We stood on the unfinished terrace of our fourth-floor penthouse condo overlooking the little village of Cotacachi, Ecuador, surrounded by the green and fertile slopes of the Andes.
“Jorge, we have a few changes we’d like to talk to you about.”
We said this in our broken, faltering Spanish. But Jorge Quilumbaqui, our builder, obviously understood. He’s a native of Cotacachi and speaks no English. But we’ve never had trouble communicating with him. And he has never failed to smile throughout every meeting we’ve had during the construction of our unit.
Even when the meetings involve changes to our floor plan.
We were lucky enough to be in Cotacachi during some of the early stages of building, so our changes didn’t involve undoing too much existing work…at least we didn’t think so.
If Jorge thought so, he didn’t let on. He just smiled and picked up a broken corner of red brick from the construction trash.
We did the same, and we started drawing red slashes and angles in the raw, grey plaster and cement block of our unit…more kitchen cupboards, a covered sunroom extending onto the terrace, extra electric plugs, extra light fixtures, enlarged windows, gas outlets for grills, dryers, and fireplaces…
Jorge’s smile never faltered. He is one of the most mild-mannered, even-tempered men we’ve ever met. And one of the most remarkable builders as well.
He started as a builder’s helper and steadily developed his own business, learning all aspects of the trade as he went along. His current project features some of the best planning and execution we’ve seen in Latin American construction.
He and his crew are unfailingly polite, as most folks in this part of the Ecuador highlands seem to be. And they work quietly, steadily, relentlessly on the condos, townhouses, and villas that make up Primavera II, the project where our condo sits.
At first, this quiet, steady, relentless building style takes some getting used to. The vast majority of Jorge’s construction is done by hand…no cement trucks, no cranes, no generators, no jackhammers. In fact, the construction site is eerily quiet by North American standards.
But it seems to work. Jorge is set to deliver our unit on time and on budget…something that hasn’t happened yet in our experience with Latin American construction and remodeling.
Even after we’d turned our unit into an Etch-a-Sketch pad of changes and modifications, we asked if our timeline for completion might slip. Jorge thought for a second and said, “No mucho,” with a smile.
The modifications will cost extra, though, and we asked him if he wanted us to write down all the things we’d talked about. He said “no,” and pointed to his head, gesturing “It’s all up here.”
This still makes Suzan nervous. But we’ll be back in Cotacachi about the time Jorge has promised to be finishing things up, so we’ll see how well his memory…and our red-brick artistry…works.
There are very few other builders that we would consider trusting this way. But Jorge’s track record speaks for itself. Plus we’ve made friends with great folks already living in the development. They’re on the ground and willing to be active on our behalf. That’s a huge plus…something it will take many, many bar-b-cues on our terrace to repay.
With all the changes and modifications, the final price of the condo will go up a bit. For about 1,100 square feet, top-floor mountain view, glassed-in sunroom with fireplace, all lights, faucets, tile, countertops, cabinets, and paint, our total should come in at about $51,000.
Throw in one of the most patient, even-tempered, and talented builders it’s ever been our pleasure to work with, and we call that a bargain.
Stay happy and healthy,
Dan Prescher
Publisher, International Living
P.S. When we go back to Cotacachi in a few months to check on the condo, we’ll be taking the new edition of Ecuador: The Owner’s Manual with us. We know Ecuador pretty well, but the amount of detailed info in this latest updated edition…including a huge rolodex of service and professional contacts…makes it far too valuable to leave behind. (And it doesn’t even take up space in the suitcase…it’s delivered electronically in PDF format, so it’s always a click away on the laptop.)
P.P.S. For this week only, we’re offering the Ultimate Ecuador Kit with this new, updated Owner’s Manual, plus two extra bonuses, free…
Special Bonus # 1:The Ultimate Event IV Ecuador Audio Collection. At our Ultimate Event IV in Quito last month, we heard from folks with years worth of on-the-ground experience in Ecuador. They shared their personal stories about finding and living the good life there–including hard-won advice for saving time, money, and trouble. We got it all on tape. And the result is The Ultimate Event IV Ecuador Audio Collection. (It’s worth a listen just to hear John Curran talk about his experiences putting together his new homestead in Vilcabamba, Ecuador. You’ll be itching to follow in his footsteps when you do.)
Special Bonus # 2:South America’s Last Coastal Frontier. This hot-off-the-presses report takes an in-depth look at a soon-to-boom stretch of Ecuador’s Pacific coast. If you’re interested in your own stretch of sand–in a place where property values are poised to appreciate quickly and significantly–then this is a must-read.
Right now (and until midnight, Friday), both these Special Bonuses are yours, free, when you order the Ultimate Ecuador Kit, which also includes Ecuador: The Owner’s Manual. At just $69, the manual itself is a great value. Throw in these two Special Bonuses, free, and it’s a steal.
Order your Ultimate Ecuador Kit now, and you’ll have the most up-to-date, on-the-ground intelligence available about this gem of a country. If you’re looking for a place where you can live better for less…Ecuador should be at the top of your list.
And there’s no more cost-effective way to get the low-down on the best places to go or the easiest, most efficient, most affordable way to find your own Paradise, than with this hot-of-the-presses guide–yours with the two Special Bonuses, while this offer lasts–only 2 more days. You won’t be disappointed.
