Future Chilean neighbour buggered

The lady who's selling us the land. Her house didn't survive.

My mate Patricio (whose missus is going to build our gaff) says she's
living in the one room that stayed intact (old house, you see, not made
to modern standards). She's asking us if there's anything we can do to
help.

Christ. Suggestions?

 

Find somewhere to live that isn't in an earthquake zone?

 

What has she said she needs - food, money, cooking utensils, stove? How
easy is it getting things to her? Getting hard currency to her may be
the best option.

You may need some grass seed though.

 

Dunno yet. I've asked Patricio to see what she desperately needs.

Via a Chilean UR, not so tough. expensive and time-consuming, maybe.

Is what I'm thinking. An advance on the deposit, maybe.

 

I would think a re-negotiation of the price would be sensible the current
circumstances. After all, business is business. A substantial discount in
return for some of the deposit up front might be a runner. However, I think
you should be VERY wary of committing any funds that you can't afford to
lose, given the current chaotic situation in Chile.

 

Yes, but for fucks sake get it in writing.

You due to go out there again soon?

You might be able to do some kind of deal with reconstruction costs etc
with your builder.

I just thought, builders are gonna be very fucking busy there now matey,
if you have any contract in place etc..

 

Through a lawyer, I hope.

I should thinkg that builders rates are going to increase too.

 

If you're certain of moving over there I'd just send USD 1000 as a gift.

What goes around, comes around - if it doesn't come back around it's
still the decent thing to do.

 

This was another option being considered.

She's genuine, we liked her on sight, she's in a hell of a jam, it's ot
a scam, the deal might still fall through but we can afford it, so wtf.

 

In which case, do this, rather than the other. At least this way you
know that it's gone, and perhaps one day it will return to you in
another guise.

What does half a million Chillean Pesos buy?

 

How's she doing for leccy and water? Gawd knows how you'd get it there
but I doubt a decent diesel genny would go amiss.

 

Eh?
You're paying her enough for the land; enough for her to pay a builder
to sling up a small house, surely?

 

One of these

http://www.toolstation.com/images/library/stock/webbig/48956.jpg

 

Water will be OK. Leccy should be OK, or back on soon I hope, but
there's no house for it to power.

And I'd also guess that there won't be a diesel genny to be had anywhere
for love nor money.

 

We're paying a fair price, no more no less, and I'd guess that there's
slight difficulty in finding available construction workers right now.

 

....and I'd imagine they will also have their own problems to sort out.

 

I'm 100% behind you there & It's a fucking good attitude there mate.

 

Bloody freeloader, tell her to bugger off

 

That's what I'd do, unless a more concrete (hoho) suggestion is
forthcoming from the lady herself.

 

TOG needs a Geordie, a Brummie, some Cockney bloke etc all recently
returned from a building site in Germany who'd be willing for a bit more
off-shore contracting.