I GOT SCAMMED $400,000 IN GREECE… IT GOT EVEN WORSE! (PART 2) 🇬🇷

Summary

Ahmed returns to his villa on Zakynthos one year after a major renovation. He says he found numerous unfinished or poorly executed jobs and had to pay for additional repairs.

The most serious problem was water entering through an inadequately sealed roof over the elevator shaft. According to Ahmed, the leak flooded the basement to a depth of about two metres, causing extensive mold, damage to belongings, and corrosion to electrical equipment. The elevator, installed by Zante Lifts, was switched off after the damage.

He also points to problems around the property, including dead plants, poor drainage and standing water, deteriorating unvarnished wood, exposed wiring, badly fitted lights and pipes, and an unfinished driveway that he says is unsafe for pedestrians and scooters. Indoors, he shows mold that he believes was merely wiped or painted over, as well as damaged furniture and walls and uneven or incomplete finishes. He says the downstairs area is not safe to use or sleep in while the mold and water damage remain.

Ahmed disputes the quality and cost of both the original work and a later mold-remediation job. He presents an estimate totaling €8,866, plus a €2,000 advance for materials, for a stated total of €10,866. He also says the cleanup and repairs cost roughly €12,000 overall. Although he acknowledges that some work was done, he says he cannot know how thoroughly the mold was removed.

He plans to bring a larger team from Athens the following year, supervise the work himself, and continue pursuing the dispute through legal channels. He regrets paying much of the original renovation cost upfront and not monitoring the work closely.

Despite the setback, Ahmed says he will not let the villa spoil his holiday. He plans to spend the remaining days swimming at the beach and fishing with his family.

Key Lessons and Practical Points

• Check prices and materials carefully rather than relying solely on trust and verbal assurances.
• Closely oversee renovation work, especially when owners are away. Ahmed contrasts this project with a company he uses elsewhere that provides daily video reports and remote access to site footage.
• Address water intrusion, drainage, and roof sealing before cosmetic repairs; otherwise, mold and damage may return.
• Simply wiping or painting over mold may leave a health hazard behind.
• Repair exposed wiring and the uneven, damaged road, which Ahmed says pose safety risks.
• Replace mold-affected furniture and materials, and delay major downstairs repairs until the next visit.

Notable Locations, Products, and Speakers

• Locations: Zakynthos, Greece; Athens; Beirut, Lebanon; Dubai; the UK.
• Products and services mentioned: Zante Lifts elevator; Miele appliances, which Ahmed says were promised but not supplied; Nutri-Grain brought from Australia for his son; an Amazon door lock; a 16-camera DVR system; mold-removal sprays.
• Speakers: Ahmed Amwell narrates the update, with brief appearances by family members and references to contractors, workers, neighbors, and viewer commenters.