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Do you think Chris is involved? He did say he was in Spain this week on another
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The Viva website has been up and running since all their offices closed.
If you enquire about properties (you have to be registered) you will get a very pleasant lady who will call you to try and sell you something.
They may have closed their offices but they are still trading.
They have kept a low profile so whether that is about to change only time will tell.
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Since Viva Estates went pop, this is the company that operates the web site.
Viva is a trading name of Viva Homes Under The Sun Ltd, a UK registered company specialising in Spanish property – Company Registration Number 6610205
As it appears right at the bottom of the home page.
If you go on to companies house you can see who the director is, its not Chris
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@katy wrote:
I have just heard tonight that VIVA has a new life. Maybe your Viva or you Viva. 😕
Your Viva,
Chris Mccarthy & co will be in the greenlife building in the elviria/rosario area
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Oh dear…
I don’t know what to do about this one, I only popped into the forum to have a look at how the thread Message to Mark Stucklin was progressing and now up pops this…
All sorts could come from a thread like this and there is the caveat for the forum which I have just copied:
Ask the forum any questions you have about buying, owning and selling property in Spain. NO COMMERCIAL POSTS PLEASE. All posts suspected of being commercially motivated will be edited or deleted.
Then there are potential legal issues involved for me personally in referring to the status or otherwise of the once company or current activity or status of VIVA Estates. Nothing untoward I hasten to add, but I don’t want to be going to get legal advice on anything I say really. It is really not up to me to talk about VE anymore. I can talk about its past but not its present really, and I think we all know that things in Spain are not as easily understood or managed as they are in say the UK.
But then there is the situation with regard to being frank, open and honest, and a real or potential opportunity here to do some good by debating about what people in the market want, need and would work. That is why I spend some time on the forum myself, so I don’t want to lose that because there would be no point really being here.
And I think the guys who are working within a new and entirely separate enterprise could really benefit from that debate, by listening and understanding what happens on forums such as this. And actually acting on the concerns and issues raised here.
I think they are being quite brave and I really do support them in their goals and objectives.
Mmmm…
I don’t know what to do or say really…
I will say this:
Katy, when it comes to VIVA and other interesting CDS tidbits, your always first to the mark and cannily accurate with your occasional one liners.
Fuengi, your as usual well informed and have your finger on the pulse, but it is not the old Greenlife building, it is the old Green Indpendent building that a new company called… your VIVA will be based in.
GJ, My advice, energy and a good bit of my soul will be involved because I have worked with most of these people over 10 years. Yet I still have issues with meeting my responsibilities in other areas, so I really can’t go into too much detail about that, other than to say I hopefully have always taken my responsibilities seriously. Also it is a fact that I am now primarily resident with my family in UK. Hope that is not too vague and mysterious.
Aunty Val, The company VIVA Estates stopped trading quite awhile ago, but the website was something entirely different and under separate ownership, and will I believe be branded differently with a whole new look and feel shortly.
Stevev6, your due diligence is accurate, the Internet is a wonderful thing is it not? That so much is available within a few clicks of a mouse, should hopefully help to stop some of the things that happened in the past.
So, I don’t have anything more to say at this time (unsusual for me hey!), and I hope this covers the various questions, and there be nothing related to commercial posting involved.
Phew…!
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@Chris McCarthy wrote:
So, I don’t have anything more to say at this time (unsusual for me hey!), and I hope this covers the various questions, and there be nothing related to commercial posting involved.
Phew…!
Hi Chris,
did you convince sellers/developers to lower prices?
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@flosmichael wrote:
Hi Chris,
did you convince sellers/developers to lower prices?
I think one of the main aspects of what the guys want to do is absolutely ensure that people have the sense to price their properties effectively for sale.
One of the problems with doing so though is that so many people have the option of putting their property on the market, with so many agents, at whatever price they feel they could ask and often at too high a price, and there really is nothing to be lost in having a ‘punt’ at doing so.
Katy has a concern about money being asked upfront, and it is a valid and real concern, but I advertised my property in the UK for sale about two years ago, and paid a contribution to the marketing of same.
No point me parting with any money if I was not serious about selling and getting the price right to attract buyers, so there may be a price point at which if the vendor was absolutely happy with what they pay for, if there truly was a marketing offer that delivers entirely on its promise, across many different levels, then if they did so, they would be demonstrating to all parties they were a serious seller and the buyer can decide whether the price is right.
This is a long winded way of saying, there is probably an ‘onion’ on its way, something that has layers to unfold, could be smelly and reduce some to tears, but could also be cooked to add immeasurable flavour to the pot.
The team at.. your VIVA, will have as usual some rather ‘out there’ promotion and activity, I am sure it will engender some pretty interesting debate, but I think the feeling is that a lot of lessons have been learned over the years, I think it was in 2007 Mark Stucklin predicted: The Perfect Storm for the Spanish real estate market in 2008 and this has been more than proven. So now after so much has been swept away, it could be time for a fresh start and plenty of change in rebuilding what remains.
Don’t expect the VIVA guys to be ordinary in their approach, expect there to be some fireworks, but also expect them yes, to absolutely only work with Vendors who are committed, sensible and flexible in their approach to sale, there really won’t be any point in doing anything other than that. Which doesn’t mean that a Vendor should only be distressed or desperate and not deserving to recieve an entirely fair and accurate price for their property, they all do.
