The Truth About Running a Resort in Mexico

[@laurajeffreys9347]

I thought you guys were retiring? Lol! But let's face it, the more we acquire, the harder it is to relax. Don't forget to "live before you die" ! Thanks for sharing your journey 🎉😊

[@dooglassandesperanza]

For me retiring meant leaving my stressful corporate career. I tried the sitting on the beach thing, and if I had to do that every day for the rest of my life I would go crazy. I am happiest getting outside and building something or fixing something. The thing I hate the most is sleeping because it is the biggest waste of time that I could be doing something useful. Sitting in a rocker on the front porch would be hell on earth for me.

[@dianaj3139]

The Main thing is: If you are happy>? If what you have accomplished is pleasing to you and the life is reasonably comfortable. then I believe you have it made!! :) Enjoyable to watch the journey from my perspective. THANK YOU!

[@dooglassandesperanza]

Exactly! We are definitely happier than we were living the rat race. I know a lot of people wouldn't be happy doing what we are doing, and that's why I always say find what makes you happy and then do it.

[@hawkfan72]

Saw your gates as we drove buy

[@dooglassandesperanza]

Cool! Thanks for the comment.

[@nancytrekker]

Love seeing the work you put into your resort. Maybe one day I will see you there! ❤

[@dooglassandesperanza]

That would be cool!

[@rickvillelli4652]

You guys have done such a wonderful job. I mean, just look at that attention to detail in the guest book. Outstanding! I think what grabbed me a couple years ago about this channel is your sincerity and your transparency. I mean who opens up their business bookings like that? Very few people would do that, but your sharing your dream and the good and the bad along the way. And, that's the fascinating part. You guys deserve every drop of success that you're having.

[@dooglassandesperanza]

Thanks! From the beginning this channel was about sharing our adventures with friends. We don't write any scripts or setup fake scenes, we just turn on the camera and film what we are doing. I'm sure our KZbin channel could be way bigger if we did try to make it into a targeted scripted channel, but that's not us.

[@juliam.2971]

Fantastic 👍🐡🌴

[@dooglassandesperanza]

Many thanks

[@kimpedigo1303]

Your place looks so amazing! I’ll stay there one day! I was just in Loreto and saw the outskirts of your property the fence or entrance is gorgeous!

[@dooglassandesperanza]

Thanks so much. We'd love to have you.

[@davebaker489]

Re buying cheap. I agree wholeheartedly . You can buy cheap often or good once. Good quality is often less expensive in the long run. The place is looking goooooooood. P n D

[@dooglassandesperanza]

Thanks!

[@tonydanzl]

Leave the guest book open for new arrivals. Guests will realize what it is and close it if desired? 🤔🤠✌️

[@dooglassandesperanza]

That is an awesome idea and we are going to start doing that. Thanks!

[@stevericher6660]

Great idea...all rentals should come with one !!

[@ludfx4yyc403]

👍💡Brilliant !!

[@dooglassandesperanza]

Thanks!!!

[@wendyhill6145]

Love the updates. Hope to visit someday. Thank you for your honest approach to your videos.

[@dooglassandesperanza]

What you see is always what you get with us. There are no scripts, no fake experiences, no hair and makeup on our channel. We just turn on the camera and film whatever we are doing.

[@davidlevitz3119]

great !

[@dooglassandesperanza]

Thanks!

[@carlosbarron1284]

Hi Douglas, what about getting Nespresso coffee machines and changing the toasters for an air fryer

[@dooglassandesperanza]

With our main guest demographic being over 55 we have found simpler is better. Many of our guests are not very tech savy and putting a complicated appliance in the Villas would generate a lot of help calls. I can't even imagine the calls we would get from people trying to make their morning toast in an air fryer.

[@YesItsMeGuys68]

use and orbital sander on the metal table top . then use a Rustoleum spray ( 3 light coats from about 2 1/2 feet about the tabletop . let it slowly build up ) IF you do decide to go glass top make sure you raise the glass surface about the depth of an American penny . This will prevent the surface creating any unwanted visible contact markings .OR don't paint at all and use rolled cork to cover the tabletop under the glass . this will save you time and effort and the end result looks great

[@dooglassandesperanza]

Love the cork idea. It would help hide any streaks on the glass top with all that texture underneath. I think I will use your idea when I update them! Thanks!

