Building and Furnishing a Home in Mexico

Many who would consider building a home in Mexico, are concerned about the unknowns they might encounter. Such concerns are not unwarranted.
soem of the best developers in Mexico have anticipated these concerns and the need for assistance in the construction process and are able to introduce you to some very able and honorable builders who can produce a quality product at a reasonable cost.

In Mexico, the architect often performs the function of general contractor. This person will help you design and build your home. He’ll usually quote an amount per square meter for a turnkey project. The complexity and size of the house dictates the completion time - usually six to twelve months. The cost? - $70 - $95/ square foot.
It is not unusual to be asked for an advance or "deposit" against the contract price. It is best compromise is to advance enough money to allow the purchase of the initial materials needed. If it’s a time and material agreement, advance payments or deposits will be requested for material purchases. Some materials are purchased on an account with a local hardware or building materials supplier. The balances with that supplier are usually settled every few weeks but not typically carried longer than a month. For any large purchase or one that has to be shipped, an advance purchase deposit of 50% of the price of the material is requested and will have to be paid in order to get the supplier to ship the material you’re requesting. These advance payments need not be feared, if you are dealing with a reputable builder/architect. However, don’t count on them to "eat" their mistakes. Few of them have the financial capability to withstand losses.

Always monitor the quality of the construction and the progress being made as they coincide with the requests for payment. In any house-building project, the homeowner will be faced with the decision to leave that with which he’s displeased or change it. Just remember, changes are always expensive and, if possible, to be avoided.

The experience of building a home in Mexico can be one of great excitement and satisfaction. Many things are possible in Mexico that aren’t options in the U.S. because of the vast difference in labor costs.

House Design - Get a referreral to a quality architect. If they are not engineers, they need to refer any structural needs to an outside engineer.

Interior Design – There is an abundance of highly competent assistance in helping you realize a very comfortable, exciting home, with vast experience in this area.

Furniture Shopping – In addition to the specialty furniture stores and design centers in the U.S. (you can ship your purchases to Mexico), there are a number of fascinating places to visit in the interior of Mexico. These places have some very unique items that can profoundly impact any interior. It is a good idea to plan an itinerary and guide you in this area.

To contact experienced professionals in the above mentioned fields we recommend contacting Sue Escobido in Chacala at sescobido@aol.com