It is going to be interesting. And I hope for people who have a professional interest like Fuengi this time too, whom VIVA probably upset in the past by not paying due care and attention to their competition, and which lessons will hopefully have been learned also, because there is a lot more to take into account than just price in the market, it is what companies do to help each other and work together that is important. And then plenty of other issues to take into account also.
Somebody has to try and do something different, what is that saying about the definition of insanity? I think it is something like “Doing the same things over and over again, and expecting better results”, somebody also have to believe and act with passion and energy, and if they do so, with either the right or wrong ideas, as long as they do so openly and honestly, they hopefully will be respected for trying.
More than all of that I should not say, and again I have probably said too much already as usual, and I will probably be shot for doing so. But that is the fun part of popping in and out of here!
But I wish Katy could give me some training to just come on, add a line or two that makes sense instead of a whole chapter!
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@Fuengi wrote:
Hi Chris,
I stand corrected. HArd to keep track of all the companies that seem to have green in the name.
Yep I hear that Fuengi, but what about Blue or Olive, and how many other colours down here!
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it is what companies do to help each other and work together that is important. And then plenty of other issues to take into account also.
You certainly proved otherwise to my company. I may hope that one of the issues to take into account is the fact that you on behalf of Viva Estates, have signed twelve (!) letras (bill of exchange or letter of credit in English) to my company, ALL of which BOUNCED.
I wonder how many people on this forum or elsewhere realize how many debts Viva Estates, and therefore you as the administrator, left behind.
Have fun with…….your Viva.
Marijke
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@Marijke wrote:
I wonder how many people on this forum or elsewhere realize how many debts Viva Estates, and therefore you as the administrator, left behind.
Have fun with…….your Viva.
Marijke
Hi Marijke,
Sadly I think it is fact that when any company goes into administration it unfortunately leaves a number of debts behind.
However, I think you will find that VE met its obligations in most part above and beyond the call of duty in respect of a very considerable number of people, and I do feel I am able to walk the streets with my head held reasonably high in that regard.
Now without wishing to enter a personal debate with you here online, although if you so wish we can do so…
You might admit that neither I, nor VIVA Estates had an legal, moral or financial obligation to write letra payments to you, but actually did so entirely out of goodwill in relation to your losses in a related company we had all lost investment it, and also expressly in writing informed you that:
The company was in a position – as many others – where it faced difficult times ahead, and that so long as it survived your payments would be made, but… that inevitably it may fall by the wayside.
I think it a touch disingenuous to give the impression that I may not have acted as appropriately and with as much honour as I could.
However, you are entitled to your opinion and to vent it if you so wish.
Be better perhaps if you could remember the part where I was trying to do the right thing by you, when I had absolutely no legal right to do so, and be even better if one day we had a G&T in our local bar and talked about how to make things right there.
I am happy to always do that if you are.
Cheers
Chris
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@katy wrote:
I do one liners because it’s gossip or opinion. You are being cryptic 😉 Just give us the bottom line 🙂
I have to be off just now, and won’t be back online till tomorrow. When I might have more time to be less cryptic, if you really want to know more, then I will chat with the chaps whilst I am here and see if they are comfortable me talking about their activity.
Could get long winded though, you sure you are up for that?
Have to find a way maybe to break it up into short relevant parts.
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“However, I think you will find that VE met its obligations in most part above and beyond the call of duty in respect of a very considerable number of people, and I do feel I am able to walk the streets with my head held reasonably high in that regard. “
Mr. McCarthy oh how I wish that were true! VE still owe me a good part of my deposit I paid them for a property they sold me which had no planning. Cute enough to pay back just enough to make it not cost effective to sue for the rest.
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@jwc wrote:
“However, I think you will find that VE met its obligations in most part above and beyond the call of duty in respect of a very considerable number of people, and I do feel I am able to walk the streets with my head held reasonably high in that regard. “
Mr. McCarthy oh how I wish that were true! VE still owe me a good part of my deposit I paid them for a property they sold me which had no planning. Cute enough to pay back just enough to make it not cost effective to sue for the rest.
Good morning JWC…
I am not aware of your individual case, which is extremely unusual, as we had a clear policy in VE of any complaints or client issues being passed to me directly.
If you want to PM me on the details I would like to know the circumstances because, another clear policy of VE was that we did not hold or retain client deposits, and although our contract stated clearly stated that in certain cases Vendors could retain funds alongside ourselves, it was our policy to actually return all client deposits.
There would have been simply no mileage whatsover in holding onto a deposit, we were involved in over 10,000 sales including cancelled and lost sales, we wouldn’t have made that many if we tried to make money out of people’s deposits. and most certainly not in the case where a property had no planning and certainly we had a history of acting in clients interests in such cases.
For example, a client of ours placed a deposit and then 30% of funds on a Villa build project, that some months later it transpired not only did not have planning but wasn’t even owned by the person promoting the project.
The client lost a substantial sum of money, and technically, legally, not our fault, however, we along with the lawyer (yes incredible but true), agreed to compensate the client in full for his losses, it took us a year or so of monthly payments but we did so entirely.
Now, I am aware of Marijke’s issue but it actually had zero to do with her being a supplier of services, or a client, or a collaborator, or even being owed a single euro by VE, in fact it was an issue and investment entirely outside the business of VE, which VE tried to resolve amicably and in effect do Marijke and others a favour, for which I have now been effectively and publicly slapped in the face, though I do understand her frustration and have a ton of sympathy for her wanting to land a few blows, so I will take the slap albeit for others perhaps more guilty or responsible than I. But you might indeed have a legitimate issue and have made your statement, so I am really up for looking at your case, because I don’t mind being shot at or held to account. It isn’t much fun, but it is perhaps to be expected given the nature of my former position however at least let me look at the facts as you see them and then…
… let me see who I can contact to find out if there is another side to this story, as I can again assure you we simply DID NOT hold onto client deposits, or at least except in perhaps 3 or 4 exceptional cases in 10 years and across as I have said over 10,000 sales.
