Ready to Relocate and Transition to Life in Merida?
It can be overwhelming stepping into a new country, new culture and a complete different way of life. I can help you!
Work
Why work with us
A common mistake new immigrants (expats) make is paying too much for their housing. If you're overspending on a home by $400 per month, that can be very costly over the course of a year ($4,800). You can often find your dream house on 'the other side of town' for significantly less and with more space; but you wouldn't know that as a newbie.
Real estate agents in Mexico get paid by commission. They're not interested in showing you lower priced homes because they think foreigners have more money; and so they tend to show higher priced homes for larger commissions.
Also, the overwhelming majority of local landlords won't pay commissions to real estate agents and refuse to work with them. As a result, these agents won't show you those properties because they don't get paid. By working with a real estate agent, you instantly lose access to majority of the available inventory to view.
Because we're not real estate agents, we don't collect commissions. I don't care if you want an expensive home or a cheap one; my fee is the same. I find exactly what you want based on your needs, and ensure you're not overpaying, while making sure you get the best value for your dollar.
The other common mistake is choosing the wrong neighborhood or area... For example, in some neighborhoods you'll pay less (or more) for utilities like electricity. And electricity can get costly during the summer months when you're running the a/c a lot. If you're on a fixed income or a strict budget, saving coins matter.
Also, if you choose the right location, your transportation costs drop drastically because you're not having to hop an Uber for every little trip to the grocery store, restaurant or fruit stands. You can walk around the corner and get what you need and not pay a dime on transportation costs.
While most areas are safe in and around Merida, some areas are more prone to flooding, poor Internet connectivity, blackouts (where the electricity gets shut down more often than other areas), bugs, mosquitos, scorpions, and spiders. Knowing where, and where not to be, can save you a lot of headache and frustration.
If you'd like to hire us for your relocation needs, take a look at the options below
Relocation Assistance
*Our services are designed to help you find a rental at the best price. We'll start looking for properties prior to your arrival and will set appointments to view them once you arrive. We can typically find your rental within 3-7 business days, and you can usually be living in the rental 3-5 days later. It's a pretty fast and seamless process.
How We Work
We'll send you a bunch listings of homes/apartments based on your requirements, budget and criteria.
You select up to 7 of the listings you like to see and we'll schedule a time to go out with you to view those properties.
So far, our clients have been able to find their dream home from the 7 properties they've selected to view (most usually choose their home by the 3rd or 4th property viewing).
What We Do
We schedule home viewings around your arrival time to Merida. Because homes get rented quickly, we start searching and sending you rentals to consider 1-2 days prior to your arrival. Sending you properties a week before is usually unproductive because they're gone by the time you arrive.
As part of our service, we'll pick you up and take you to the viewings. You won't need to take Uber and risk getting lost or dropped off in the wrong place (it happens more often than not). I'll pick you up and take you back to your hotel or AirBnB.
In-between looking at rentals, we'll assist you with getting your services turned on (cell-phone, Internet, etc). We'll also make sure all of your apps like WhatsApp, Uber/DiDi/InDriver is working.
Once you get moved-in and have an address, we'll assist with helping you get a bank account, so you can have a local Mexican bank account (if you wish to pay for services like electricity or water online versus walking to the convenience store or the electric company or standing in line, some of the service providers require you have a national bank account from Mexico).
After you move-in, we'll take you around your new neighborhood to find all of the essentials like grocery stores, laundry services, water refill stations, local markets to buy fruits, veggies and meats, etc.
And, on move-in day, we'll take you out for a day of shopping to get all of your essentials. Most people use this day to look at furniture (if they moved into an unfurnished house), and others use this day to buy essentials for making their new home comfortable (think groceries, cooking/eating utensils, bathroom and bedding, new mattresses and pillows, 5-gallon water jugs (you can't drink the water from the tap), etc.
There's a lot you don't consider when you move-in to a new place. While our prices are much higher than others, it's because we do much more.
