All Forum Posts by: Johanna V.

@Tak Ogihara @Mike Lambert

I had a mixed experience with MexLax. They gave us a very good first impression, but towards the end we didn't have a proper closure and no clear direction; till today. I'll be going back to Tulum to have this sorted out. Sadly, I'm not sure if I'd recommend them. 

I was looking to have MexTax for the taxes side, but with the MexLaw experience and some of the other comments about them I'm not sure if I'll do it, and "hope to be lucky enough to land a good CPA". Time is too valuable.

As noted by @Mike Lambert, maybe it was the lawyer assigned, they have issues with hiring, etc.. Unfortunately, a company cannot afford to have this kind of service, because word of mouth is just too powerful.

I've learned long ago not to have the same US expectations, because it's not the US. And, it's a Latin country; so things do run slow regardless.

I did hold off on creating a company, because it may not be worth it for just one property. As any case, it needs to be talked with an expert to make informed decisions. Now, looking for a competent Mexican CPA to sort it out. Please do shout out if anyone has any referrals. It'd be very much appreciated it!

@Isaac Wall @Ariela H. I too have STR in Tulum! Would love to connect and exchange tips. Tulum is a completely different way of doing business, but it's beautiful indeed!

@Val Berechet please share your experience with MexTax, and any contact if worth recommending. Thanks!

@Colleen F. yes! I hope it doesn't turned out that way, tenant doesn't seem the type. Crossing fingers! 

@Colleen F. correct, the increase is only for the dog. It's a way to maybe discourage them. I know it's easier to say No, because I want to avoid anything extra that comes with dealing with tenants with pets. But, as mentioned, they are good long time tenant, and want to keep it longer.

Any other input, ideas are welcome! I'm gonna send the tenant the list/fees and want to make sure i cover all bases.

Thank you for your replies! 

@Nathan Gesner yes! all in writing. 

@Jon Kelly You have a good point!. Time is valuable, so not sure how to handle if there're pet droppings. The crew just don't want to be picking up after the tenants when doing the garden, so want to add a fee for it. But people may just rather pay a fees than do it themselves. You got me! I don't have tenants with pets, so this is new territory for me. 

@Colleen F. Planning to add the $50 as rent increase, because I wasn't planning on increasing rent and tenant was happy about it (since I've been increasing every renewal) Maybe that would discourage them. Hoping so! If they decide not to have the dog I won't increase it. The $300 non refundable fee will be added in a pet amendment, listing the requirements/rules, and the pet dropping clean up will be added there too. So very time it gets reported a fee needs to be paid. 

Now, what would that fee make sense to be worth it, as mentioned it @Jon Kelly, is it worth it? or maybe I should I just increase to $80 the rent to cover it, just in case.

@Sherief Elbassuoni yes, it's a SFH.

I have a tenant since 2014, who would like to have a dog. They've always been on time with rent. Never had trouble with them, and are very easy to work with. I'd like to keep them, and won't increase rent for the renewal coming up soon this time (I increase the rent every renewal).

I have a No-Pet policy when renting, but I decided to be flexible with them, and allow them their dog request (not a big one!). Given that they've been good long time tenants. 

This is what i think proposing them in order to allow them the dog:

- The tenant insurance will need to include the pet, and provide the appropriate paperwork with the update.

- $300 non refundable pet fee.

- Increase rent by $50/month, instead of pet rent -- trying to avoid the pet verbiage, in case they want to come up that it's an ESA. I doubt it, but just in case. Pet disappears? Rent stays the same. It will give a chance to do a rent increase, since I wasn't going to increase rent this coming up renewal.

- Pet is spayed or neutered.

I have yard maintenance crew that mentioned if they'd find pet droppings would charge for picking up, so thinking letting tenants know of the charge, and pass it onto them. 

Any thoughts? other suggestions? I don't have experience with pets, because don't want to deal with it, but willing to be flexible with this tenant. 

I know the carpet will need to be changed once they move out. It's been there for a long time!. Once they are move out, I'd most likely need to do some upgrades. Although, hoping to keep them as many years as possible.

Tenant is thinking about the dog, hence the request. Hoping that he'll get discouraged with all the requirements, because I rather not deal with pets.

The SFH is located in Bellevue, WA (South of Bellevue). How are the pet charges in the area? Any other suggestions?

Appreciate your input!

@Simon Duong I've been doing STR in Tulum since end of 2019, we were busy. Then, COVID hit. The property was empty from mid March to mid June. We've been doing fine since, not too many cancellations or empty calendar either. So far, we are riding the wave ok, crossing fingers!. Never done Airbnb before, so doing it for the first time, long distance, and in another country; it has its challenges. But, that's just like everywhere, and with everything done for the first time. Didn't have much life since doing Airbnb. Now, It looks like we have a handle of it. We also have our own staff, so that adds complexity. But, we wanted to do it ourselves to understand what it takes. Maybe one day will hand it over to a management company, will see. Some of our guests, that are in real estate, end up checking out places/lots while on their vacation. People love Tulum, just like we did and decided to invest, so we can also enjoy. We are looking at another place, we'll see. I guess since we did it once, it may be easier the second time around. Hoping so!

@Willie Cedillo Congrats! That's great news. STR took a hit with COVID, but for us it was just from mid March to mid June, after that we've been getting bookings and busy! Hope you can start as soon as possible. Best of luck!

@Willie Cedillo did you get the keys? did you still do STR? Given that some months have gone by already.

We do STR in Tulum, and started end of 2019. We were getting lots of booking. Then COVID hit, bookings got cancelled all the way through summer. Our last reservation was mid March. We had the property empty, until our first booking after COVID in mid June! Since then bookings starting picking up. Summer months that may be slow season, it was still busy. The calendar has been booked so far. Guests said that wanted to escape the lock down.

Just wanted to share my experience so you don't get discouraged, if you already got this far. But maybe others that are doing STR in Tulum are not experiencing the same situation? We are still getting bookings, so fingers crossed!