So please tell me the story JWC, yet I think it best we do this privately and let’s see whether there is something I or perhaps you are not aware of here, as I am very suprised not be aware of your case or that you never directly contacted me in the past if you had issues.
I look forward to hearing from you and I will look into this straight away.
Chris
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Beacause the old website(http://www.vivaestates.com) is the intellectual property of the current owners of the website, who are currently not YOUR or My Viva, see my post on the first page
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Well Chris never claimed to be the owner of Your Viva. Although it possible i did miss that. Its not for me to say why ownership is not under his name. There are many reasons, and I’m sure he would not appreciate speculation along those lines
What I will say is this
All emails I have recieved from the your Viva team all link back to the viva estates website.
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Fuengi
You are right when when you say Chris never claimed to be the owner of My Viva, he did say however he was out to ‘have a chat to the guys’ and ‘the guys have got it all to do’ or such like.
If he is involved I wish him all the best, dont know him personaly but know people who do, he is certainly a worker and a decent bloke even if some of his fomer employees have been found lacking.
As far as the website is concerned, if you are getting mails from someone @ vivaestates.com I guess this is what they will be using, however if you do a look up at a WHOIS look up site, cross reference this with companies house etc you will see what im saying.
If the newco is using the old url it will need a real make over, look forward to itSteve
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Being detached as I am, it would be good to find out what their strategy is. Do they know something that everyone is is missing. Surely their re-emergence must be backed up with some concrete plan.
I think that their comeback is good news but I am a little bemused as to how they will perform while their competetitors are disapearing on a weekly basis
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This was sent to me recently and they make a lot of sense.
Richard Branson – Business Entrepreneur
“If you have the money to spend, spend it in times of recession.”Rachel Elaugh – ex-Dragons Den business woman.
“Business is simple really – it’s about flogging lots of stuff”Sam Walton, Founder of Wall Mart
“I was asked what I thought about the recession. I thought about it and decided not to take part.”Jonathan Jay – Author & BBC2’s ‘Now I’m The Boss’ Presenter
“If you can make your business operate during a downturn, you’ll be a superstar when the economic scales tip. During a recession, you’ll learn how to keep on top of your cash flow and you’ll learn the art of negotiation. The businesses that are crumbling now were bad businesses. They got lazy’Business Link – Government Business Resource
“Businesses that invest in marketing during an economic downturn can outperform those that decrease their marketing efforts by a large margin. The current slowdown in the economy creates a perfect opportunity for you to increase your presence as other businesses may be cutting back on their marketing.Peter Fader – Marketing Professor
“As companies slash advertising in a downturn, they leave empty space in consumers’ minds for aggressive marketers to make strong inroads”Sir John Templeton – Pioneer Investor – Wall Street
“The best opportunities occurred at the time of pessimism”Mike Kershaw, Chairman Concerto Group
“Understand exactly where you are financially and forecast the next few weeks as accurately as you can. Downsize if you have to but keep marketing. Keep looking for new opportunities.”Simon Naudi – Managing Director – Answers Training International Ltd
You need to take positive action. In ignorance many companies pull the plug on their training and marketing budgets when times get tough but that is short sighted. Why do businesses decline? Usually because they have less clients or their current clients spend less with them. Sell more, advertise more, train more and do more!“.McGraw-Hill Research study
“Research found that those businesses which chose to maintain or raise their level of advertising expenditures during the 1981 & 1982 recession had significantly higher sales after the economy recovered. Companies that advertised aggressively during the recession had sales 256% higher than those that did not continue to advertise” -
I haven’t had time to read the forum much over the past few weeks, and I don’t really feel that it is my place to comment on what the yourVIVA team are doing, I am officially retired for now and living in the UK, and I think it is best that I keep my contributions to the forum as they have been over the past several months to other non related issues.
I enjoy reading the forum, and I am very pleased that I have been made so welcome over the past 6 months or so and I don’t want to spoil that with commercial posting.
I find JWC’s list above to be fascinating however and having worked with the people behind yourVIVA, over 10 years specifically within the old VIVA, and 10 years before that on other projects and within other companies, I think they have a similar view as to much of the entreprenurial quotes above and will be delivering a lot of similar activity.
They have a huge passion for the Costa del Sol and life and living on the coast, they have a whole new approach through mediums they have used before and a range of options for everyone.
All business is about charging for a product or a service, where they make charges or have fees, I think they have learned many lessons over the past decade and they will endeavour to always deliver on their promise going forward and be accountable for doing so.
Let’s see how they progress with their plans over the coming months, however I myself am being dragged away on a long family holiday for three weeks to South Africa, first proper holiday in 5 years, to a place I have never been and I am not being allowed internet access by the family, so I can’t comment anyway, but look forward to catching up on all the other issues in the forum upon my return.
I find it hugely encouraging though that the people of this forum are prepared to give the yourVIVA guys are real chance, and that let us see what and how they deliver over a period of time.
Let’s all hope the economy worldwide improves over the next month as well and that there appear at least some green shoots of recovery or positive elements, because there is way too much doom and gloom around for us all to cope with really.