Others simply show you rentals and that's it. We help you get fully-situated into your new home and will connect you with additional resources to help your transition be a smooth one.
**The other biggie to consider. If you find yourself in an emergency situation, you can call on me and we'll assist and help best we can.
Don't underestimate the possibility of something going wrong. Many clients have lost their cell-phones and couldn't communicate or connect to their banks to make transactions; others have lost their debit/credit cards and couldn't buy food.
Quite a few have been in car/bicycle accidents; and others needed to go to the Emergency Room for various reasons and were afraid to go on their own.
During the first 30-days, I will assist you in any way I can. Other service providers simply charge for a service and when it's done, it's done. I factor in the fact that you'll likely need additional and occasional assistance after you move into your place. This is why we charge more because I want to make sure you're really okay and good.
The less difficult things are for you, the more likely you'll stay and make this a successful transition. I've seen too many people come and struggle their first few weeks and then they're on a plane out of here. My fee is cheaper in comparison to having to return back to your country and start all over finding a place to live, buying furniture, getting a car and rebuilding.
It's my goal to ensure a successful transition for you. Our prices will increase at the first of the new year (2025).
The Fine Print
I have a recommended attorney who will review your rental contract and make necessary changes and/or recommendations before you sign.
They'll let you know if the contract is a good one, or if you should walk away. The attorney charges $1,500 pesos (at today's exchange rate, that is about $75 USD), and you're responsible for this fee should you decide to hire them.
If you don't find what you're looking for in the first block of 7, you can buy another block of 7 properties to view. I'll knock 50% off the package price for the 2nd block. To date, no one has had to purchase a 2nd block yet. We're good in finding rentals that meet requirements you set in the beginning.
I include this limit because some people are extremely picky and over-the-top lol... This limit is set to keep this from being an endless cycle of looking and looking; there has to be a cut-off point.
Please note, this service is not for helping you find doctors, nor taking you out to tourist destinations (like museums, Cenotes or other tourist hotspots.
This service is solely to help you find a place and get moved in. If you require additional assistance and need help finding doctors or other special services, we can quote you.
Previously, you had to rent a car, but that is no longer the case. I now have a car and 'll pick you up and take you to view listings, and I'll take you back to your rental/AirBnB (this price is predicated upon you being in Merida; extra costs if you're outside of Merida in places like Progreso, Telchah, and other areas 15-minutes or more outside of Merida's perimeter).
The only other requirement is if we're out all day and need to stop for lunch/dinner, you'll cover my meals (don't worry, I'm a cheap date, lol).
Due to increased demand, on occasion I personally may not be available to attend viewings with you. On those occasions, one of my colleagues will take you out on my behalf. They know my process and can assist as well; but this is rarely an issue as I'm usually available when you book me.
*Payments made are used to secure and block the dates you arrive so we can plan and schedule appointments for you to see rentals. Because these dates are blocked out to accommodate you, there are no refunds (you can apply towards another date), but you must give us advanced notice.
Your Costs
Our fee is a flat-rate: $2,795 USD (get an additional $150 discount when paid with Zelle or CashApp)
Sign-up below to lock-in this rate and to secure your block of time based on your arrival dates. We don't start looking, nor schedule appointments until payment has been made.
*This is our busy season and the price of rentals increase this time of year as 'snowbirds' make their way here. Inventory is getting scarce. I only take on 2-3 clients per month. If interested, book now to secure your spot.
CashApp: $CartessRoss
Zelle: cartess@cartessross.com
'God bless????????'
Just in case I didn't tell you just how much I appreciated all you did for me, thank you a billion. You are the best. God chose well when he chose you. God bless????????
'Cartess was awesome'
I used him twice to help me find our rental. He was patient and I never felt rushed. Cartess was awesome. Hire him now!
'He's the G.O.A.T.'
Don't hesitate to use this guy. I thought I could do it on my own and ended up calling him 4-weeks later to find my place and he found the perfect spot for me and my dogs in 3-days. He's the G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time)