Special Edition - Newsletter #4

Coronavirus Updates:

The state of Baja Sur.
As we all know, we are in an unprecedented situation. There are many uncertainties and unknowns moving forward. There is no need to reiterate all we’ve been watching and hearing on the news. Here are some points pertaining to Pescadero, Cerritos, and Todos Santos areas specifically.

• We have 80% cancelations as of this week and 100% moving past this week. We have gained a few month long bookings to wait out the mess. The beaches are desolate and towns are basically empty
  
• Prices for rentals have dropped significantly. Many owners throughout the region are choosing to either help people out or have someone stay in their home for a cheaper price so there is a presence in the home.
  
• Local stores still have all supplies (even toilet paper). There seems to be no issue with getting food, as many locals do not have the money to “stock up.” We were in Costco last week and there was still plenty of needed food, but we imagine Costco and other stores visited by gringos will start to run low.
• We’ve heard through the grapevine that agricultural orders have been canceled so many locals or mainland workers who cannot get home are feeling desperate. Also, many laborers are out of work (cleaners, nannies, restaurant workers, etc.) Construction workers are still working daily.
• The Mexican government is finally behind promoting healthy distance. Government offices are closed, schools closed as of last Friday, other entities are encouraged to work from home or part time. We have heard rumors of a shutdown, but thus far nothing seems to have validity. Mexico is much more lackadaisical in comparison to other countries.
  
•  We have heard of a looting scare. Most locals live paycheck to paycheck without savings as their wages are so low. We personally had an instance of a broken car window and purse stolen at the beach where there is typically zero issue. This could be a coincidence or not, but it peaked our senses.
• There have been a few cases of confirmed Coronavirus in Cabo from people traveling into the country. We have also read it is very hard to get tested here, even if all signs point to the virus. It is inevitable, but we are hoping this number remains low in the Todos and surrounding areas. It is more likely the numbers will rise quickly in Cabo and La Paz.

Tu Casa’s next steps.

• We are staying healthy and safe, but will continue to work.
  
• Due to the looting scare, we will increase our security checks immediately.
• Alex will continue to do the 4 full inspections per month, and will ADD 2-4 more security checks throughout the month.
  • We will make sure to go to each of your houses at night as well, turning on lights to show a presence. If you have a TV, we can also leave this on if you’d like. Please let us know.
  • Alex will bring one of our dogs along on checks, so people do not know if a dog lives in the home or not. Dogs are the best deterrent for break-ins. We know most of your homes are not dog friendly, but we believe this will be beneficial. If you are opposed to this, please let us know privately.
  • We will ​NOT charge​ any extra for the added security checks on your home for the foreseeable future, your administrative/inspection fee will remain at the $100 per month with the now 6-8 visits. This is a way we can help you feel your home is safe.
• We will plan to bring all outside furniture and any items that are not bolted to the ground indoors.
• If there is an issue, we will contact the police and the homeowner immediately.
  
• Owners that have decided to ride this out in Baja, we will also come by your home to check on you and see if there is anything you need. We will of course keep our distance, but want you to know we are here if you need us.
  
• We’ve been trying to broker month long deals for the homes that want them. If any more requests come in, we will pass this along, but I have a feeling we are about done with these requests.
• If you need any small construction or handyman projects completed on your home, this is the time for Alex to schedule the work. Please let us know your list of items.

Invoices.
Our biggest issue is getting our invoices out in a timely manner. We apologize for this delay. We will take this break in rentals to get fully caught up and then create a better system for moving forward. Please be on the lookout for your invoices for February in the next few days. We understand this is a tough time financially, and we truly apologize for not having this done sooner. We appreciate your support.

A few personal notes.
Many of you reached out about our little guy’s surgery. He had his tonsils and adenoids removed plus tubes put in his ears this past Thursday. As kids do, he is recovering well. We appreciate your support and patience for the few days Alex and I were not as responsive as we focused on family. We are so happy to have such a supportive network.

​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!