And I wonder what South Africa is going to be like?
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@Chris McCarthy wrote:
Let’s all hope the economy worldwide improves over the next month as well and that there appear at least some green shoots of recovery or positive elements, because
Hope dies last.
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I picked up this independent review about Viva Estates from an Agent Review gathered on Eye on Spain.
The overall rating compares with my own experience of them
Nice people to deal with.
Misled Clients.
Almost no after sales support.
Abusive when pushed.Very pleased when they disappeared and hope it stays that way? No doubt that Chris is a charismatic character who’s enjoyed great success with his Sales methods but his old Company has much to answer for!!
REVIEWED: Viva Estates
The following reviews are those submitted by Eye on Spain members and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Eye on Spain.
Ratings are on a scale from 1 – 5 with 1 being “Poor” and 5 being “Excellent”.
Estate Agent Viva Estates
Total Number of Reviews 34
Average Rating – During the Buying Process 3.2
Average Rating – After Deposit Paid 2.5REVIEWS
Ratings are on a scale from 1 – 5 with 1 being “Poor” and 5 being “Excellent”.
Respondent Location Rating – Buying Process Rating – After Deposit Paid Agent Still in Business? Recommend to a Friend? Comments
12 Estepona 4 4 Yes Yes They did work quite hard for us.
87 Marbella 3 3 Yes Yes
106 Marbella 1 1 Yes No no after sales help at all, load of bull when selling.
125 Marbella 3 1 Yes No We have had very little contact from the agent to keep us informed about progress of our development. I believe we were seriously mislead by Viva during the purchase process!
157 Alhaurin el Grande 4 3 Yes Yes I believe the agent has moved on
184 Fuengirola 5 3 Yes Yes
214 Nueva Andalucia 4 2 Yes No agent was good but we receive no aftersale sedrvice
223 Estepona 4 4 Yes Yes
234 Alhaurin el Grande 1 1 Yes No The picture painted by this agent bears practically no resemblance to the finished article.
312 Alhaurin 1 1 Yes No BASICALLY , WHAT EVER YOU DO NEXT IN LIFE ,MAKE SURE YOU DONT PURCHASE FROM THESE CRIMINALS
317 Fuengirola 3 2 Yes No False information was given during the buying process which impacted on the decision to buy but has had huge negative impact on the selling.
321 Fuengirola 3 1 Yes No
365 Nueva Andalucia 2 2 Yes No We agreed to purchase in Feb 2003 and completed Oct 2007. We bought off-plan and were led to believe that ours was the final phase of three to our Urb. In that period of time they never mentioned that the developer was going to expand considerably, and is still an ongoing building site, and will be for the next 2/3 years. Also on our first visit to the apt. there were so many problems that they could never have done a snagging check as promised by their aftersales dept.
396 Elviria 2 1 Yes No After purchasing our property we did not hear from them. We had to make do all the chasing. After sending a letter to their MD, their after sales people have been good on an individual basis.
400 Fuengirola 5 2 Yes No Does not respond to email enquiries. Previous conversations suggest they no longer wish to be involved in our purchase, although no doubt they will have received their commission.
408 Nueva Andalucia 2 2 Yes No The most they did was to obtain the N.I.E. for me and met them twice , nice people but difficult to organise meetings, and communicate with.
418 Fuengirola 4 4 Yes Yes Very friendly and helpful but some problems in getting enough detail and in returning calls promptly
441 Puerto Banus 3 1 Yes No The agent didn’t really know that much about the new development
471 Torremolinos and Coin 5 5 Yes Yes Stephan was rilliant in helping us find a property. Nothing was too much trouble for him. Both offices have been extremely helpful in helping us sort out great problems with Tim Hart Woods Kitchens and have acted on our behalf. Can’t praise them enough. Very informative throughout the purchasing -sorting out finances, lawyers etc.
493 Fuengirola 4 4 Yes No ORIGINALLY I FELT THEY WERE VERY GOOD. PARTICULARLY THE PERSON I WAS DEALING WITH. HOWEVER I HAVE LEARNT THAT THE AGENCY COULDHAVE PERFORMED A LOT BETTER
494 Los Alcazares 4 4 Yes No We were not told all the extra costs involved, ie AC & utility connection charges
507 Puerto Banus 5 5 Yes Yes Never pressurised, he kept us to our budget, pointed out pros and cons. When we go carried away with more expensive apts he brought us back down to earth !!!
546 Estepona 3 3 Yes Yes
548 Elviria 1 1 Yes Yes Take the money and run
559 Fuengirola 4 1 Yes No The person we dealt with from the agent was very helpful even after we had paid the deposit but he left and from then on they did not seem to want to do anything for us. It seems that once they get you to sign and they get paid your on your own. They make claims abpout their after sales service but do not follow through.
589 Estepona 5 4 Yes Yes
601 Arroyo de la Miel 4 4 Yes Yes Their sales rep was a delight to deal with, no pressure and could not do enough for us. Their aftersales service was excellent, particularly the lady who guided us to decent and timely furniture suppliers.
634 Fuengirola 5 5 Yes Yes Our sales rep went out of his way to point out how we could negotiate both lower commissions and a lower price and also took us to see properties on which he would not receive a commission (we asked him to come along). In the end he took a €5000 cut in his own commission on the apt we ultimately bought as a way to get our refund back on another property we have first selected from another realtor (ie., our Viva rep paid us the deposit on the other apt out of his commission on the one we finally bought from him.)
