AyA Waiting; Keribe!!; Internet Woes; Dogs!!!

ISSUE #240: May 11-16, 2009

2009-05-17

AyA Waiting; Keribe!!; Internet Woes; Dogs!!!

» 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 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.

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.


Brian C. Timmons, Author
Residencias Los Jardines/Hacienda El Dorado - Developer
E-mail:
brian@eldoradocostarica.com

»MARKETING & SALES

No sales--Buyers are few and far between and all projects that we're aware of.

» CONSTRUCTION LOG

Water: The meeting that had been scheduled for a week and a half was to occur on Thursday;  it was canceled and moved to this coming Wednesday.  Incredible!!!  All we want is for them to acknowledge that the 4" water supply which they agree to give us is sufficient for 26 lots which is what the INVU looks at.  Anyone able to grow hair on their head would know that but ....... Then we need to settle on an agreement. 

Environmental:  the agreement with SETENA should arrive this week.

Timing:  We expect another two months before this all works its way through.  However, the timing is not right in our assessment and based on the feedback from our purchasers to proceed.  We will work out a deferral that makes sense.

» RESIDENCIAS LOS JARDINES

 

Vandalism:  The intercom was replaced--$550.   Vandalism never makes any sense;  it's just an expense.  We've now placed steel bars over the intercom boxes such that they cannot be ripped out. 

Internet Woes:  We've had our problems.  On Friday our router suffered a failure probably due to voltage fluctuations.  Even though we have isolated it from ICE's power through a UPS, the settings still got scrambled.  A few hours later AMNETs equipment failed probably due to the same reason--voltage fluctuations.  It's tough to keep electronics operating reliably here with lousy quality power.

AyA and Keribe!!:  AyA came to check out one of our two water meters because it had showed no consumption for some time.  In checking it, they discovered that the water supply had been disconnected.  This could only have happened when Keribe dug up the road and did not reconnect this supply.  Since we use AyA water only in emergencies, we had not been aware that the line had been severed.  We approaced Keribe witht this information and asked that they repair the damage they had done.  They denied any responsibility.  Absolutely incredible!!!!!!  However, AyA will reconnect it.  And, they are still dumping water on us when it rains.  We get promises and more promises......I just want corrective action.

Dogs!:  Before the gardeners started mowing the lawns, they had to clean up 27 piles of dog poo.....  This is absolutely ridiculous since the policy of leashed and poop and scoop is well known.  Polite reminders have not worked. Owners let their dogs out at night or early morning when no one is around--b I went on the war path this week.  I'm not popular amongst some dog owners and I've been abused by owners who claim they are innocent...perhaps, perhaps not.  We now have five dogs on site.....  The other 24 residents have had it with this DS......  Enough is enough!!!!!  I'm continually amazed at the denials and rationalizations  I receive.  I'll continue on the war path and I've asked for the input of the 24 non-dog owners to help identify the GUILTY!!!!!  I wonder why some dog owners think it is o.k. to allow their dogs to poo and the rest of us to walk through it.....  says something about the dog owners who do this.  No wonder most developments disallow dogs........perhaps we should adopt the same policy.

Rentals:  Unit 112--immediate; Unit 124--May 25   We've had a number of lookers but overall, the number seems to have dropped.

For Sale: 
Unit 120 closed;  We have two houses--107 and 108-- in various stages of closing.  That leaves us with only 109 available.  It's a great unit and shows very well.

Units for Sale/Lease:

Residencia Los Jardines Site Plan

Unit #109 --For Sale $214,900 -  FURNISHED (Leased until August 1, 2009 - $1,550 pr month)

Total Area (Sq Ft):1506
Total area (Sq M):140
Bedrooms:2
Bathrooms:2
Floor(s):1 Story
Type:Detached
Furnished:Yes

This single story home (1506 sf. + parking for one car) is detached, has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, home office, living room wall / entertainment center along with a built in office and a semi-private terrace. In addition, it has a vaulted ceiling in the “great” room and two skylights. The covered entrance way is suitable for two chairs located next to a covered garden area. Once through the impressive front door, you enter the “great room” which houses the kitchen, dining room, office and living room. Upon entering, there is a built in wooden hutch surfaced with granite—it matches all the built-in furniture in the great room. There is a clothes washer and dryer off the 2nd bedroom. It may also be used for storage.









Read More

Unit 124 - For Rent at $950 pr Month FURNISHED (Available May 25, 2009)

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, + covered parking for one car, is a one bedroom home on the 2nd floor overlooking the large pool. It is ideal for a single person or couple.




Unit #112 - Available for Rent at $1,450 pr Month FURNISHED

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.







Read More



» NEWS FROM COSTA RICA

May 17, 2009
Costa Rica telecom monopoly slow to unravel
(The Tico Times) The principal and only client of the recently created regulatory agency overseeing the opening of Costa Rica's telecommunications market finally agreed to turn over the fees had collected to keep the agency afloat, bringing to an end a battle that threatened to close the regulator.
Read

May 17, 2009
Loss Of Power Forces Small Plane To Land On Circunvalación
Costa Rican drivers are accustomed to just about anything happening on the country's highways. But yesterday was a little different, when the pilot of a small airplane decided to use the Circunvalación to put down the aircraft.
Read

May 17, 2009
COSTA RICA: A Day of Multi-Coloured Splendor for Gays
SAN JOSÉ, May 16 (IPS) - Government institutions and civil society organisations are holding talks, workshops and other activities aimed at raising awareness and overcoming intolerance, in preparation for the National Day Against Homophobia on Sunday in Costa Rica.
Read

May 17, 2009
Costa Rican Trade Minister Tells Jamaicans Doors Are Wide Open
Costa Rica's Foreign Trade Minister, Marco Vinicio Ruiz, says has been able to weather the economic storm because it has a diverse economy, allowing it keep unemployment low.
Read


 

» OUR LIVES

Weather: The rains dried up this past week.  Not until Saturday did they return to Santa Ana.

Comment:  We had required some piece of paper from the City of Santa Ana. We were having difficulty in getting it.  t seems that the ONLY  person who could issue this letter had had an accident with a City car and was off work for 15 days;  we would have to wait.  Fast forward to another situation:  We have had various difficulties closing 108--the lawyer's bank in which the trust account is located belatedly informed him that it needed a letter of recommendation from the purchaser within 24 hours or they would return the funds.  The letter came in 30 hrs;  they had returned the funds and it took a week to be seen in the purchasers account.  In addition, the IRA trust company (PENSCO) was to be a partial purchaser of the unit. The PENSCO contact was not only not well trained in this type of transaction but seems to have had a personal emergency and has been absent from work for the past week. Hopefully, this is now back on track only a week and a half behind the original schedule. So, while I was going to rail against CR corporations for relying on "individuals" to accomplish a job function,  I now don't think think it would have been appropriate. 

Granada:  We're off to Granada, Nicaragua this week and looking forward to it.


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

Brian C. Timmons, Newsletter Author
Residencias Los Jardines/Hacienda El Dorado - Developer
E-mail:
brian@eldoradocostarica.com

For inquiries about availability of residences at Hacienda El Dorado or Residencias Los Jardines, contact:

Jan Kozak, Marketing Manager

Hacienda El Dorado
Rio Oro, Santa Ana
Costa Rica

Web: www.eldoradocostarica.com
E-mail: info@eldoradocostarica.com
MSN: jan.kozak.jr@hotmail.com
Skype: jan.kozak.jr

Tel (US) (+1) 647-477-5825
Cell: (+506) 8345 8018

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