New house owner needs help

[sheldon]

I have just bought a little stone house on island near Vodice that needs some work done. The problem is that I was only given one contact who has given me a quote that seems v. high. I am also not convinced that he really knows what he is doing. i.e seems to think a gutter just ends on a terrace and not go into a drain. Where does water go? Also not convinced what he says is damp is not condensation.

So...anyone know of a decent, reliable builder or bloke who knows electrics. plumbing and damp proofing in the area and who doesnt think all Brits are millionaires?

It would also be nice to get to know anyone who lives around there as I intend to stay for longer periods when the house is done. Getting ideas on shops to visit re fixtures and furnishings would be good over a coffee of one of those fantastic pizzas.

[Carol]

the problem with guttering, downpipes and drains seems to be quite common. We (also brits in Croatia) couldn't understand why our builder thought he'd gone the extra mile when he put in a downpipe as well as guttering. But we could not persude him that a drain was required to finish the whole water removal process. In the end he was half right... it doesn't rain so much here so its just not so much of an issue and I guess that's why our neighbours don't even bother with the guttering. (it only costs a few kuna a metre...)

[mambo]

Sheldon,

Unfortunately I have to inform you that not only the builders think that every foreigner is a millionaire, but also all the other Croatians think this, so be prepared for a nice surprise.

My best advice is to find a local who you can trust (I know it is difficult) and have this person arrange everything. Let him/her pretend that she represents a local family, that used to live near Vodice, but that was displaced because of Tito. Now the family has decided to move back and this house will be their base in the near future and grandma is going to live there first.

I know it sounds far fetched, but you will be amazed at the prices you all of a sudden will receive. Keep one thing in mind though: don't show your face at all during the negotiations. Just make sure to keep tabs on this person you trust, so doublecheck.

And as for real spets, people who know what they are doing ?

Good luck !

One last advice, never pay any money up front, because once they have the money all your warranty is out of the window. In fact you may be happy if they ever show up.
Simply tell them that you will pay instantly when work is finished after you checked it. If they cannot prefinance it is better not to do business with them, they won't have any money to give you the warranty you deserve.

I know it sounds harsh, but it is the sad reality in this country. I learned it the hard way, gave them the benefit of the doubt, did not want to look like an a*s*shole and thus burned my a*s*s a few times.

Do yourself a favor and save yourself the experience of learning the hard way.

[sheldon]

Thanks for the replies. Without walking down the street of my house knocking on doors asking for a friend, I can't see how I am going to become friendly enough with a local to do as Mambo suggested.

Carol, if you work for A Place in Dalmatia, do they not have a list of reasonable builders in the Dalmatia area? If so, could you possilby e-mail it to me?

[sheldon]

Oh I forgot to mention should anyone be interested that my permission to own the house I bought only 6 weeks ago as a private person has just come through! I was expecting it to take at least a year, so am in total shock that I have to now find the 5% much earlier that expected. But the new laws must be working, unless they realised what an Asset I was to have in the country. ho hum.

[Carol]

sorry sheldon we got our fingers burned by recommending a builder to one of our clients. the builder let the client down and the client blamed us, thus destroying a good relationship into which we had put a lot of effort. So now we dont make recommendations, only suggestions and then only if we are very confident that the service will live up to expectations, otherwise there is only downside for us. same goes for lawyers accountants etc. At this moment I dont know a good builder in your area. If you were my client i would try to find you some suggestions but ...! One thing you could try though is www.kolonada.net. Their work is good and they manage building projects.

[Charles]

Sheldon,

We don't really have any building contacts in that area but try the guys below who are a very well established, respected agency. We have a good relationship with them. Ask for Milica. She speaks good english and is very helpful

www.domus-nekretnine.hr/index_en.htm

++ 385 22 444-620

DOMUS NEKRETNINE
Trg kneza Branimira 36 B
22211 Vodice
Croatia

Permission in 6 weeks is an absolute record! I can only think it was a mistake, was kept on the top of the pile and somehow got stamped in ignorance! Must be worth a piece in Slobodna Dalmacija about how efficiency is increasing in the great leap forward. Doesn't help a current client of ours who has to sell now and still doesn't have permission after over a year and is being blackmailed by the developer he bought from to pay extra cash or he won't help him.

[darcy]

My 2c are:
- It is ideal to find an honest local, but often that is not an option - they would rather try to rip you off and make a good laugh in the local pub, then take your business
- Shop around
- Ask someone to help you and check with tradesmen advertised in the papers from the big cities - Zadar or Sibenik, even Split first
- Check with the tradesmen localted inland - Obrovac, Knin, even southern Bosnia - Kupres, Livno, Mostar
- Do not hesitate to try with the tradesmen from Zagreb, Rijeka (Istria in general) for major works as they are people to do more serious business with
- Do not be surprised if you get some insane quotes, it is the same story like purchasing houses
- Do not despair, there are people looking for work and (hopefully) you do not need to think about offering your UK handyman and his family free holiday in Croatia, fares included