684 Fuengirola 3 1 Yes No On deposit form shown 2 yrs approx to complete, now 4 yrs and still not completed. I have had no contact from viva unless I phoned.approx 4 times in 4yrs. Appears not interested now I have paid deposit.
689 Calahonda 3 1 Yes No
712 Marbella 1 1 Yes No We have been sold an offplan property which does not conform in many many ways to what we were promised 3 years ago. Viva not interested in any communication after sale had gone through
771 Puerto Banus 5 5 Yes Yes it was a friend of a friend so i was really lucky and probably biased in my answers.
803 Marbella 3 2 Yes Yes
866 Benalmadena 1 1 Yes No we had a major problem with the developer and feel that viva estates did not give us the support that we needed. we always seemed to be chasing them for information, we were originally buying on the balconies de riviera complex but planning permission was not granted so we switched to terrazas del sol at a much higher price and a two bed apt instead of a 3 bed -
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blackberryway I have taken a look and wonder firstly how old the posts are??
Also there are just 34 reviews. Is that a sufficient number to draw a conlcusion when they have more than likely sold to 1000’s of buyers??
However, breaking it down, they are above average for pre sales and average for after sales, so not all so bad then.
I am all for providing useful information but blackberryway this is not useful at all. It is just your own sour opinion.
In my opinion (as you are entitled to yours), the new Viva seems to have lifted spirits amongst many agents and is encouraging for us all here on the Costa del Sol.
Strangely I could not find any testimonials on your (very nice) website??
I personally think we should all support one another and offer ecouragement to each other. The type of ranting above is not going to help the Costa del Sol at all.
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PJ, You more than likely have close connections with VIVA in one form or another?
I, and many other Viva clients who I know personally have had similar experiences over the past 5 years!!
Yes, you’re correct that the Table rates their selling process rates higher than their after sales rating! I don’t know what date the Report was produced but I didn,t think there was anything stated that was out of context? A very fair representation I thought?It’s also no coincidence that in general VIVA took ALL of their very high Sales commissions out of their Clients Deposits, leaving them with very little financial incentive to commit resources in the direction of After Sales care?
My opinion was formed over a 5 year period through my own and others experiences of buying through them and the poor performance of their highly recommended Solicitors.
As for Sour Grapes, No I don’t think so? I invested my hard earned money, fulfilled all of my commitments on time and I’m now happily living here in Spain.
My modest little web site put together in a couple of days only lists several properties that belong to me and a couple of friends.
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Pj said
However, breaking it down, they are above average for pre sales and average for after sales, so not all so bad then.
I have absolutely no view whatsoever on this thread, but this isn’t statistically correct is it? We have no idea about scores given to other agents therefore no idea whether these scores are good, average or poor. All we know is that half the available points were won for after sales service and more than half for pre-sales.
Carosfella
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Carosfella
If you go and look at this survey on http://www.eyeonspain.com all will become clear.
http://www.eyeonspain.com/reviews/agent-ratings.aspxThe survey pretty much deals with off plan development sales only.
It beats me why anyone should want any after sales service at all with resales,you dont expect it anywhere else in the world, if you have any legal issues see your lawyer, if you cant find yourself a plumber or a local service maybe you should not have bought in Spain at all.
Steve
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@blackberryway wrote:
PJ, You more than likely have close connections with VIVA in one form or another?
IAs for Sour Grapes, No I don’t think so? I invested my hard earned money, fulfilled all of my commitments on time and I’m now happily living here in Spain.
My modest little web site put together in a couple of days only lists several properties that belong to me and a couple of friends.
Here folks is the bottom line..rubbish the opposition and push your own sales website 🙄
Unspeakable talking about the uneatable again 👿
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Its all good and relevant in information blackberryway and thanks for responding.
Maybe you could help us all understand a few things.
What made you choose to deal with Viva for your purchase in the first place?
What exactly when wrong?
At least then we can understand why you posted as you did.
Hope that is OK
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IMO and that of others, Viva whilst not without fault are positively perfect compared to the likes of Ocean Estates who must hold the record for newspaper/media articles about their mis-selling in Spain and Turkey etc.
A Google search on mis-selling by Ocean Estates have all the links to the articles. 🙄
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PJ,
You asked a very good question and I’ll try to explain.
I’ve been coming to over to the Marbella area on a regular basis since 1981 when first I passed through as an over grown student exploring Spain on Public Transport! I just fell in love with Andalusia and it’s climate and dreamed about living there one day.
I finally decided to buy a property over here at the end of 2003 and I came over to look out for opportunities. My first preference was to buy a Villa in Marbesa but soon realised that I’d missed the boat with prices having risen so dramatically!
I came across Viva Estates when I picked up one of their Hot Property magazines. I remember at the time it had a picture of Ian Botham on the front cover saying What a great experience he’d had working with Viva Estates. I thought, well if its good enough for Sir Ian…………………….?
I wandered into one of their offices one day and met up with one of their Agents who arranged to show me some Off plan developments that offered fantastic investment potential! He took me up and down the coast looking at different developments. There was no pressure applied and I thought the Viva staff were a great bunch of people. The project I finally chose was the most expensive(in fact I thought too expensive) but it ticked most of my boxes and I’d brought my “investment head” with me to Spain.
There was no Show House available to view so they showed us another development close by that would offer similar luxurious standards and sizes. I asked lots and lots of questions about the Specification, Qualities, legal process, projected rental values etc etc and I left feeling very confident that I was dealing with a highly reputable company.
