So You're Moving to Cuenca

 

So you’re moving to Cuenca.  Where are you going to live?  Everyone is always concerned that there will be nothing left when they arrive.   There are lots of places for sale and rent, new, old, large, and small.  New buildings are under construction every day.

 

Continuously we’ve heard of people who purchase the first week of their arrival.  At this point, do you even know the sector that you want?  Relax and take your time.  Get to know the city.  Think about where you want to settle down   and exactly what you want.  Don’t be foolish and purchase a house on the internet, sight unseen; chances are you’ll be sorry.  A picture on line doesn’t show everything.  It reminds me of a hotel in Scotland that I booked on line once upon a time.  It was splendid and called the Grouse and Trout; Mick refers to it as the Mouse and Rat.  I’ve never lived it down; however, it was easily remedied, in that there was a Marriott a few miles away.

When considering a new home, be it a rental or purchase, of course, you want to consider location.  How accessible is it to the places you plan to frequent.  There are beautiful homes in Challuyabamba; but a cab ride is $6 or $7 each way.  Do you need ready access to a bus route?  Think transportation. 

Do you want a house or apartment?  There are advantages to both.  With an apartment, there is added security.  Most apartments don’t have terraces.  So you’ve got a feeling of living in a hotel.  If you have pets, many apartment buildings are no longer pet friendly.  Also, think about your pet and the size of your pet.  Remember you’re living in close proximity to other people, how pet friendly are they?  If you’ve got a large pet, how well received will it be by the neighbors.  Also, is your puppy going to be happy in an apartment?  Look at the whole picture from the pet and the neighbors’ viewpoint.  You don’t want grief from administration or neighbors as a new tenant.
 

If you’re considering an apartment, there are features to look for.  A generator is a great thing.  There are power issues many times.  Our building has a generator that is large enough to run everything.  Some buildings have generators that will only cover elevators and some lighting.  Do you want a doorman/guard?  We consider this a plus.  We have someone downstairs, 24/7.  These features will increase the price of your rent or aliquota. 

Perhaps you want to live in El Centro.  Living in El Centro may put you in the middle of social activities, but you must consider the negative aspects as well.  The noise and pollution are greater in El Centro.  Also, if you have plans at some point to own a car, chances are excellent that you’ll have no place to park it.   Most of the apartments downtown don’t come with parking facilities.  Friends have renovated a fabulous property downtown, sparing no expenses; however, there’s no parking space.  Also, many of the buildings downtown have no elevators.  You may enjoy walking, but it’s different when you’re carrying bags of groceries up 3 flights of stairs.

There’s a place for everyone.  If you look long enough, you’ll find it.  Don’t be hasty.  Make a list of the things that are important to you in housing.  Go to the area in which you feel comfortable and start walking.  Most properties are not listed in papers or with agencies; they’re available only by a sign in the window.  If you see a building you like, go in and ask the guard or administrator if there are vacancies.  You just might get lucky.  Happy house hunting.

 

Until next time,

Mick and Kathy