After studying many homes here at Lake Chapala, it is interesting to learn to how much electricity each home uses and, more interesting, how much the home owner is paying for their electricity. Electricity is billed in kilowatt-hours (kWh), which is amount of electricity equivalent to using ten 100 watts bulbs continuously for one hour […]
Continue ReadingThe majority of my work involves inspections of homes, however there is a large amount of consulting regarding Mexico real estate where clients need help to promote or sell their property. The rumor mill has produced some odd information lately that really needs to be addressed. One rumor is that the overall real estate market […]
Continue ReadingNo, this is not an article about an additive drug, a quick glib joke or that exposed skin area of the refrigerator repairman’s lower back, as he crouches down in front of you. This article is about masonry cracks; the little fissures that appear in walls, ceilings and floors and cause distress in general for […]
Continue ReadingSalitre is the Spanish term commonly used for masonry “efflorescence.” Salitre is the white powdery stain that forms on the surface of bricks and concrete and can cause the stucco or paint on a wall or tiles on the floor to lift off. It is a common issue for many homes here at Lake Chapala that are made […]
Continue ReadingWe see them in just about every house here at Lake Chapala. Sometimes they are humming and others quietly sit in a corner, showing a little light on. But all are on guard, protecting our electronic devices. They are our electrical surge protectors and they come in various sizes and forms. They are serving an […]
Continue ReadingAn important factor is the condition of the house. This relates back to the general appearance of the home and those important first impressions. With this month’s edition I want to touch on some issues that are somewhat maintenance-related however they come up during the process of selling a home. As a real estate […]
Continue ReadingIt seems last month’s article regarding our electrical bills touched a lot of people here in my reading audience. Thank you for you kind comments and questions. I wanted to expand a little more regarding electricity use in this month’s article. One of the questions I received several times was how to determine the quantity […]
Continue ReadingFor many newcomers, the water distribution systems here in Mexico are different from water supply they are used to in the rest of North America. In the case of a typical home in Canada or the USA, the municipal water authority will supply potable water from pressurized water pipes under the street in front of […]
Continue ReadingThe objective of writing this column is to act independently and discuss the typical property ownership/maintenance issues and real estate concerns for existing and perspective homeowners here at Lake Chapala. As a Canadian Civil Engineer who has worked here at Lake Chapala in the local construction business and real estate industry I have in the […]
Continue ReadingAs I write this month’s article, I am sitting beside a wood stove in a cabin by a frozen lake in Ontario. So this article’s topic becomes very tangible and important, especially because I want to keep my fingertips warm. Although, typically we rarely need them and only use them during the coolest nights of […]
Continue Reading