I paid over my 40% deposits and the development went ahead. Whenever I and other investors enquired about progress we were always advised that everything was going fine. I kept popping over taking progress pictures but soon realised that something was wrong? Just over 12 months into the project major work stopped so we began asking questions through Viva.
Sadly, for many us it became a very painful process and getting any responses and accurate feedback from Viva became almost pointless? Everything stood still for over a year and I felt very disappointed about the service provided. Eventually, a group of us decided to sue the developer and we soon discovered that Viva’s favourite “Partner Solicitors” had failed to obtain Bank Guarantees for many of us!!!
4 years on we went to court and achieved some kind of settlement but the finished product delivered was far away from what we’d been promised by Viva and at no time did we receive any practical support from them with our legal actions!
Our Development was a “VIVA Exclusive” and through the legal process we discovered that they charged the developer 12% commissions or around €38k per unit for their services and all of it was paid over to them before even a spade was put in the ground!
You would have thought that they could have provided a better “After Sales Service” at that rate wouldn’t you?
Some investors wrote some very heavy emails to staff at VIVA and some replies received where frankly Unprintable?
Personally, I didn’t get involved with any of that stuff, I couldn’t see the point but many people did get very upset with them.As for Chris McCarthy, I have to admit to having a sneaking admiration for him. By all accounts he was a decent boss and very charismatic. I have no doubt he’s an out standing businessman with marvelous marketing abilities, so it’s a pity so many people felt so short changed by his Company……………
Personally, I never lost a moments sleep over it but I certainly don’t miss driving past their offices every day………………….and I still love life in Andalusia.
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They are almost as bad as Ocean Estates, only they took 15% (ie. half )of the 30% deposit we paid. That amounted to £45,000. Not bad for selling us something that was never built. Like Viva they had zero after sales service. When the **** hit the fan, they didn’t want to know.
We lost a LOT of sleep over it. -
Claire,
You must have been to Hell and back and I hope you’ve managed to secure the return of your deposits?
Many ordinary investors in Spain have suffered greatly at the hands of unscrupulous Developers, Agents and their Lawyers whose First Allegiance is to striking a deal at all costs!
Of course Not all Agents or their employees are to blame (including Viva staff) for some of the problems but the market was ripe for knowledgeable entrepreneurs to prosper during the property Boom Years and Didn’t they Prosper!!
At least now the smaller Agents can now get back to providing what they always did before the boom years! Giving a quality service at a fair price?
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Stever, you wrote:
@Stevev6 wrote:
Carosfella
If you go and look at this survey on http://www.eyeonspain.com all will become clear.
http://www.eyeonspain.com/reviews/agent-ratings.aspxThe survey pretty much deals with off plan development sales only.
It beats me why anyone should want any after sales service at all with resales,you dont expect it anywhere else in the world, if you have any legal issues see your lawyer, if you cant find yourself a plumber or a local service maybe you should not have bought in Spain at all.
Steve
Eh? Sorry, you’ve lost me there. I haven’t bought in Spain. I’m not surprised by all this venom about an Estate Agent – I’ve never trusted an Estate Agent in my life – hey, I’m a lawyer,why would I?!! Because I’d never trust an Estate Agent I’m not remotely interested in this thread about who trusts, or doesn’t, a particular one.
All I’m saying is that as a matter of logic the post I replied to is wrong. I posted because, frustratingly I tried to start a thread talking about Property, how it is valued and why, on a a site called “Spanish Property Insight”. Nobody’s interested. Easier to just fight old battles from positions of extreme prejudice.
But if you’d all rather just rant at each other, that’ fine, it’s your forum!
Carosfella
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@Carosfella wrote:
Stever, you wrote:
@Stevev6 wrote:
Carosfella
If you go and look at this survey on http://www.eyeonspain.com all will become clear.
http://www.eyeonspain.com/reviews/agent-ratings.aspxThe survey pretty much deals with off plan development sales only.
It beats me why anyone should want any after sales service at all with resales,you dont expect it anywhere else in the world, if you have any legal issues see your lawyer, if you cant find yourself a plumber or a local service maybe you should not have bought in Spain at all.
Steve
Eh? Sorry, you’ve lost me there. I haven’t bought in Spain. I’m not surprised by all this venom about an Estate Agent – I’ve never trusted an Estate Agent in my life – hey, I’m a lawyer,why would I?!! Because I’d never trust an Estate Agent I’m not remotely interested in this thread about who trusts, or doesn’t, a particular one.
All I’m saying is that as a matter of logic the post I replied to is wrong. I posted because, frustratingly I tried to start a thread talking about Property, how it is valued and why, on a a site called “Spanish Property Insight”. Nobody’s interested. Easier to just fight old battles from positions of extreme prejudice.
But if you’d all rather just rant at each other, that’ fine, it’s your forum!
Carosfella
I pondered your post re. prices etc. as I have heard of a few sales here recently, increase in viewings too. Decided not to post my views as I know nothing about the property market on the Costa Brava. Ran into an old friend yesterday who is an agent and his view is that property on the CDS won’t fall significantly as the owners can’t reduce (high mortgage) or won’t reduce (not desperate to sell).
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Hey now then!
This has been an intresting thred and I for one dont’t want it sin bined.The topic for course is Viva Estates past, present and future,so to start with if you dont want to talk about the topic go and set up your own thread.
The thred was bubbling along quite nicely until the third page, when I inocently posted a link to the estate agent survey on EOS, I thought that this may give people a clearer indication as to point that Blackberry was making.
