Managing Agents in Carvoeiro

[Guest999]

Hi Everyone

Has anybody in Carvoeiro had a problem with a Managing Agent that they would like to share with me

I don't want to elaborate on my individual situation at the moment as it is with my lawyer at the moment

Let's just say I could have bought another villa with the charges I've had over a couple of years

[Del boy]

Hi,

Yes I have had huge bills too,

You can e-mail me:

riversidegarage@btinternet.com

[UK Visitor]

Is this add ons to work done ie add 20%, or just overcharges to general management fees.

[Littlelegs]

Hi all

we are at the moment trying to decide which management company to put our villa with so we would welcome any info good or bad that anyone may have to help us decide. We were hoping for a company that does both management and bookings.

thanks
Littlelegs

[Freddie]

Littlelegs, you could try emailing for a quote.
He does both rental and management and is very reliable.


Mods: edited for adv content - please email the contacts directly to Littlelegs

[Littlelegs]

Littlelegs, you could try emailing for a quote.
He does both rental and management and is very reliable.


Mods: edited for adv content - please email the contacts directly to Littlelegs

Hi Freddie

Yes please do e mail me privately with names etc, although I did think this forum was for helping and giving others advice openly and freely, but obviously I was wrong

thanks

[Guest]

This is an interesting topic. I've had my villa with one agent for the last 4 years and must say that almost every month I have sworn to move to someone better. I went as far as getting two additional quotes last year but am still with the original manager since both quotes wanted to take a % of rental income. Why isn't there a manager that provides a service....I pay good money each month and get seemingly very little in return. Even a monthly email detailing jobs that need doing/ breakages/ whether there were any probelms with clients etc would be nice...it seems as if my monthly fee is tantermount to a membership charge....I do not know whether my manager skims money from poolman, gardener, maid..... i would like to think not...

[iane]

Littlelegs - you are of course quite right about the use of the forum to pass advice and tips BUT the moderators have a duty to restrict what amounts to "free" advertising - after all the revenue received from "paid" advertising is used to support the operating costs.

Using a email or other secure private means to pass contacts is the best way - after all if I were paying for advertising and seeing "ads" appearing on the forum for free ...............?

[Littlelegs]

Iane

It wasn't so much advertising as having advice from someone who has already been there, done that and got the t shirt recommendation I was after.

SO if anyone has any of the above please email me privately.

Littlelegs

[Homme Poco]

Hya guest.
Just a thought, but why not do your own advertising and take your own bookings? You could then simply pay a management team to do the rest! It is quite possible to pay all your own utilities too! Just set up a direct debit with the various companies!

HP

[Littlelegs]

Homme Poco
Thanks
yes that is one way we could do it and will certainly give the idea more thought.

[shanagarry]

In reply to 'Littlelegs'

If you can avoid it - look after the bookings yourself. There are enough horror stories around regarding villas being let without the owner's consent and more importantly - the attendant loss of revenue.

You must be prepared to carry out spot checks without notice (a great excuse for a long weekend) - something we have written into our Service Level Agreement.

We have had 2 properties in Cvo and had them managed by the same Villa Management company for 7 years - without cause for any complaint. We sold one of the properties to a regular client late last year and the new owner is delighted to have retained the services of the same management company.

We promote our remaining property through 2 publications which directs the enquirer to the villa website. I invariably receive enquiries by e-mail and/or the telephone and can handle the administration without too much difficulty. At present 71% of our rentals is repeat business and increasing - something I attribute to being available to speak to a client personally and more importantly helps 'weed-out' the undesireable ones I do not want staying in our property. We have had some in the early days but not any more.

If you deligate that responsibility to an agent you have no control over the types of people using your property. There is no worse feeling than turning up at your 'home' and seeing it in a state that makes you see red with anger. Only you can make that judgement call when you have the potential client on the end of the phone.

We have been more fortunate than most with our management company and have done so by setting out the terms of our relationship in very clear and precise terms from the beginning. We review the position once a quarter by auditing every cost we have been presented with and on the 2 occasions I have had a legitimate query - the matter has been remedied without any drama.

Be careful and get references (by visiting the referees personally) - it is worth the effort and will save you the time and money in the long run.

Good Luck.

[shanagarry]

Correction to my last - I should have said 'If you can manage it' and not 'If you can avoid it'.

Apologies

[UK Renter]

Is the managers / agents letting without consent rife??

This does wory me and I am at a loss to know what to do to prevent it. I know there has to be trust but it does still worry the life out of me.

KTR

[shanagarry]

I don't know if it is 'rife' but I do know it goes on. There was a post on here sometime ago where owners gave examples of turning up at their property in the belief it was empty - only to find it occupied and without one penny piece coming to them.

The skill here is in finding the right Manager to ensure the property is kept in fine fettle. I would not confuse the matter by giving them free rein to manage the bookings as well - moreover, it gives you the controlling position as they never know when you might turn up.

There is a great many honest and competent managing companies around so do not be panicked into thinking that they are all bad - finding one is only something you can do and you need to be in Cvo to carry out and evaluate the company/person you can work with.

One final word on the the selection process - do not be convinced by a smooth talking ex-pat, in the belief that because they are British, they will look after your best interests - that could be a serious and costly mistake.