Nobody Told Me About the Lights (Or the Furniture, Either)

Let me be upfront: I lack in the style department. I'm sure I could develop an eye for it if I tried, but I genuinely don't care to. My requirements are simple. Things need to match, be clean, and be in relatively good condition. I am not the person who can visualize furniture in a space or intuitively know what a room needs. I can add to what's already there, a nice pillow or a work of art, but beyond that? No bueno.

So when I began researching how to furnish my Mexico property, I was already at a disadvantage. What I discovered, though, was a pleasant one: it would cost less to furnish a four-bedroom house in Mexico than a one-bedroom apartment in New York. It shouldn't be surprising, yet somehow it is.

There's also something worth knowing before you get too excited. In Mexico, there are companies that specialize in expat clientele. You'll pay a bit more because you don't know any better, but you'll still think you're getting a great deal. And honestly, you are. The lesson I learned the hard way is that expat pricing comes with an unadvertised premium baked right in. I was all ready to sign with one of those companies when my realtor said, flatly, "That's too much money. I will help you."

And help she did.

While my mom and I were in town, she took us to a furniture store that offers interior design services when you buy your furniture there. I found a dining room set, a bedroom set, a sofa, and a chair that I loved, but the designer couldn't quote me a price right away. I thought it was odd until he explained: "I have to give you the discount." Nobody is turning down a discount.

My realtor, whose praises I will sing until the end of time, went back to the store once the house was finished. She took the designer to the property so he could take measurements. Where do they do that? The next thing I knew, I had an email in my inbox with furniture suggestions and full pricing. Once I flagged that the discount wasn't reflected, it was corrected without any fuss. Within just over a week, this designer had helped me select everything I needed, applied a 15% discount, and sent wire instructions. I also mentioned wanting a bunk bed with a built-in desk, and they came back with a lovely bed and trundle option instead. We genuinely worked as a team.

I cannot say how impressed I am, both with the store and with my realtor, who has been a godsend throughout this whole process. I became a "rich auntie" without actually being a rich auntie.

Now. About the lights.

In the United States, you buy a house and the fixtures are already there. When you build in Mexico, that is not how it works. My house was delivered with wires hanging from the ceiling and walls. An electrician I would hire separately would then come install the lighting of my choice. I did not know this.

When my realtor WhatsApped me from the property to say she was counting the lights and would go to the store later to look at options, I just said, "Okay." I had no idea what she meant, but I trusted she would explain it eventually.

True to her word, she sent picture after picture of light fixtures. Indoor lights. Outdoor lights. Stairway lights. Closet lights. I don't even want to think about what I'll eventually spend on bulbs.

Then came the ceiling fans, which are non-negotiable. Electricity isn't cheap in Mexico, though I do plan to invest in solar panels eventually. Three blades? Four? Five? Who thinks about these things? My realtor told me which one she uses in her own apartment, and I said, "Let's go with that one." Decision made.

The bathtub situation was its own education. I did not fully understand how jetted tubs worked, and I certainly didn't know they required an electrical source installed somewhere in the wall. I learned that when my realtor walked me through what the construction workers would need to do to install it. More money. More planning.

Y'all, the expenses add up. I still hadn't gotten a full quote on the air conditioners at that point.

But I keep reminding myself: labor costs are significantly lower there, the jetted tub itself was surprisingly affordable, and having someone on the ground who knows the stores, the people, and how to find a deal makes all the difference in the world.

In the end, it'll be worth it.

Namaste.