The responce from Carosfella was at best, strange, I couldn.t understand the point he was making, there was certainly no ‘venom or ranting’.Oh, and then Alan Thornton pops up and starts contratulating Carosfella on his non post and telling everyone else to SHUT UP, this must be a wind up! but not a word on the thred topic!
Alan, this is an open forum, there are a lot of people who post here with a huge amount of experience both good and bad,positive and negitive. I suggest you could do a lot worse than learn a bit from these people before you start being so rude.
Ladies, definitely not Frank, more like MG do you remember him?, Katy, if he starts calling you a ‘silly little girl’ we will know for sure.
Happy Easter
Steve
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Steve, I had forgotten about him aaagggh. The one with the large property portfolio. 😆
Right, I just realised, I started this thread about VIVA.
The new offices look very swish and eye catching. Strange I haven’t seen any advertising.
If anyone wants a confrontation about anything at all, please start your own thread and I shall decide if I want to join in 😉 😆
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If anyone wants a confrontation about anything at all, please start your own thread and I shall decide if I want to join in
😆 😆
Oh yes Steve, it could be mg or maybe, kingy . Goodness me, the plot thickens! 😉
Back to topic: It’s interesting that “Viva (reborn)” have used the original name, especially after all the negative press they have received.
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Blackberry said
Our Development was a “VIVA Exclusive” and through the legal process we discovered that they charged the developer 12% commissions or around €38k per unit for their services and all of it was paid over to them before even a spade was put in the ground
!
If they received 12% commission it was because the development was sub prime – they (VIVA) also probably had to invest heavily to shift third rate stuff in a 3rd rate location……. you will end up having to pay 12% in commission (to sell) to get the lazy agents on the coast to endure the vertiginous drive up.
As for Chris McCarthy, I have to admit to having a sneaking admiration for him. By all accounts he was a decent boss and very charismatic. I have no doubt he’s an out standing businessman with marvelous marketing abilities, so it’s a pity so many people felt so short changed by his Company…………
…
It sounds as if you are ready to be churned again going back for more !!
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@katy wrote:
It seems to be your posts that aren’t making sense.
You do well to decipher them, the spelling is dire! 😕
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@Chris McCarthy wrote:
even better if one day we had a G&T in our local bar and talked about how to make things right there.
No thanks. Because I know how G&T makes you go blablabla, bla, bla
How to make things right?
Pay the letras…Or have they all gone in to Your Viva?Marijke
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New website has been launched today, can be accessed by yourviva.com or the old vivaestates url, apparently it is being rolled out over the next week or two.
Just a snip it from the ‘about us page’Working out of our brand new head office, the welcoming yourVIVA Centro – conveniently located at El Rosario on the outskirts of Marbella, with easy access and plenty of free parking – yourVIVA consists of four main elements:
*Our uniquely user-friendly website – yourVIVA.com
*Our iconic yourVIVA magazine – HOT Properties
*Our friendly and easy-to-find office – yourVIVA Centro
*Our expert, knowledgeable and highly professional yourVIVA team!That’s yourVIVA!
Steve
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@Stevev6 wrote:
New website has been launched today, can be accessed by yourviva.com or the old vivaestates url, apparently it is being rolled out over the next week or two.
Just a snip it from the ‘about us page’Working out of our brand new head office, the welcoming yourVIVA Centro – conveniently located at El Rosario on the outskirts of Marbella, with easy access and plenty of free parking – yourVIVA consists of four main elements:
*Our uniquely user-friendly website – yourVIVA.com
*Our iconic yourVIVA magazine – HOT Properties
*Our friendly and easy-to-find office – yourVIVA Centro
*Our expert, knowledgeable and highly professional yourVIVA team!That’s yourVIVA!
Steve
Yourviva advertise 42K Euro apartments in Bansko (Bulgaria). This is probably the highest asking price on any real estate sites.
They also have only 12 properties for under 100K Euros on Malaga area.
They are wasting everybody (including their) time.
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Hi Michael
Yes you are right. The search engine has not been updated yet!, they say that the site will roll out, lets hope they get real on price. I think, however that the database has not been updated.
This is the message to perspective vendors.
Our website receives over 18,000 unique visitors every month and over 11,000 unique property searches as well, our friendly valuers will discuss your options in full and provide you with a sensible suggested marketing price taking into account prevailing market conditions.
Michael, although I bought on the CDS in Feb, I still cant stop doing research, its like a habit, and from what I have seen lately property here has stopped falling, ive seen some properties listed that have fallen say 100k and now have been slightly increased!
This only applies to location etc, what do you think?
Steve
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@Stevev6 wrote:
Michael, although I bought on the CDS in Feb, I still cant stop doing research, its like a habit, and from what I have seen lately property here has stopped falling, ive seen some properties listed that have fallen say 100k and now have been slightly increased!
This only applies to location etc, what do you think?
As far as the properties have not sold, they can increase the price as much as they want to… The only thing which matters is the price paid.
I think vendors on CDS are still in the denial stage.
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@Inez wrote:
Having said that, if they can afford to sit on the property for a few more years then thats fine.
I agree with this. It really is a matter of how urgent the sale is.
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@flosmichael wrote:
@Inez wrote:
Having said that, if they can afford to sit on the property for a few more years then thats fine.
I agree with this. It really is a matter of how urgent the sale is.
