HiAnyone living in Puglia can anyone recommend a builders merchants or similar to buy palsterboard, timber etc. as near as possible to Pulsano (Taranto) without going all the to Bari?Many thanksAllison
Paying 'above board' doesn't gaurantee everything is OK.
We paid our first Geometra well above board and got absolutely shafted, he was recommended by our Englsh speaking project manager, he took the money for planning permission and did not apply for any of the permissions we paid for (which in some cases were not even required), we later found out he had not even contacted the Commune and had not even visited our villa to measure it he just used existing plans that were incorrect.
He then told us, after having completed a lot of work, that our villa was falling down and he needed to replace all 18 pillars, when we said we were getting on the next plane he said he could not allow us into our own property until he had completed the work. Due to several previous issues we knew he never told the truth so we ignored him and went over to Italy and immediately had another survey done and had a concrete test with a very reputable compay called Geotest, as the previous survey had shown everything was fine and there was no problem at all. When I questioned their claims the just said 'oh something must have been lost in translation'
There are a lot of dishonest Geometra's around and the price they charge means nothing, our new Geometra is a fraction of the cost, speaks no English and is brilliant. He is recommended by friends, nieghbours and a neighbour who works at the Commune
Please don't rely on a high charge meaning good work and honesty, you need true recommendations and that's not easy to get as some of them weave a very tangled web and move in not so nice circles and have false reviews. It is very difficult to weed out the bad Geometras, Googling is no good nor are online reviews or recommnedations from people who have not been with them long enough to realise they are in trouble.
It is very important to take your time to try and find a good, honest Geometra, you will reap the benefits in the long run, we lost 18 months on our pool and have spent over Euro 50,000 putting right poor work, we would have been better putting off the start of our project for 18 months. We had a legal right to make the original builders put the work right but we had local legal advice about the circles our Geometra moved in it was safer to take the hit and never let them near our property again.
Comments posted
Paying 'above board' doesn't gaurantee everything is OK.
We paid our first Geometra well above board and got absolutely shafted, he was recommended by our Englsh speaking project manager, he took the money for planning permission and did not apply for any of the permissions we paid for (which in some cases were not even required), we later found out he had not even contacted the Commune and had not even visited our villa to measure it he just used existing plans that were incorrect.
He then told us, after having completed a lot of work, that our villa was falling down and he needed to replace all 18 pillars, when we said we were getting on the next plane he said he could not allow us into our own property until he had completed the work. Due to several previous issues we knew he never told the truth so we ignored him and went over to Italy and immediately had another survey done and had a concrete test with a very reputable compay called Geotest, as the previous survey had shown everything was fine and there was no problem at all. When I questioned their claims the just said 'oh something must have been lost in translation'
There are a lot of dishonest Geometra's around and the price they charge means nothing, our new Geometra is a fraction of the cost, speaks no English and is brilliant. He is recommended by friends, nieghbours and a neighbour who works at the Commune
Please don't rely on a high charge meaning good work and honesty, you need true recommendations and that's not easy to get as some of them weave a very tangled web and move in not so nice circles and have false reviews. It is very difficult to weed out the bad Geometras, Googling is no good nor are online reviews or recommnedations from people who have not been with them long enough to realise they are in trouble.
It is very important to take your time to try and find a good, honest Geometra, you will reap the benefits in the long run, we lost 18 months on our pool and have spent over Euro 50,000 putting right poor work, we would have been better putting off the start of our project for 18 months. We had a legal right to make the original builders put the work right but we had local legal advice about the circles our Geometra moved in it was safer to take the hit and never let them near our property again.