[@YesItsMeGuys68]

@@dooglassandesperanza I own a rather large short-term rental property in Puerto Vallarta. It's taken a while to understand how endless sunlight , High humidity and salt air, affects building materials and furniture.. a lot of trial and error. I'm happy to be of some help to you on your table top issue.

[@dooglassandesperanza]

We took the sun's position throughout the year into consideration while placing the Villas on the property and placing windows. We also have strategically placed patio covers and plants to shade any windows that get any sunlight. As a result we only have any sun coming into the Villas for an hour or less at sunset at the summer solstice. We also have very heavy blackout shades on all windows that we keep closed when we don't have guests. Definitely important to protect everything inside from the harsh summer sun.

[@danielgbrittonsr8921]

Hi Doug, great video. How is your back doing?

[@dooglassandesperanza]

Finally healed up 100%. Back to normal. Thanks for asking

[@FC-ni7xb]

Very nice villas 🥂

[@dooglassandesperanza]

Thank You

[@danielgbrittonsr8921]

I would go with glass top

[@dooglassandesperanza]

We will see how much one costs to make????

[@teresakelley4364]

Hi Dooglas and Esperanza! We are huge fans of yours and have been following your adventures for a few years. We just bought a home in Chicxulub Yucatan and will be renting it out and we LOVE your Guest Book. Can you share if you used a specific website/software to create the content? Gracias from Arizona!

[@dooglassandesperanza]

Thanks for the comment. I sent you the info in an email. Gracias!

[@vkinovak]

Question, I’m looking to move to Rocky point and was wondering did you get a temporary residency or get permanent right from the start?

[@dooglassandesperanza]

I got permanent residency from the start.

[@vkinovak]

@ thank you!

[@Larrymopac]

I’m interested in doing something similar. Does Mexico require you to get permits or can I start this without permits from for business purposes?

[@dooglassandesperanza]

People tend to think of Mexico as a place with no rules or regulations, but that is not true. If you dig into it, Mexico has almost all of the same rules and regulations as the US. We had to do all of the following to run our business legally: Get Permanent Residency Get a CURP (Social Security #) Get personal RFC (Tax ID#) Form a Mexican Sociadad (Mexican LLC) Get RFC (Tax ID #) for our LLC Get a permit for our LLC to employ foreigners (ourselves) Get work permits to work for our LLC File LLC quarterly taxes and minutes with SAT (Mexican IRS) File personal taxes with SAT (Mexican IRS) File personal taxes with the US IRS (you still have to pay taxes to the US on all Mexican income) Pay yearly property taxes Get a building permit Get an occupancy permit upon completion of construction Pay large hookup fees for utilities (since we are commercial vs residential) Get a city business license Get a city hotel license Pass yearly fire marshal inspection of our property Pass yearly health and safety inspection of our property Now there are lots of people that just ignore everything above and start a business without following any of the rules, and if you can stay low profile enough you might not get caught. But if you have any kind of visibility in the community they are going to find you and then shut you down, fine you, etc. Being a foreigner you are a very big target because it is assumed that you have a lot of money and it will be worth their while to go after you. We have always done everything completely by the book and followed every rule and regulation.

[@DougSladeStuff]

hmm, looks like blue plastic coating still on fridge, is like blue plastic sheeting. protective plastic that comes off. Sure you checked it but that what it looks like in video. weird.

[@dooglassandesperanza]

It had the really blue plastic on it when we got it new. That is just the blueish tone of the plastic panel. Thanks!

[@AlexSanchez-wm9dy]

Hello Duglas my wife and I are here now looking for property’s

[@dooglassandesperanza]

Awesome! Hope you find the perfect place!

[@AlexSanchez-wm9dy]

@ we passed your property nice place

[@angelabraun-uu4kd]

Why not just use two place mats

[@dooglassandesperanza]

That's a good idea, but it is also just one more thing to wash and get stained. Almost every guest leaves multiple stains and doing laundry and removing stains is the biggest expense when cleaning a Villa because it takes the most time. We often have to rewash and retreat our linens 2 or 3 times to get stains out.

[@bracynicole4822]

Do you recommend renting a car when staying at your resort or are taxis readily accessible to get around town?

[@dooglassandesperanza]

Taxis are readily available during the day, and you can call and usually have one arrive at our property in 5-10 minutes. After 8-9 at night there may not be any taxis available. We are about a 15 minute walk from the center of town and it is completely safe to walk here. If you are looking to visit many of the attractions outside of town then you may want to rent a car for some of your stay.

[@bracynicole4822]

@ Thank you.