Ups and downs in a new development

It's not always smooth sailing when you're the first occupants of a new apartment block.

Buying an apartment in a new building can be such an alluring prospect, with finishes that sparkle in the sunlight, a gym with state-of-the-art equipment and a kitchen with all those virgin appliances.

But what is life really like in the first three years of a new block? Is it the dreamy, easy-peasy lifestyle the marketers would have you believe - all coffee on balconies, chatting to neighbours and cocktail parties around the pool - or is there work involved in getting everything up and running?

Do you just move in and everything turns like clockwork or do you have to take a closer look at the inner workings before you can relax?