...I Blew It...

ISSUE #451: March 17-23, 2013

2013-03-24

Brian Timmons, Newsletter Author
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 have a meeting scheduled for next Tuesday to review some issues. We'll see how much flesh we have to give...

 

Residencias Los Jardines
Property Management, Rentals, Re-Sales

The repair and maintenance program saw a number of items started and some completed:

Cushions: One item was to purchase cushions for 11 steel chairs / benches around the pool areas. We've had some chairs which are not very comfortable. Since they are out door chairs, they require water proof or at least substantially water resistant foam and cloth. The first quote we got was ridiculous. I continued to search and now two months later, I secured a much more reasonable quote. The contract has been let and we should have the cushions around the third week in April.

Faux Rock: The "rocks" around the main swimming pool have faded. We finally contacted the person who was recommended to us. Hecame in with an acceptable price and we contracted with him to re-paint them. He got underway on Thursday and is suppose to be finished early next week. When finished, we'll do some maintenance to the pool before re-filling.

Misc. Stucco, Painting, and Staining: this is proceeding and is nearly completed.

Termites: We found termites in the cabinetry of one house. We called in a fumigator. He did his thing. He stated that there were a lot of termites in this area. I'm sure the owner won't feel any better knowing this. We've done what we can to contain them. We'll see.

Tree Cutting Contract: This is now drafted and agreed to. Given the nature of the work, we have insisted that the contractor have property damage insurance and workmen's compensation insurance. He's getting both. We expect him to start the first week in April depending on this insurance.

Front Door Re-staining and Repairs: I blew this one, big time and am not happy with what I did NOT do. I've been beating myself up as a result. The accountant beat me up for 10 min. as well and I was fully expecting the Board President to do the same but to his credit, he saw that I was bleeding from every orifice and let me off easy... he correctly saw that I wasn't happy with the situation and what more was his beating going to accomplish? The final product looks good but at $2,000 for 23 or so doors, it should!!!! I have used this contractor for years; I did not -and here's my mistake, get a quote from him beforehand. I expected the job to be about $800 - $900. I looked at time, materials, equipment... I maintain that my figure was correct but we got the gouge... I'm not happy...

Market Activity

Sales: no calls.

Rentals: no calls

 

FOR SALE

Unit #114: $235,000   See Unit

FOR RENT

Unit #102: $1,650 mo Available Immediately See Unit
Unit #112: $1,250 mo. Available Immediately See Unit
Unit #114: $1,400 mo. Available April 1 See Unit
Unit #123: $1,650 mo. Available April 13 See Unit
Unit #124: $1,000 mo. Available Immediately See Unit

Site Plan-

 

HOUSE FOR SALE

UNIT #114
$235,000

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

This 2 bedroom/2bathroom,1,290 sf single floor end unit home includes a 150 sf front terrace plus parking for one car. This house is fully air conditioned and has recently been professionally decorated by international decorator Alcides Graffe and has undergone a complete renovation—new modern furniture, finishings, window coverings, and art work by Carlos Gambino. It is arguably the nicest furnished unit at Residencias Los Jardines and only steps from the pool.

 

 

HOUSES FOR RENT

UNIT #102
FOR RENT $1,650 mo.
Available Immediately

Total Area (Sq Ft): 1922
Total area (Sq M): 177
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2 1/2
Floor(s): Ground
Type: Apartment
Furnished: Yes

This two bedroom, 1922 sf (177 m2) FURNISHED and well appointed home with AC, bright office, and covered parking is a single story home surrounding by manicured gardens in Residencias Los Jardines. It was completed 5 years ago and has been lovingly cared for since. It is situated on the ground floor of a two storey, horizontal duplex. This home has two split system air conditioning units for quiet, efficient cooling. It is in PRISTINE condition.

 

 

 

UNIT #112
FOR RENT $1,250 mo.
Available Immediately

Total Area (Sq Ft): 1290
Total area (Sq M): 120
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2
Floor(s): 1
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 #114
FOR RENT $1,400 mo.
Available April 1

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

This 2 bedroom/2bathroom,1,290 sf single floor end unit home includes a 150 sf front terrace plus parking for one car. This house is fully air conditioned and has recently been professionally decorated by international decorator Alcides Graffe and has undergone a complete renovation—new modern furniture, finishings, window coverings, and art work by Carlos Gambino. It is arguably the nicest furnished unit at Residencias Los Jardines and only steps from the pool.

 

 

UNIT #123
FOR RENT $1,650 mo.
Available April 13

Total Area (Sq Ft): 1516
Total area (Sq M): 140
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2.5
Floor(s): 2 Story
Type: Detached
Furnished: Yes

This two story, detached 1,423 sf home + parking for one car has two bedrooms, 2 ½ bathrooms and a 2nd floor covered terrace.

The open railed wrought iron cement stair case leads to the 2nd level where the master bedroom with en-suite master bathroom as well as 2nd bedroom and en-suite bathroom are located. Also accessed from the 2nd floor hallway is the covered terrace.

This is a very nicely furnished home with a good floor plan for those wanting two floors.

 

 

UNIT #124
FOR RENT $1,000 mo.
Available Immediately

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.

 

 

 

 

Our Lives

WEATHER: this is the week the wind's died and it got hot... we had the first thunder shower in what will become normal in a few weeks.

All in a Week's Living in CR:

In preparation for Lita's return, I've started house cleaning -interior, exterior, high, low, inside and outside- drawers, cupboards, I've recruited help. This will continue all weekend. I hate it but it's easier when I'm the only one here. Our guests arrive on the same plane as Lita so Monday afternoon everything must be finished and I'll need an hour in the hammock...

I finally got my insurance but had to go all the way to Pavas to do it. They take a picture of the car to record the condition. After walking three blocks to where the car was parked (3 blocks being the closest parking space) the girl's camera battery was dead. We did it all over again. Even more Incredible was that the local office couldn't or wouldn't do a simple thing that the other office did without hesitation...

Misc: Electricity rates are going up approx. 14% for us. The reason given is the need to cover off the incremental cost of diesel generation given the low water levels. Gas costs are going up as well. The rainy season is predicted to officially start in the Central Valley in the last week in April; it reality, it usually starts several weeks before... the weather office looks out the window and says, yep, it's started and now it's official. After years of delay San Jose says it has let the contract for sewer lines and a primary sewage treatment plant.bJapan had gifted $130 mil. to CR years ago and threatened to take it away unless it was used -sometimes it takes a lot to move the government here even with they are given the $$... the secondary treatment plant is scheduled for 2025... given the performance so far, I doubt that it will happen, even that far in advance.

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

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