Snagging Utilities at Vila Verde - August 2010

“Get Connected”!!!

Connect with Snagging Overseas begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting with no Notarized Signatures required….!!!!

Further to our long ongoing debate with Electra regarding paperwork for the connection utility service we will be sending the information about this process in the next few days.

As you maybe aware Electra has continually changed the paperwork required during our discussions, more times than the coalition government changed sides during the recent elections! This was primarily over the requirement of a POA for Snagging Overseas begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting authorising connection of the services.

We have, at great length, explained to Electra how expensive, time consuming and unnecessary this can be. Particularly in view that we have connected utilities on other islands without requiring these documents. (And through Electra!) (Go Figure!!)

With this in mind we have secured an agreement with Tecnicil where by it would act as a guarantor for Snagging Overseas begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting and on behalf of the new legal owners of the property.

In order to proceed with the applications for the connections we needed to ask our clients if you have or intend to enter into the Tecnicil Rental agreement.

For those clients signed up for the rental agreement, Tecnicil will guarantee with Electra that they will be responsible for missed payments.

For those that are not in the rental pool Tecnicil may request an additional payment of 100 Euros to cover possible missed payments. This deposit is refundable to Snagging Overseas begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting Clients should the non – rental owners decide to either enter the rental agreement or change the contract into their own or another persons name. This can be done on Sal at the Electra office in the capital.

For further information and the costs and pricing of our service please email info@snaggingoverseas.com or contact us on our new number! 00 351 289 516 650 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 00 351 289 516 650 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

All our current clients signed up will receive an Email from Serafina on Thursday 12th August( we're not saying she's superstitious but no way was this being sent on Friday 13th! )

Snagging OverEaster - Deep in the Heart of Catholic Ibeira

A typical Easter sunday afternoon on the beach.........

Last Sunday highlighted the interesting Paradox between events held in the Algarve. On the one hand you could witness the sheer power of the World Class Super Bikes held at the ever so spanking new Portimao Motordrome…or a few minutes over the river you could indulge in cultural excellence in the form of the Moldavian National Opera House with their outstanding performance of “ Carmen “

Set in Seville this world famous opera has been performed all over the world – and this weekend in Seville sees the semanta festival which is one of the most important in the Spanish calendar.

In view of the many fiestas taking place in this most important snag free weekend please note the Snagging Overseas head office here in Portugal will be closed over the Easter break from Thursday 1 April until Wednesday 7 April. If you have any queries in the meantime you can direct email traffic to info@snaggingoverseas.com which will be monitored and in emergencies contact 00 351 289 586 581.

We hope at some point during the Easter break that we will receive divine snagging intervention that will clear up the ongoing Electra and utility connections saga!

On behalf of all the worldwide snagging team have a great Easter (and not too much chocolate!)

Snagging Conundrum..Retreat? Hell No! We're just fighting in a different direction..!

And so goes the quote from an American General in the Vietnam war!




...And just when we thought it was safe to go back in the water…..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(What the snag was the name of that film..??!! Glues: Benchley, Bruce and bigger boats!)

Well done to those keen eyed Snagging Overseas blog regulars!! You spotted the utility offer service for the first 20 to sign up must have "slightly"exceeded that number! And just to make it more fun for the Sal Snagging Crew the information costs were incorrect as well! Thank heavens we only obtained that information from Electra – whoops! True to our word and Serafina’s purse we'll fight to get the correct information in future!

For those about to sign up we can confirm that the utility connection service will remain at 50 Euros with Electra’s costs at an additional charge. As their figures have changed as many times as an Enron accountant in the last few days we will advise you at the point of connection.

We understand Electra’s costs this week, for example, a Three bed room apartment is 50 Euros - smaller properties should be less (however this is Cabo Verde so we’ll only know when we are there sweating in the office!)

As before, for those that want to register just send an email to info@snaggingoverseas.com with your property details and we’ll send a Payment request for the 50 Euro connection service – when we eventually have the opportunity to connect we’ll send you a further payment request with Electra’s fees.

Many thanks for your continued support and well spotted the Snag Blog groupies’! (And you know who you are!!) ( and you should get out more!! )

By the way, Serafina tells us constantly that we have to put links in, help our clients find useful information. So here is the link of the week:

http://www.electra.cv/

The last time we went there the site had suffered what the IT boys and girls call a DSN Hijack, ie, it redirects you to a place where you can buy dodgy loptops off the back of a lorry. Go figure!

