I want to make my trip to Melaque in July as informative as possible. (Yes. Yes. I know. I should use the time to relax. )
Even though I will only be a renter for next summer, I want to learn the basics of living in a Mexican town. I intend to put the following questions to the owner (who has been incredibly helpful at every point in the process). If I have the answers before I go, I can actually try to put the pieces together while I am in Melaque.
1. Where and how do I pay for the following?
1. Where and how do I pay for the following?
electricity
telephone
water
sewer
garbage
internet (in this case, it is part of the telephone bill, I think)
2. When do I put out the garbage? Where? How?
3. Where is the water heater located? How do I ignite the pilot light?
4. Do I need to know how to fill the water tank?
5. Where is the fuse box? What type of fuses?
6. Are maid services part of the rental agreement? If so, who pays the maid? How?
7. How will be repairs be handled? Who pays?
8. Where is the propane tank -- or does the house use cylinders? What is the replacement procedure?
9. If there are any functional problems, who do I contact? (The owner lives in the Midwest.)
10. Where is the best money exchange?
11. Where is the best restaurant?
12. Where is the best place to snorkel?
13. Where is the best place to rent a car?
What am I forgetting? Can you think of any other questions a renter in Mexico needs to know. (We are working on the term and the price.)
With these questions -- and the answers -- I intend to walk around Melaque and see if I can figure out the operational side of renting. And I should get a feel for whether this is the place to start my first 6-month stay. I think it will be.
At some point, I also need to start thinking about whether I want a FM3 visa or whether I will rely on a tourist (FMT) visa. For round 1, I think an FMT will do. But that decision can wait until next year when I am more certain of my plans.
What am I forgetting? Can you think of any other questions a renter in Mexico needs to know. (We are working on the term and the price.)
With these questions -- and the answers -- I intend to walk around Melaque and see if I can figure out the operational side of renting. And I should get a feel for whether this is the place to start my first 6-month stay. I think it will be.
At some point, I also need to start thinking about whether I want a FM3 visa or whether I will rely on a tourist (FMT) visa. For round 1, I think an FMT will do. But that decision can wait until next year when I am more certain of my plans.