This is what many are doing. Some I know have a bottom price and don’t intend to go below the figure. An agent I know said there has been an increase in the amount of people viewing but converting into sales. His opinion is that prices won’t go much lower except for a few properties. Not sure if I agree 😕
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@katy wrote:
This is what many are doing. Some I know have a bottom price and don’t intend to go below the figure.
These sellers big problem is that (many) buyers also have a limit on how much they want to pay. The difference between buyer’s upper limit and seller’s lower limit is still enormous.
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Just checked their website and my impression is that yet again Viva (just like Ocean Estates and ADH) are seriously overpricing properties again despite the poor market conditions. Lots of bog standard villas etc many in the campo in roughish areas around Coin, Alhaurin, Monda etc possibly with questionable title as well.
I wonder how much of the inflated sales prices is made up of their commission?
Purchasers can still seriously overpay in Spain plus exhorbitant completion costs and weak Sterling make it a non starter if you want to re-sell. 🙄
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@Inez wrote:
Yes and many sellers dont realize the banks have dropped their lending criteria hugely as well, so the gap is too big! Many valuations are not stacking up.
In what sense dropped? Valuations-ise?
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Bank valuations on which they lend a percentage as a mortgage has come down a lot over the last year. Bank of Spain request and they all complied.
However, this leaves many in negative equity and so they ask for more than the property values at, meaning no buyer.
Its the ones with equity or who can pay out to make up the difference in the mortgage owed and the actual price paid who are able to sell.
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Hi
Viva’s database has not yet been up dated, no doubt they will be working on it.
Lookhttp://www.vivaestates.com/content/details~ref=396251KJ397
Oh no its a 100 grand cheaper now
http://www.infocasa.com/en/property/id/284041
Rome wasn’t built in a day
Steve
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Has anyone seen the new Property revolution office that is opening in the old headquarters of VIVA?; just 200 metres from the new Your VIVA office. Do you think there is a connection? the web site looks the same with the same properties from a property sharing data base – probably infocasa. Do they know something we don’t? is the market about to boom again ? should we get our cheque books out before prices rise out of our reach ……………
It must be a great time to open a real estate business with everyone else licking their wounds or smouldering on the bonfire!!
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I heard today the new office is ADH!
Hey ho, here we go again although having said that its great fur smaller agents if people think the big boys are coming back.
Siddalls are also involved and you can hire the function room for free, providing they get a speech in at the end
Sorry I mised your post Claire. When I said banks have dropped their ledning criteria, I meant their valuations have dropped. Their lending criteria isnt any more strict than before, its just they are actually doing the checks they were alwys meant to have done
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No worries, but on re-reading I could see others may think its getting easier here – many spanish have a problem gaining mortgages and quite a few sales have fallen through because of this. Ane some are taking forever, I had one under offer end of january, buyers had nearly 50% in cash and were pre-approved by 2 banks.
However the Banesto gave them the best conditions so they decided to proceed with them. It then took 2.5 months for HQ to say yes! The valuation was then instructed and from then it took 8 days to complete! But my goodness what a long time.
Others have had the amounts agreed reduced and many are just being refused who had approval a year ago.
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I think the banks attitudes are going to make the recession longer. Not just Spain but all other countries too.
I have a friend who has been trying to sell a small apartment in marbella, they were first time buyers 6 years ago and are in a position to move up. They have been trying to sell for 2 years, have had buyers who are capable of paying the mortgage but the bank does not think so. It is in a spanish residential area and would not appeal to foreigners but the banks think spanish wages are not high enough for spaniards to buy!
On a different not I was thinking of changing my car, some good discounts around but no-one will take my car on any terms |(it’s only 4 years old! low kilometros). I know I shall be unable to sell it myself as other has had their cars on sale for months. So, I won’t buy, the dealer won’t make a sale and the economy grinds to a halt!
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Katy wrote
On a different not I was thinking of changing my car, some good discounts around but no-one will take my car on any terms |(it’s only 4 years old! low kilometros). I know I shall be unable to sell it myself as other has had their cars on sale for months. So, I won’t buy, the dealer won’t make a sale and the economy grinds to a halt!
Hi Katy,
I just bought a pre registered car with no mileage in the UK and they took my beat up Spanish registered car (left hand drive) in PX. They were desperate for the sale. Dont Spanish dealers take cars in PX? If not they dont deserve the business. Especially as your car would be Spanish I assume. -
Katy, I’m sure you’d get PX in the UK.
We live in what could be described as prestige car valley. When the new plates come out, people would upgrade just to have the latest plates. Since the 09 plates came out I’ve seen 5 in total. Even the wealthiest seem to be tightening their belts. Many dealerships have had to close. The Motor show has also been cancelled due to the downturn in trade. The dealers are desperate to sell/do business.
My car had to have an MOT recently. It needed new bushes on the wishbones???? 😕 They gave us a quote, my husband said he’d look elsewhere. They called back 5 minutes later and reduced the estimate by £60! -
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@katy wrote:
I think the banks attitudes are going to make the recession longer. Not just Spain but all other countries too.
What can the banks do? They are so deep into s$$$ that they could barely survive even with the “generous” help of the taxpayers.
They do not refuse mortgages because they are naughty but because they are afraid. -
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@Stevev6 wrote:
Katy
If you like, PM me the details of your car, we have been thinking about buying a cheap runabout to leave at the house.
Steve
Hi will PM you tomorrow. (just returned from an overlong boozy BBQ) will have to check the papers to see which series it actually is.
Ubeda, just mentioned viva on another thread. Think we are entitled to diverse a bit 😆
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