When things go wrong, the effects can range from a minor irritation to a major problem. These are some real problems that we have had to manage during the last 12 months. Is your property being properly looked after?

Virtually all uninhabited properties will need to have water and electricity supplies switched on all year round. Those with swimming pools expect that they will be effectively maintained.

Most major problems with water are generally associated with swimming pools and gardens. Swimming pools need to be filled regularly in the summer particularly, and similarly, gardens need to be watered. Garden watering is usually achieved by the use of automatic timers. Water is a precious resource and all properties are fitted with water meters.  Excessive use and water wastage can be heavily penalized by the utility companies. 

One area of concern for non-resident home owners is the early detection of leaks. Water leaks if not detected, can cause a great deal of damage. However, that is not all! As well as the problems you will face repairing the damage and claiming on insurance policies, owners will have an unpleasant surprise when they discover the cost of the water bill. Such bills are usually paid by direct debit and the first you may know of a problem is when you see your bank statement! You know that your next bill will be as bad if you don't get it fixed. 

Another major problem is the negligence of property maintainers. Swimming pools are filled by leaving unattended hoses on for hours on end. Garden watering systems are set wrongly and not altered when weather conditions change - like in the wet winters.

Electrical supplies are slightly different. In effect they are either on or off! When they are on, the pool pump works, the heating and ventilation works, the security lighting and cameras etc all work. When it goes off, the property can deteriorate quite rapidly, especially in bad weather. Nine times out of ten, the reason for loss of power is simply a power cut. But there are hidden dangers in Spain. Old bills can suddenly appear and if unpaid, the supply company just switches you off without warning.

Here are just a few issues and problems that we have managed in the last 12 months:

a) A swimming pool pump was found to be set to filter for 13 hours a day leading to extraordinarily high electricity bills.

b) A swimming pool water level was so low that the skimmer inlet was drawing in air resulting in the total failure and replacement of the pump.

c) More than one pool filled to overflowing on a regular basis leading to very high water usage. The water is left on whilst the maintainer leaves to service another pool elsewhere before returning some hours later to turn the water off.

d) A client's power supply cut off just 3 days before their first tenants arrived. The problem also seriously affected the swimming pool which, as the filter pump was not working, instantly became contaminated with algae and was unusuable. After payment of the bill and swift remedial action in the pool, the villa was ready for occupation on time.

e) Another villa owner arrived at 3am on a cold winter Sunday to find all their heating off and frozen food defrosted and going off due to power failure. The local supplier had cut the power off due to an unpaid direct debit. A phone call and a swift payment restored supplies almost immediately.

f) A gardening water system was found to have major leaks on the hose network. Every time the system switched on, which was for far too long anyway, the water simply poured away to waste. The hose was replaced and the timer reset leading to immediate cost savings.

g) After serious storms, major damage to roofs was quickly repaired and made watertight, with all internal damage cleaned up. Photographs were taken to assist the client with insurance claims.

h) Gardens not maintained and foliage and weeds left unchecked.

i) Finally, we once carried out a spot check for a client and found wet washing left in the villa, and other washing in the owner's washing machine. The wet washing had been left for so long that mildew was present and it all had to be replaced.

Our regular property checks are of significant importance. We report back on the condition of all aspects of the property whether we maintain them or not.

Costa Property Services assists our clients with all such problems. We have achieved success as the result of being able to provide a superior and consistently high level of service with the interests of our clients as our first responsibility. 

You need never again feel let down by your property manager. Call or email now for more details of how we can help you.