Hi there!

I've just been on to Town and Country (our agents) about the buildings  guarantee.  They've promised to find out. However I haven't even received my title deeds yet so I'm not holding ny breath!

I've also been told that the developer has asked for all the buyers details as he wants to contact us all urgently.  This was a week ago and, so fat,I've heard nothing from him.  Has anyone else?

Hi everyone

Hope you are all getting your problems sorted out, wanted to know if anyone has received a 15 yr buildings gurantee apparently we should have one.

Hello

Not been on here for a while as I was happy with my place.I'd been through the "new build" issues and problems a few years ago in a different country and that was a great help knowing how the developers and agents operate!

NB22: I can recommend Creative Intereriors who have a shop in Bansko, you can sit there and choose your furniture from their displays or the many brochures they have and the costs are very reasonable, I was more than happy with their efficiency and constant updates by email. Their website is:  www.creativeinteriors.effecta.co.uk 

Mel: As a travel agent and knowing the type of clients I would send to "dirt cheap" Bulgaria I am not willing to rent out my place! However I think your suggestion of us all getting together our own rental service is good idea and one that I would consider. I'm over there 16th June for a few days and will meet with Krasi from Home Care who I understand are managing the complex.

Jane: Yikes, builders living in some of the apartments? I kept the key to the lounge so the caretaker was only (hopefully) able to open the door into the hallway and bathroom. I'm a little nervous now about how I'll find the place!

Michelle: Am interested in knowing how your visit went and if you were you pleased with the results?    

Well I've given my  thoughts to the queries here and hope it's a help. It's a great way to keep in touch with the other owners and like Mel says "strength in numbers". 

Fiona

Hello All

I too have bought an apartment at the NS and am going over on the 6th June for a few days to take possession and furnish the place.  Reading all the messages here has made a bit apprehensive! :)  Can anyone help me with advice on where to buy the furniture and which management company to go with for holiday rentals?  Any advice/pointers will be greatly appreciated.  Thanks NB

Hello Michelle,

I typed a long detailed reply to the e mail you sent me and then realised that you had not given me your e mail address so I couldn't send it!

If you'd like to contact me again, with your address, I'll be happy to answer all your queries.

Hi all

now going out to bansko to view my apartment. must say am very nervous now after hearing all is not good on. i will be happy to answer any queries re communal areas private apartments etc. i will post my mobile number for text messages only and will be happy to reply with photos of areas of interest. i will be going for two weeks and will be returning on the 31 march.

wish me luck

Michelle

Yes, it's me again!  At the moment I seem to be the only person talking on this  website.  Does this mean that everyone else is now  content with their lot?

My latest complaint is about rental  charges.  AZ properties have told us they only charge 10 euros per apartment (which sleeps 6) per night in the low season, and not a lot more in the high season.  This sounds so ridiculous that we are now considering not renting it out at all.

What is everyone else doing in this respect?  I'm thinking it might be better to start up our own website and do it for ourselves.

We stayed a week and, as you say, communal areas are still just shells.   Another owner we met while there told us the developer has now scrapped the idea of a  ski room and has turned the space allocated into more apartments.

Our apartment also has problems.  A radiator in the lounge is not working and our second bathroom (we were surprised to find we had two - as originally the builder refused to do so) has no shower cubicle or toilet, so we can't use it.

I have also been given the name of the company who manage the  whole  area at Northern Star.  We will probably go with them but AZ Properties have also contacted us with management   offers, and as we are meant to be having a years free management as compensation for such a late completion, we are unsure what to do at the moment.

Still planning to sue for late completion, but will perhaps wait until we find out whether the developer is prepared to fix the problems in our apartment - a long shot I know!

Definately keen to keep in touch with other buyers.  Strength in numbers.

Hi,

In response to your email regarding the developer.  Several of us have tried to make contact as we have snagging that must be dealt with. In my apartment for example, water floods the bathroom every time the shower is used and there is obviously a sewage flow problem.  I gave up contacting the developer and have now paid a local builder to fix the problem. The estate agent who sold us the property has been useless and washed their hands of any involvement and my lawyer rarely responds to any emails.  For example I am trying to get hold of a Bulstat number (vital if you want to let your property) which I have paid for but he is not responding.

