Newsletter #7

Storm Prep Time 

The State of Baja Sur.

We have seen an upsurge in rental activity, however mainly long term rentals.  We are also getting some short term rentals for people wanting to get away for a short weekend, or who are already in Baja.  We are hoping people continue to see the benefit of beautiful rural Mexico as a COVID getaway.  Let’s continue to think positively about the return of tourism and the end of COVID!  
Todos Santos, El Pescadero, and Cerritos areas are still generally reopened; however, beaches are officially closed.  Luckily local authorities are not being very strict. We take our family down a few times a week without issues and happily enjoy the ocean.  Police do head that way from time to time and politely ask people to leave. The beaches will clear and fill again within an hour.  
COVID-19 is growing in the area unfortunately. Many local families and expat families have reported being sick.  We’ve also heard the beds in local Cabo hospitals are full, but I am unsure about private hospitals.  Local restaurants are mainly open and following strict precautions, and authorities are shutting down places that are not abiding by sanitation rules. The airport continues to allow tourists. 

Hurricane Genevieve.

As of today, Hurricane Genevieve is set to closely pass Baja. Currently the storm is a Category 4.  

We are securing all houses by bringing all furniture inside, making sure windows are secured, and putting up any hurricane shutters that are available.  Please let us know if you have any specific needs. Alex and Nancy will be making rounds during the storm to ensure houses are safe and check for leaks.  After the storm, we will assess any damage and send out reports to owners.  By the end of the day we will have visited ALL our homes for storm prep.  Please feel free to reach out with specific concerns. 

Tu Casa Logos.

We have 6 vehicle Tu Casa magnets that are on the cars most used for business purposes.  If a neighbor sees a car parked outside your home, please ask if they see a Tu Casa logo on the drivers side of the car, then they can rest assured it is someone from our team.  We are also asking all staff to wear Tu Casa hats or shirts when they are working on property. This helps owners, guests, and neighbors alike trust the person in the home is with our company. 

Cleaning Updates.

We have hired a full time cleaner, Bibiana. She has a background cleaning a high end hotel for over 15 years, and is already doing a fantastic job with Tu Casa. We have been working closely with her to learn everyone’s home with the direct help of Nancy.  Nancy still acts as our cleaning manager, putting Bibiana’s schedule together, as well as teaching her the ins and outs of your homes. Alex or I still put eyes on the houses to ensure quality. This change allows us to go to your homes more often for spot cleans between guests without additional charges. We are happy to support this local family, and are hoping as we get busier to hire a second cleaner of equal caliber.  
She is also able to clean other homes under Tu Casa name.  Please let any friends or neighbors know you know of a reliable cleaner through Tu Casa! We are trying to fill her schedule so we can keep her on full time. 
As a reminder:  We will add an extra $10 per cleaning onto your bill from the cushion money provided from the renters for cleaning supplies.  Luckily you will no longer see the cleaning supplies on your materials charges with the 20% increase.  We will provide all cleaning supplies for turn-over cleans, including hand soap and dish soap refills, as well as sponges.  We will still individually buy the following for homes with a charge - toilet paper, paper towels, dishwasher pods, and laundry detergent.  At this point we will update your rental log to show the difference. I assure you, you will barely see a change, except for Alex’s happy face when he is no longer studying Walmart receipts! 

Home servicing.

Air-conditioners were successfully serviced.  We serviced 23 units in a two day period! You should be set for the next 6 months.  We are currently working on our next 6 month service date so we are on the schedule.  
Note: Getting your air conditioner serviced is very important.  If a gecko is in the compressor, the unit will short when someone turns it on. We also find freon runs low, the hoses need to be blown out, or the units need cleaning. These are all simple fixes with a service, but can be detrimental if not taken care of regularly.

In-home Foodie Experience.

We have a new team serving locally sourced food and drinks in your home, for both owners and guests.  Chef Martha and Bartender Charlie will make food and drink to order, professionally serve, and even clean after! This duo is incredible and comes highly recommended.  We’ve put together an exciting menu for the in-home service.  I will send this in a follow up email once a few aspects are secured.  
Chef Marta will also be available for cooking classes as an experience - menu: ceviche, chicken mole, homemade tortillas, and mexican rice. It doesn’t get much better than an authentic Mexican cooking you can do when returning to the states!!

Taxes.

Remember, Airbnb and VRBO have officially started taking taxes out of any account that does not have a legal Mexican tax ID. Once we start seeing bookings again, we may need to adjust pricing to reflect these additional charges.  

A few personal notes.

Please stay safe and healthy. We are all in this together, even if we are in different places in the world.  Stay positive and reach out if you need anything at all. We will keep you updated on your homes.  We are here for you!