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Post by crojoe on Apr 23, 2009 15:01:13 GMT 1
In case anyone is planning to build, then there is a construction fair happening at the Velesium till Sunday. Not mega huge, but you get to see what’s available and maybe some newish items on the market. Costs 30 Kuna for day ticket, plus about 10 Kuna for parking, plus 9 Kuna for coffee and so forth. Saw two companies offering pool installations (although big price difference between the two companies), then you got companies show casing their goods such as fireplaces, roof tiles, bricks, and I saw one company with that thermo heating / cooling coils you bury in the ground and so forth. A lot of aircon companies (Croatians love to be cool), then there was flooring items, solar power (very pricy in Croatia), and heating. A couple of pre-fab builders, although all their designs didn't cut the cake with me, and sure with their asking prices you can buy the goods, hire some Bosnians and build it yourself. I tend to think the fair is getting smaller each year. I went to one two years back and it was huge. By the way, I get no benefits for writing this, as I had to pay for the 30 Kuna entrance fee and my coffee. Parking was free, as I drove past the paid parking attendants, and up the road a little to free parking (ssssh, don't tell Zagreb Holding or they'll put in parking meters).
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Post by Madgolfer on Apr 23, 2009 17:27:52 GMT 1
I wonder if the somewhat "limited" size and attendance this year is due to the recession? More than likely!
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Post by galant on Apr 23, 2009 21:00:45 GMT 1
whos planning to build? 1stly getting all the permits is like trying to launch your own space shuttle program. 2ndly...you cant get many aspects of bulding something done without connections.
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Post by crojoe on Apr 23, 2009 21:21:04 GMT 1
That’s why as a foreigner, you get yourself an architect, who then does all that fun running around for you. Now that EU people no longer need to go through the ministry for permit to buy land, it should be a bit easier, but be prepared to take about 6 to 8 months for all permits to come in, and then build.
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Post by felicia on Apr 23, 2009 21:36:53 GMT 1
It seems then that you have never employed an 'architect' in this country!! No 'running around' no permissions, no competence, no nothing. Then try and get a 'lawyer' to sort it all out. You'd be lucky indeed. Trust no-one, risk nothing, in fact just keep away.
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Post by crojoe on Apr 23, 2009 23:06:30 GMT 1
felicia... maybe you should enquire about facts before you make judgement, as I have purchased land, and although it took ages, it worked. You just got to watch for pit falls, and double check everything. Anyway, must go.., land ho!
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Post by galant on Apr 24, 2009 7:25:14 GMT 1
cro joe, you may be one of the lucky ones, you probably arent building along the coast. i agree more with felicia, particularly if you want to build in dalmatia, from what i know, it is very very difficult, often impossible, not only to find legal land to build on, but getting the infrastructure, just purchasing the land with all the documants, getting the permits etc... the running around to the "opcina" ..etc... they love saying NO in the opcina, its their automatic response to investors, unless you hand em some cookies under the table through a 3rd person, if you can find a 3rd person, cos these days they are well hidden. nightmare. when im on the subject of corruption...funny how the recent court case around that INDEX university diploma scam... the people in court were laughing at the accused and the people involved , yet most very likely all the other farts in the court room either bought their diplomas; had their commy parents and connections get them diplomas; or at the very least knew of diploma buying...even i knew about it 10 years ago, and i didnt even go to school here. it is general knowledge. i dont get what they are pretending ...soooo irritating, pathetic behaviour. thats why beaurocrats are so abusive in croatia, its their insecurioty, particularly when dealing with foreigners, cos they feel educationaly inferior when dealing with foreigners. and thats why their are so many weird intersections, traffic light arrangements, traffic merging intersections and totaly weird signs...cos the "promet" uni is one of the most corrupt.
anyway... if you manage to get something built, then expect some sort of surprises. then if you get that all settled, you still have the neighbourse to deal with. hey but atleast you may have a nice view, to sit back and get pissed. haha
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Post by felicia on Apr 24, 2009 8:17:43 GMT 1
galant: Yes, I DO have a fantastic view. I also have the architect and (one of) lawyer as neighbours!!! (Well, down the road). Plotting revenge is sweet! I also have a fantastic builder/handyman who is slowly carrying out all the remedial work which compensates somewhat.
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Post by crojoe on Apr 24, 2009 8:59:27 GMT 1
Yes, I’m not building on the coast, so guess not as many people vying for position, location and "birthday" money.
Heard land on the coast is at a premium, and with the Croatian fear of the foreign devils swarming in to buy it all up, they stall. What they don't see is it's a two way street.., not just foreigners buying but Croatians selling, and not cheaply. Every year there is an outcry in the media about foreigners (millions) buying land on the coast, so guess there is that underlining fear factor that grips people?
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Post by Madgolfer on Apr 26, 2009 2:39:44 GMT 1
I think its very different for us Crojoe, being in Zagreb ;D Getting things done are much easier up this way than for those at the coast it seems With regard to the other comments above, I must agree with Crojoe, that as long as you get the right people on board the planning process is fairly straight forward, not that much different to the UK, and one which we have negotiated several times now.
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Post by Carol on Apr 26, 2009 8:29:14 GMT 1
I would never say its easy on the coast but I don't think its as today difficult as galant and felicia imply. I recall Galant in an earlier incarnation described problems with building on some land his family bought - access road troubles etc and its true that if you buy a plot which is not zoned for what you to build then you are taking on a whole heap of trouble. But the zoning (GPU) is by and large done at long last the biggest hurdle has been removed. After that the main problems people face is with the DPU (detailed urban plan) and possibly the neighbours.
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Post by crojoe on Apr 26, 2009 16:24:34 GMT 1
About buying land... you have to make sure the road access is included on the purchase document, land plan, and included in the land registry document. Never ever just do a verbal agreement with the person your purchasing land from that an access road is either communal or will be there when all plots of land are sold.
Also, beware of buying say two plots side by side in hopes of connecting the two as one. The process takes years.
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Post by francis on Apr 26, 2009 19:21:55 GMT 1
I have some plots, around dubrovnik, and its not easy, one with a permit foe a villa, which i am trying to change to 6 apartment, started in 2006, and still waiting, but this is dubrovnik and out side investor are not welcome, down here its bad, and they dont have people in the planing office that can do the job, everything has to be appeal to Zagreb, most could be done bye a phone call, but they love the paper work. and then they pull you on something else, anything for a appeal, they really make them selves look stupid ,which they are, so anyone looking for nice plots let me no.
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Post by mrhappy on Apr 27, 2009 12:32:55 GMT 1
I read this as Corruption Fair on in Zagreb
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Post by crojoe on Apr 27, 2009 14:12:21 GMT 1
Mr Happy, you make me laugh!
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