I have recently signed up to a local management company who seem good.  They inspect the apartments and are proactive in dealing with any queries.  Aparently they are taking over management of the whole complex.  When you visit, you will see the communal area is still not completed and I was told like several others this had been done and therefore paid my final instalment.

Several of us also had it confirmed builders were 'living' in our apartments.  The caretaker at the block had obviously been handing out our keys.  This is another reason why we signed with a local management company since they make weekly inspections in high season. The same company, I am told is now taking over management of the block.

I think the more of us that communicate and the more owners that come together, the better chance we have of progressing forward.  If I hadn't met others on the website and known someone else I would be having a far worse experience, and the current one has been  bad enough at times.  I still think the investment long-term is a good one and the actual standard of building is good. 

I have tried personally calling the developer but never get an answer so using someone on the ground, like a Bulgarian lawyer is a good one.  I would appreciate you staying in touch and letting me know how you progress.

Hi,

I'm new to this web site.  Just wanted to say we bought an apartment in Northern Star nearly three years ago and (foolishly) paid up in full!  Needless to say it has only now been completed (February 2008) and we plan to visit next week.

Wish we had never started at all. The developer has been useless from the start. Our contract states compensation for late completion and he is offering nothing.  We plan to sue, using another Bulgarian lawyer as soon as we see the place and ensure it  really has been finished.  If anyone else is in a similar position and wants to contact me, please do.

Pictures now loaded, showing the front of building, road leading upto the building, the (unfinished) ground floor bar area and balcony view towards the river which the developer says will be grassed over eventually!

Finally I have the deeds to my property and have paid the annual maintenance charge. Yes the apartments are now all complete with electricity and water together with Pavil the 24hour caretaker. However the ground floor bar and sauna areas are still shells but these should be ready in time for thi Winter season according to the developer that I met at the Notary Office.

I have purchased a custom made furniture pack at a very reasonable cost from Creative Interiors, who also have a shop in Bansko. I was very impressed by their prompt service, helpful attitude and the wide range of furniture styles that they had available. This was after scouring the limited number of furniture shops in both Bansko and Razlog in the 90f heat of July!

I hope to revisit in August to see the furnished apartment and add my own finishing touches! In the meantime I will attempt to upload pictures and please contact me if you have any queries or questions, I'll do my best to help and answer honestly.

Regards.

Latest update. I'm going over on 8th July and hopefully will be able to collect the keys this time! Has anybody stayed in their apartment yet? I've booked into a nearby guest house for 3 nights as I'm not 100% confident that there will be electricity and running water unless any other purchaser can tell me otherwise? Would be good to hear the latest news. Otherwise I'll report back after my return...wish me luck!! :-)

Have just discovered this site. We bought off plan July 2005 and at this rate cant see apartments not being ready until july 2007! The problem seems to be getting the authorities to provide certificates of safety for fire etc. Although workers on site, the furniture and joinery company we have employed are not even allowed to work in the apartment. It seems like red tape and lack of communication between agents and developer together with bad weather are holding things up.

Have also bought property in Sunny Beach where progress has been much quicker even with building restrictions and the developer far more user friendly!

Visiting Bansko in a few weeks so will add any further details on our return. Would also be interested in hearing about arrangements people have made regarding rental.

I am still waiting for completion information.  I have met several of you on this site and know a couple of us visited Bansko before Christmas.  The apartments are of a good standard and virtually complete.  My issue is with the kitchenettes which consist of one sink and a unit.  My understanding is a kitchenette is a basic and small kitchen.  My lawyer has spoken to the developer who will charge for the extra stove area and wall units which I think are necessary for the one and two bedroom apartments.  I have yet to hear back about cost for this.

The communal areas in the basement and ground floor area were in early stages of development when I visited in December.  Plaster was on the walls and electric wiring was being installed.  The developer said these areas would be completed in 21 days which I think was doubtful.  They also had to build a cafe area and the car park etc.

If anyone has any further information concerning progress etc, I would be grateful to hear.

Hi fellow purchasers!

We have been told that the property will be completed end Nov 2006. Received an email from the agent 3 weeks ago saying pay up now or you will loose all monies paid to date. Our contract was altered twice after we had paid the initial deposit and we are also holding final payment until the finished apartment has been personnaly seen by us. Current plan is to visit end November, collect the keys and pay the money. Has anyone to date taken possession of their new apartment yet? Any news on the furniture package? Any news would be good to hear. Regards.