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durrelllrobert
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7393
Registered: 11-22-2007
Location: Punta Banda BC
Member Is Offline
Mood: thriving in Baja
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| Quote: | | Quote: | | [Edited on 11-27-2010 by halcyondays] |
Technically, you are correct; a Mexican contractor should be the one to hold and then pay Social Security. That is, if you sign a contract for him to
do a complete package deal.
You really need to get as referral from a trusted person. Most who will offer their services as a contractor do not comply with the law, and many are
not qualified either. You are ultimately responsible, no matter what the "contractor" tells you.
Trust is a huge issue! You really need to be there during the construction. You need to cost out the materials. You can count on "contractor"
overruns; on labor, any materials he buys for you, labor costs, and time promised for delivery of the finished product.
Much has been written about this. Building in Baja is very risky. Title is very risky. You need to really do your homework, read the stories of people
who failed with building, and all the pitfalls that await you; anticipated and unforeseen. There are so many ways to lose everything. In Baja, it is a
big game. If you are not in charge....you lose!
I am sorry to sound so negative. I have been all through it. Leave no stone unturned, but mostly, you take charge and watch every aspect of the
construction. You don't have to be a tyrant. That is counterproductive and invites resentment. But, you need to observe and ask questions every step
of the way and be prepared to rip out "finished" stages and have them do it over. Do not count on your sense of logic to get you through it. It does
not apply in Mexico.
Be friends with your workers. Buy the food and the cerveza for after work, often. Party with them. Gain their respect. Have fun! |
A complete set of detailed plans and specifications should be incorporated into any building contract and the contract should read: "The contractor
agrees to provide all materials and labor to construct the Casiita exactly as shown on the plans and specifications". I can provide this service for a
nominal cost.
Bob Durrell
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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A client must be immigration legal in Mexico to enter into a contract.
Just a reminder.
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BFS
Senior Nomad
Posts: 520
Registered: 9-28-2006
Location: Todos Santos
Member Is Offline
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contact
This guy built a garage for me in TS. Good, price, good guy, no funny business and he worked quickly. He is a local: Ricardo Lugo 612-141-6443
construccioneslugo@gmail.com. He does not speak english.
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monoloco
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6667
Registered: 7-13-2009
Location: Pescadero BCS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by monoloco
out of a crew of 10 there was never more than 4 or 5 actually working at one time |
Obviously, some of those guys had a distinguished career with Cal-Trans. |
Yes they were well qualified for
Cal-Trans. They were building the foundation for the house and one of the guys came over and borrowed a square, I sure hope they weren't using it to
square up the house.
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bajafreaks
Nomad
Posts: 404
Registered: 3-27-2007
Location: Gardnerville, NV./ Los Barriles BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Bad Days !!!
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I haven't seen him on here in quite sometime, I think someone peeed him off...waaaaaa
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajafreaks
I haven't seen him on here in quite sometime, I think someone peeed him off...waaaaaa |
He was last on a couple of days ago......
Last active: 11-25-2010 at 03:47 PM
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longlegsinlapaz
Super Nomad
Posts: 1685
Registered: 11-18-2005
Location: La Paz
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Santiago
here |
Hmmmmmm Santiago....were you referring halcyondays to me to recommend a contractor....or for me to recommend who to avoid?
I'm with Toneart....make sure you have as detailed contract as possible in place. Spell out what's included, what's excluded, especially who pays
seguro social on the workers, specify in writing that you are to receive a copy of the monthly SS receipts every month, rather than at project end
when he'll have lost or misplaced all or part of them! Make sure you enforce it & keep them in a safe place! Specify that the contractor is
responsible for the cost of labor & materials for all rework required due to shoddy work.
If you're not fluent in Espanol, the contract can be in Espanol with each clause/section translated into English directly below. Make sure the
translation is done by someone you trust or an official certified translator, because the Espanol is what will be used if there is a legal dispute at
any time.
Shy away from any builder who wants to do anything under the table....if he's willing to screw Hacienda out of taxes, he'd be willing to screw you as
well. Builders are not legally responsible for making sure everything is done according to local, state & federal law....YOU, as
the property owner, will be legally responsible for any fines, fees & penalties.
Don't let any work start until you have a copy of the finalized Environmental Impact Study
Authorization to Proceed letter in your hand, as well as the building permit. Do not allow the builder to start to clear the land before the EIS is
finished....you can be fined up to $10K equivalent USD. File these documents away in a safe place along with your SS proof of payment.
BE THERE ON A DAILY BASIS to oversee the work being done....mistakes are more easily corrected before they are set in concrete! Much
cheaper to move a chalk line than a completed wall! Take your own square, level & tape measure, and more importantly, know how to use them!
Since you plan to eventually build up top, make sure your original ground-level structure is structurally engineered to support future construction!
It looks like you have gotten personal recommendations here for at least two local contractors....ask them both for detailed competitive
presupuesto/bids & let each know that you are getting competitive presupuestos. Look at all the individual details, not just the bottom line
number. Do they BOTH appear complete to you? If you get a slip of paper back with just a peso amount written on it, run like hell! The attention a contractor devotes to the presupuesto can be indicative of the
attention he'll pay to the work itself.
Keep in mind any presupuestos you get now will reflect current labor & materials rates. Those rates will increase 6 months from now. As a
matter of fact, bids you get now will go up after the first of the year!
This will be stressful, but if you pay attention to details up front & throughout the project, you can enjoy the final results for years!
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monoloco
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6667
Registered: 7-13-2009
Location: Pescadero BCS
Member Is Offline
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Or you can do it the way that we did and act as your own contractor. We hired an engineer to do all the permits, hired a crew and paid them by the
week, ordered all the materials and dealt with all the seguros. As for the environmental impact statement, we discovered that none is necessary if the
property is 1000 sq, mt. or less so we subdivided the lot in to two, the difference was about 6000 pesos for the subdivision and the surveying vs.
about 6000 dollars for the EIS. Either way you go, the way to get quality construction is to be on site everyday and fully involved with all aspects
of the design and construction.
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Mike99km
Nomad
Posts: 178
Registered: 5-23-2007
Location: San Dimas and ? in baja
Member Is Offline
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Leggs, Great response! Very informative.
Thank you,
You live the life you settle for.
"Never teach a pig to sing it frustrates you and annoys the pig" - W. C. Fields.
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capt. mike
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8085
Registered: 11-26-2002
Location: Bat Cave
Member Is Offline
Mood: Sling time!
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He was last on a couple of days ago......
Last active: 11-25-2010 at 03:47 PM
posting or lurking? i thot he was abucted by fish, or maybe aliens??
formerly Ordained in Rev. Ewing\'s Church by Mail - busted on tax fraud.......
Now joined L. Ron Hoover\'s church of Appliantology
\"Remember there is a big difference between kneeling down and bending over....\"
www.facebook.com/michael.l.goering |
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