, one has an offer on the table, a second wants a meeting to discuss options, and several people still looking and expressing interest. My lawyer was busy this past week and I am at the beach... not that that slows things down much... except I want to go a slow until I get a better offer.
3. A Big Mess!! This story is a sad commentary on some people -this is the first in what I expect will be a series of episodes- unfortunately. On Monday a noticed a new tenant had moved in... there was a large dog... I introduced myself confirmed he was the tenant had to tell him that R:J does not accept tenants with dogs. He as surprised; he said that he had declared to the owner that he had a dog, showed video of the dog and later I heared that both owners were aware of it, had discussed it and had banned the dog from inside their house. Nothing had been said to the prospective tenant. He moved in and now... I wrote the owner... the owners had lived at Los Jaardines for multiple years and one was the former president of the association, office manager and both knew very well that dogs were not allowed... why they did this, I do not know. I wrote them multiple emails, discussions, no denials but no acknowledgement that they had screwed this guy and had knowingly and willingly violated this basic non-discretionary tenant of our by-laws. As of now, the tenant has been notified that he is considered a "squatter" and his services will be interrupted, that he needs to relocate... The owners have been told that actions will be taken according to our Shareholder Agreement and that they will be responsible for all associated costs. The lawyer has been notified, briefed, a strategy and game plan put in place, next week we will begin implementing. This really disappointes me and makes me really bloody mad... this was not done as a result of ignorance but of "i don't give a s...t about anyone else"... I will make it a point to never forget, at least until Alzheimer's takes over. This has required a lot of emotional energy and time and both are just beginning... Two goals are very clearly identified... the path to each is yet to be navigated and the question which will always remain is "WHY".
4. RLJ: We have now completed replacing all the failed plastic tiles thereby extending the roof life another few years. More time is being spent maintaining the garden, and fixing little, long time, low priority issues, eg. light standards which have been knoked askew by car pumpers, garden electrical outlets which need repair and esthetic attention; cleaning pump houses of accumulated debris and what is now junk and overall organization...
5. Toronto: The house sits, a few showings, the listing contract expires at the end of the month, other properties have been listed in the area, the current prices does not seem out of line but with the uncertainty of further rate increases as well as the current high interest mortgage rate, there seems to be limited interest. We'll see. It remains a work in progress.
6. Paradisus and Property Mgt. I have built and maintained properties for 45 years. At Los Jardines, I built it, managed it, got fired, watched as several administrations ran it into the ground. Finally, I stepped back in and as of yet, have not been able to step out... Point is, I have some experience at managing assets and working with owners of assets. Paradisus is a multi-tower highrise condominium complex in Rohrmoser (Pavas-San Jose). For years there had been a property management company which worked in the background and generally all was o.k. About 6 months ago I, as a condo owner, was notified that the property mgt. company had resigned... background of that I do not know... a committee was formed to look for and recommend a replacement... they recommended MABINSA... Los Jardines had had experience with these guys -I knew it was not going to work at Los Jardines and I knew why but no one wanted to listen to me so... Los Jardines fired MABINSA 6 mo. later after demonstrable miserable failings and the person who pushed for them actually admitted he was wrong... for the reasons I had advised but... so Paradisus now has MABINSA... As owners we received lots and lots of notices re. changes, work programs, increases in HOA fees, demands that HOA fees be paid within 5 days of the month even though they had not been able to produce invoices sometimes until the 3rd or that Sat / Sunday and sometimes Monday holiday... then owners received a notice from what was a group of dissidents dissatisfied with MABINSA... a general assembly was held... I was in Canada... I learned that the general assembly was just short of a brawl... lots of yelling, screaming, accusations, nastiness... no minutes were ever produced so I do not know exactly what happened or resulted... Yesterday I received a notice that MABINSA had resigned effective Oct. 28. So now the association will be looking for a new property management company. I do not know the inside story. I do know that property management in this country is problematic... I have seen it first hand and have experienced it by observation when looking for a replacement for me and when talking with friends having condos in other developments. I do know that at Los Jardines we have done a very good job in maintaining and improving assets while reducing HOA fees over the past three years... I do not know of any other development that can make that claim. And now that we have a new hard headed, dedicated, no-nonsense President, I expect we will continue...
7. Jaco and Anniversary: I organized a beach get away for our 36 yr anniversary. I have a business assoicate / friend who has a three bedroom condo right on the beach in Jaco... right in front of the swimming pool... the condo is beautifully appointed, very convenient. Two other couples are with us, one new couple, one previous couple, and others joined as well. Weather of course is hot but so far, we have not had any rain...
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