Problems? whats your story

[PETERFC]

Hi All

Myself like others are looking to move to Portugal, me in the near future. Do you have a story to tell, can others learn from it, then please feel free and let the rest of use know.

By telling us your story others may benefit for it.

Peter

[silvers]

Cars.
Second hand are expensive, if you then try to sell it, you have little chance. The dealers will not give you a fair price and the Portuguese buy on the drip and so don't have the cash to buy.
If you are going to buy here, try to get new or be prepared to drive the one you do buy into the ground, to get value for your hard earned.

[Mr.Blueskies]

"You naughty man Peter, asking a question like that !


"Everything is wonderful here !!!!!

[PETERFC]

Hi Mr Blueskies

You say "Everything is wonderful here !!!!!

Sold the business premises contracts i hope this Friday, now sell the business.

Sell a house with a tenant?.

Become an EX sell our home and split up everything i have worked for in the last 30 years.

What do i get in the end, to be happy

Peter

[Mr.Blueskies]

"Well Peter, you are on your way now ! Sell a house with a tenant ? hmmm
Is he a good tenant ? lol asset or liability ? lol Hope he doesn't hold out for a
dropsy.

[Mr.Blueskies]

Getting back to the original topic. I agree 100% with what Silvers has said
re: cars. The other grey areas in my opinion are (a) Property. It is essential to get it right first time, ie location, price, size of house etc and getting the right people on your team, goes without saying. Get it wrong and you will be stuck with the wrong house, that you may never manage to re-sell.

The second grey area that I have found is getting work done for a fair price. As an example. I was looking to have new weatherglaze windows installed in a house. First guy gave me a quote for €18,000 and wanted 50% paid in advance. Second guy gave me a quote for €5,300 and did not want a penny until the job was done to my satisfaction. Others come and look and you
never hear from or see them again.

[omostra06]

The biggest problem i personally encountered was "planning" the planning process here can be a mine field, it can take a long time and cost a lot in fees.

But the biggest problems with planning is that people are unaware of whats involved, buying rebuild property on the say so of rouge agents that tell them its easy to get electric connected, easy to rebuild a ruin, dont need planning permission if you build on the footprint etc etc, all things that people find out the hard way are not as easy as they are told it will be.

In my line of work i get to meet many people and recieve emails and calls from people asking advise, normally after they have bought some old ruin and want to rebuild and get connected to electric etc, some at thier wits end because of the amount of work and stress involved in getting planning,

some buy old ruins and are unaware or led astray by people just wanting to get a sale, and think they can rebuild without permission, others do some research and get nervous about whats involved and then ignore planning permission and just rebuild or build without any permission, most of these get a vist from the camara......and are faced with lots of problems.

To avoid any problems make sure you do as much research about what you can and cant do to a building , before buying it. there is loads of info on the web about planning permission in portugal these days.

[nelinha]

Problems yes, I was told the other day that if you ask 3 Portuguese experts for their opinion on anything, you will get 4 different expert opinions!!! I'm having the same problem, trying to get a concertina type awning installed on my first floor terrace, some have told me I need camara approval, others that I don't, I even had the opinion that I must go ahead, install it and if someone denounces me and the municipal police come, then I must pay the fine and start the licencing process at the camara!!!!

[Mr.Blueskies]

Can anyone give any guidelines, as to what can safely be done without planning permission ? For example, I have been told that old windows can be replaced with new without permission as long as the widows are not enlarged.
Also that all interior work can be done and interior partition walls added in safety ?


I have a garage at the front of my house that just needs garage doors fitted, front and back. Could I install windows and sliding doors front and back and so turn it into additional living space without planning permission ?

[silvers]

Dear Mr Bluepies,
It is my belief that the answers are, in order,
Yes, no and no.