Lawyer Silver Coast

[omostra06]

You were trying to insinuate the person you did business with in the past, was in some way unprofessional and by tarring everyone with the same brush you were trying to imply my company must be just as bad, as he is now in our employ.

This is what I take issue with. Your use of statements like 'pots and kettles' and 'red lights and alarm bells' show this is exactly how you felt and this is the impression you wanted to give, obviously to get some reaction.

This of course is your opinion and you are entitled to voice it and I encourage people to voice their opinions and share their experiences good or bad, as you are very well aware as I am known to you from various forums over several years.

I appreciate you have finally acknowledged my company has nothing to do with the problems you experienced when trying to buy a house. As you know I tried my best to offer you advice and help on this matter as I do with many others on this forum and other forums.

Dont forget I have now heard both sides of this story and I still chose to stay impartial. We still have Michael in our employment as we have no issue what so ever with the standard of his work while working for us and I still offer you impartial advice.

As you well know I have often suggested if you feel unhappy make a complaint to the relevant people. I also offered you various suggestions on how to help resolve your problems without any loss of money.

You see I am able to take both parties at face value and give both the benefit of the doubt, not tarring everyone with the same brush.

Its a pity you are unable to do the same.

[Mr.Blueskies]

I have never said at any point that your company was in any way involved with the problems that I experienced, simply because it was not. However, if one looks at the link posted by Peter, which shows the advice that you gave to me previously and when this situation was unfolding you said, [ In my experience if everyone, lawyer,estate agent etc want 50% at the promessa which is not normal, they might know something that you don't about the property or the owner...] [This way if/when it all goes wrong they have all been paid, even if the sale does not complete] [Normally the lawyer and agent will wait until after completion to get paid, this sounds like they were not expecting this sale to go through] These are all your own words Derek and this is how it happened.

So this I would suggest does point to the people who I did business with in the past, being unprofessional. It is not like I have just made it all up to cause trouble. I have every right to be annoyed about what happened. It is unfortunate that as the present employer and by association that you and your agency were indirectly also drawn into this.

Obviously, this comes with the territory and is part and parcel of being in the estate agency business.

[omostra06]

Originally Posted by Mr.Blueskies

[ In my experience if everyone, lawyer,estate agent etc want 50% at the promessa which is not normal, they might know something that you don't about the property or the owner...] [This way if/when it all goes wrong they have all been paid, even if the sale does not complete] [Normally the lawyer and agent will wait until after completion to get paid, this sounds like they were not expecting this sale to go through] These are all your own words Derek and this is how it happend.

Here are some more of my own words as a post note to the above advice I offered you in the quote...

"they might know something that you don't about the property or the owner.."
I would like to add to this statement....."or the buyer!"

perhaps your actions led them to think you would pull out of the sale, perhaps they guessed at the start that you would never complete the purchase...oh and that did happen didnt it! it was you that pulled out was it not?

see there are always two sides to everything!!

I dont intend to waste any more of my time on this subject,
I am happy to offer help or advice to anyone that wants it....but iam not going to waste any more time talking to you about your problem.

[Mr.Blueskies]

"Grasping at straws, now Derek!

The buyer was a cash buyer. The lawyer requested and received half of her fee at the promessa, which she said was normal procedure. "Have receipt for this ! She also requested that I send all of the fees connected with the purchase weeks before the signing, which I did. "Have receipts for that also !
Hardly the actions of a timewaster and someone who was not serious about buying the place ?

My daughter had also now been enrolled at the school nearest to this house. The vendor next gave me a signing date for early July because he knew I was working to a time scale and really needed to get the inside and outside work done so that I could move in with all work completed by the end of August when I was due to vacate the rented house which was 30km from the school.

Now with a definate signing date, wifes brother (structural engineer) now comes from Dubai to oversee this project and ensure that the work is done properly and for a fair price after the rip off prices that I had been quoted. The vendor next cancells the signing date and my brother in law can now do nothing.
Lawyer now suggests that I should just go ahead and do all of the work anyway before the signing. I do not. Brother in law returns to Dudai after eight weeks, nothing done. Work crew that had been assembled and ready to go after the signing are now all gone to do other things.

What good was this used house now going to be with my project manager gone and the work crew also ? School now due to commence in 10 days time.

But then, I have already told you all of this haven't I. ?

[omostra06]

Originally Posted by Mr.Blueskies

"Grasping at straws, now Derek!

The buyer was a cash buyer. The lawyer requested and received half of her fee at the promessa, which she said was normal procedure. "Have receipt for this ! She also requested that I send all of the fees connected with the purchase weeks before the signing, which I did. "Have receipts for that also !
Hardly the actions of a timewaster and someone who was not serious about buying the place ?