Have a snag free week!

Snagging Super Sunday at the Superbowl!!

New Orlean Saints v Indianana Colts v CSI v The Who!

Although Florida is known as the Sunshine state it actually has a similar climate to Southern Portugal. Today the sun is shining, its 20 degrees and a far cry from the last snow that fell on Albufeira in 1913 – Serafina doesn’t understand the fuss recently in the UK and Ireland (!) Here its great weather to snag and clean!

Ironically plans are afoot to launch our next phase of Global Snagging Domination as we intend to snag and clean our way around the sunshine state in Florida. Now that Grisham has retired from “Crime Scene Investigation” he’s a must for a snagging job! For now though most of the eyes of the world will be homing in on Miami on Sunday along with practically every American for the ultimate game of games : Superbowl!


Nearly 200 million Americans alone watched it last year with the live feed going to another 230 countries. (It was “live “in Sal 3 weeks later!) Hoping to avoid repeats of Nipplegate and chronic half time miming the organizers have brought in one of THE bands to entertain the masses – Get your mohair pressed, fire up the 2 stroke and get ready to rumble for “The Who” – as Mr. Daltry will be booming out the 3 theme tunes to the global phenomena that is CSI (Question of the week has not been will Manning outfox Brees (of course he will) but which Who tunes go with which CSI!! – Can you name them? )
Hopefully they’ll play live rather than lip sync as there are few sights better to witness in rock than Mr. Townsend windmill his guitar into a musical frenzy. Genius!

Here are the boys opening their European Tour in Lisbon 2007 - We were there and we Snagged them! And then cleaned the Pavillion! Serafina managed to get hospitality tickets for herself and the family but we managed to snag them! Geddit??

Have a snag free week!

And NOW... Dubai!

Yes, it's amazing but after Turkey we have already begun working in a new destination: Dubai! Dubai has been almost synonomous with international property for several years now so it only makes sense Snagging Overseas now finds many clients there in need of pre completion and post completion services.

Surely Dubai is a tough place to work, you might ask? Not at all. In fact, there has been an unremitting level of proffesionalism and attention which is simply brilliant.

We have not snagged any propery as yet but are now taking on clients. Anyone who has bought in any part of Dubai or indeed. Ras al Khaimah can contact us in the usual way on info@snaggingoverseas.com or just by visiting the website.

Good luck to all of us!

So what is Snagging really all about?

So Snagging is just like, looking for defects right?

Yes and no. At Snagging Overseas we believe that snagging is not just wandering through a new apartment and noting down the slight defects in the workmanship. Snagging is the final step in the buying process that you began when you paid the reservation fee. Snagging is the introduction of your new investment to the critical eye of professionals who will inform you objectively if you should go ahead and sign the title deeds.

Well, alright, it does also involve wandering through the property and jotting down some notes. However, we like to think that our experience and candidness means that we really appraise the property and it’s surroundings where relevant. We apply our Five Point Snagging Process and systematically vet your property. Many times we have snagged with the owner present and they marvel at the details we pick up on. Many clients comment on the fact that they would not have thought of looking there, or under that. Old tricks, like filling the bath to see if the grouting holds, is just an example of tried and tested methods that we apply. Do the loos flush? Do the lights work?

Owners get self conscious when viewing their own property. They sometimes don’t want to find any problems because it will be upsetting to them. Perhaps make them think they made a poor investment choice. Some clients ask us NOT to send the snagging inspection report to them. Just to guarantee that we will liaise with their legal representatives and the builder to ensure that the defects (snags) are sorted and in this way they move into their dream property without ever knowing it might not have been at its best at some stage.

So whether the property is for you or for rental and long term investment, it is always worth it to get the professionals in. We will snag for you so that you don’t have to.

Snagging in the Algarve

This year has seen, some might say inevitably, a drop in the quality of finish and in the levels of "perfection" as many workers would say, all across the sites in the Algarve. This is not counting the sites that have, sadly, just stopped.

At Snagging Overseas, we have had an increase of 43% of the size of our snag reports and paperwork. Presumably the drop in commercial activity is having a knock on affect as our developers struggle to combat the lack of credit and the overall lack of liquidity in the market.

We believe this is a temporary glitch, but would always recommend that when buying property in these difficult times, choose a builder with a solid reputation. From our extensive experience we would be happy to recommend one for you.

Snagging should be a simple checklist, not a protracted battle, and we are confident that this industry, although suffering a lack of confidence, will return to its vibrant and dynamic state.