1
Paying for work before it's done
The classic story: a big deposit, then progress slows, then the builder stops answering. Once your money is ahead of the work, you have no leverage.
How we prevent it
Your money never gets ahead of the work. 60% buys all materials on day one. The other 40% sits with an independent escrow agent in Arizona and is released one line item at a time, only after we send an invoice and photos proving that item is finished.
60%Materials bought day one, price locked
40%Held by independent escrow in Arizona
WeeklyReleased per finished item, with photos
2Building on a lot with problems
Unclear title, unconverted ejido land, no utilities at the street, or setbacks that kill your floor plan. You find out after you've paid.
How we prevent itWe review the lot before we design anything: size, setbacks, utilities, soil and views. A notario público confirms title on any purchase.
3A one-line bid
"$350,000 for the house." No breakdown means no way to compare, and no way to know what was left out.
How we prevent itEvery bid is itemized line by line: grading, foundation, walls, roof, electrical, plumbing, windows, carpentry, finishes, tile. You see what each piece costs.
4Material prices jump mid-build
A slow build plus rising prices turns into "we need more money" halfway through.
How we prevent itWe buy all materials on day one with the 60% deposit, so your price is locked before the first wall goes up.
5Nobody watching while you're in the U.S.
You're 200 miles away with no idea what's happening on site until something goes wrong.
How we prevent itEvery escrow release requires proof-of-completion photos and a list of finished items. You get them weekly, and you can inspect the work any time.
6Skipping permits
Unpermitted work can stop a build, block utility hookups, or cause problems when you sell.
How we prevent itWe prepare the plans and file with the municipality. Permit fees vary by house and location and typically run $3,000–$4,000.
7Building for Arizona, not the beach
Salt air, sun and humidity eat cheap finishes and bare metal. A beach house needs beach construction and real maintenance.
How we prevent itConcrete construction, a waterproof Impercool roof coating, and a straight talk about maintenance: recoat the roof every 6 months and plan monthly upkeep.
8Change orders that blow up the budget
"Small changes" with no price attached add up fast.
How we prevent itChanges are allowed and priced up front: $500 plus materials and labor. Decide pools, terraces and upgrades before we start, and they're in the bid.
9No warranty after you get the keys
A verbal "call me if anything breaks" isn't a warranty.
How we prevent itA written warranty: 10 years structural, 5 years on the roof structure, 3 years on A/C compressors, and 1 year on plumbing, electrical, windows and doors.