My daughter had also now been enrolled at the school nearest to this house. The vendor next gave me a signing date for early July because he knew I was working to a time scale and really needed to get the inside and outside work done so that I could move in with all work completed by the end of August when I was due to vacate the rented house which was 30km from the school.

Now with a definate signing date, wifes brother (structural engineer) now comes from Dubai to oversee this project and ensure that the work is done properly and for a fair price after the rip off prices that I had been quoted. The vendor next cancells the signing date and my brother in law can now do nothing.
Lawyer now suggests that I should just go ahead and do all of the work anyway before the signing. I do not. Brother in law returns to Dudai after eight weeks, nothing done. Work crew that had been assembled and ready to go after the signing are now all gone to do other things.

What good was this used house now going to be with my project manager gone and the work crew also ? School now due to commence in 10 days time.

But then, I have already told you all of this haven't I. ?

Exactly.

Your personal circumstances with your build team leaving led you to change your mind about buying the house. You say it yourself above.

So you made the decision to pull out and not buy this house. It was your choice, you were fully aware it would lead to you losing your deposit.

I advised you not to do this at the time. I even explained to you there was a way that you would get your deposit back and still not have to buy the house. You chose to ignore this and just pull out of the sale.

This is of course your choice. You can buy or not buy. Lose your deposit or not lose your deposit. But when your choice leads you to lose money, leaving you feeling bitter and angry, then don't blame everyone and anyone around you as it was your decision which has lead to the situation you are in.

We can all see how you are dealing with this, you are blaming the agent, blaming the lawyer and even recently blaming a totally separate agent, everyone else but you, whom made the decision.

We can of course go back and forward for weeks like this, but I don't intend on wasting any more time on you. I would suggest you do the same and look forward and get on with your new life in Portugal.

[Mr.Blueskies]

Oh,
So do you feel then that all of this is perfectly acceptable behaviour and treatment and A ok ? Is this the sort of thing that lots of people can expect to experience when buying here ?

Perhaps others may also like to share their experiences with us ? "Come on guys don't be shy ! This information will be of value to others. Surely this is the most important point.

[robc]

I am not often motivated to put pen to paper but this ongoing dialogue has finally prompted me to do so.

We have a parcel of Land on the Silver Coast that we intend to build a house on (time, exchange rates and credit crunch permitting). But just because you are in a foreign country does not mean you leave your brain behind.
I cannot think of any circumstance where if I was working to a deadline I would not want the whole thing very clearly mapped out.

Mr Blueskies, without wishing to prompt a tirade in response, can I just ask a couple of questions......

Did you not stop and think that maybe given the time deadline you were working to it would be sensible to purchase a property that was ready for immediate occupancy?

Any property that requires work will generally need the intervention of 3rd parties, this will inevitably mean delays.........this is true of Portugal, UK, Middle East, pretty much anywhere and everywhere in the world.

Why did you think this was going to be different?

I wish you well on your travails in Portugal but it seems to me that perhaps you ought to take a long hard look in the mirror first, then if you like what you see maybe you can start blaming others.

Regards

Rob

p.s. Yes we are having horrendous problems with our plans but that is another story

[PETERFC]

Hi Rob

You said that "Yes we are having horrendous problems with our plans but that is another story"

I am in the Uk and am looking to buy in Central Portugal. I am sorry to hear that you have problems. Many people looking to move to Portugal can learn a lot from people like yourself.

Could you start a post about your experiences that would allow people like me not to make the mistakes of yourself and of others.

I mean no offense suggesting this if i have i am sorry.

Peter

[robc]

Originally Posted by PETERFC

Hi Rob

You said that "Yes we are having horrendous problems with our plans but that is another story"

I am in the Uk and am looking to buy in Central Portugal. I am sorry to hear that you have problems. Many people looking to move to Portugal can learn a lot from people like yourself.

Could you start a post about your experiences that would allow people like me not to make the mistakes of yourself and of others.

I mean no offense suggesting this if i have i am sorry.

Peter

Peter

I know that no offense was intended. I am not entirely sure that opening a thread on that issue would prove to be all that valuable to others looking to move to Portugal.

My issue is with the fact that to get anything done in Portugal seems to take ages, we were ready for planning delays at the Municipality,however, the complete lack of understanding of the need for deliverable timescales by all the Portuguese people who are involved in my project is simply staggering.
For example, I am waiting for some paperwork now, it is ready, I have been told that, all it needs is to be scanned in and emailed to me. This has so far taken a month, and it still has not happened.

I, and I stress this is only my opinion, feel that until such time as rogue agents/lawyers/builders are "named and shamed" then things are not likely to improve. (as should be the case in the UK)

HTH

Rob

[PETERFC]

Hi Rob

I wish to keep away from the present debate but to learn from the experience of others.

I do understand your comments and thanks for the reply. I will start a post in the hope that others who have been dogged with problems will pass on there advice so that we still looking to move can gain from others stories.

Rob thanks mate.

Peter