Mexico and My Money: What to know about working with Mexican builders and contractors

As a homeowner in Guadalajara for the past four years, I’ve hired my share of tradespeople, including plumbers, painters, electricians, furniture makers and general contractors.

It didn’t always go well, to put it mildly. 

But it turns out I am not unique. Many of our readers who are property owners and responded to the recent Mexico and My Money financial survey shared details about their own contractor engagements that went sideways.

Below is a sample of the reader feedback we received when we asked for details about contractor experiences in Mexico that did not go well:

“I’ve had contractors not use the materials they said they did.”

“Disagreements over what was included with certain construction costs arose from familiarity with what is typical in the U.S. versus what is typical in Mexico.”

“Terrible workmanship.”

“Surprise extra costs.”

“Prepaying for construction renos, ‘to buy materials,’ and never seeing the guy again.”

“Paid up front for work that never happened.”

“Contractor would not take responsibility for subcontractor’s bad work.”

Besides outright fraud, problems can arise over project cost, timing, the quality of materials, who takes responsibility and the scope of work.

Like any industry, the trades can attract bad actors. But clients are not without responsibility and sometimes act in ways that contribute to problems. 

Should you buy or build your new home in Mexico?

Cultural differences could impact building work

The funniest story I’ve ever encountered about an expat’s struggle to renovate a house while living abroad was Peter Mayle’s 1989 bestseller, “A Year in Provence.” 

The British author’s fixation on rigid schedules and worker efficiency was constantly at odds with his French contractors’ fluid approach to time and focus on enjoying life’s pleasures (especially food!) over work. 

For Americans and Canadians living in Mexico, this cultural clash will probably sound familiar. Those of us raised in Anglo-Saxon cultures misread Latin people constantly. 

But with a little effort to better understand Mexican culture, we can reduce the risk of problems when working with contractors here. Below are some common missteps expats make, and how to avoid them.

Hiring contractors without meeting them in person first

Mexican society relies heavily on personal relationships. Face-to-face interactions matter a lot more here than in Anglo-Saxon cultures. If they refuse, or your gut tells you something is off when you meet, do not hire them! 

Failing to conduct due diligence and vet potential contractors

We foreigners often rely too much on social media to find workers, but these platforms (I won’t name names) are a notorious playground for scammers. While it may take more time, reach out to neighbors or friends you know and trust for recommendations instead.  

Most Mexicans wouldn’t dream of hiring workers without first getting positive feedback from family, friends or neighbors. This reduces the odds of hiring a contractor who does poor work or has no idea how to do what’s being asked.

Paying most (or all) of the project cost upfront

I’ve seen expats pay a large percentage, or a project’s entire cost, up front and remotely. After doing this, they never hear from the “contractor” again. If they’d taken the time to do the two steps described above, this almost certainly wouldn’t have happened. 

Not speaking Spanish

Overreliance on contractors who speak English in Mexico is a recipe for excluding the most reputable and best-qualified workers, as the vast majority of tradespeople in Mexico do not speak much, if any, English.

Also, the relief that monolingual expats feel speaking their own language in a foreign culture may inadvertently lower their guard, making them more susceptible to fraud. 

If you don’t speak Spanish, find a local translator or use a translation app to help you communicate with local workers. Trust me, it’s worth the effort.

Not getting project quotes in writing, with details on what is in scope

It may feel like a hassle to get everything in writing, especially when a worker isn’t tech-savvy or struggles to write due to a lack of formal schooling. But it’s an important step that ensures you and your contractor are aligned on the work to be done. If there’s a disagreement over work scope later on, you have something concrete to refer back to.

Attempting to book a contractor far in advance

I once tried to book a painter for an outdoor job during the rainy season, telling them I’d like to begin the work in a few months when it would be drier. 

Big mistake. Some of the painters ghosted me.  

A Mexican friend later explained that tradespeople in Mexico don’t operate this way. Most are focused on today and this week, not next month or next year.

Plus, in an economy with high inflation and uncertain supply chains, workers aren’t sure what materials will cost a few months from now. So, they will probably avoid giving you a quote until they have a good idea when the work will happen.

Construction sector’s ongoing decline alarms industry leaders who had called for more public investment

Checklist for working with tradespeople and contractors in Mexico

• Get recommendations from your friends and neighbors. Preferably Mexican neighbors who have personally hired the contractor for work, instead of relying on social media.
• Vet contractors thoroughly. Meet them in person and ask for a copy of their ID before making a down payment. Check online reviews (if they have any) or client referrals.
• Collect multiple quotes and do not accept the first quote offered. Negotiate the price.
• Get your project quote in writing. This should include an outline of exactly what the deliverables are.
• Set up a payment schedule aligned to work progress. Do not accept a heavily front-loaded payment plan.
• Provide a budget to set expectations. While few contractors will guarantee a fixed price (unforeseen challenges do occur), creating a financial ceiling for the project is important. 
• Create a timeline. While deadlines generally don’t work, having no timeline increases the odds of a contractor taking longer to finish a job. 
• Ask for photos of the receipts if your contractor purchases supplies. Avoid being overcharged for materials or having inferior ones substituted.
• Review all work. Ensure it meets your standards before making a final payment, so that you have some leverage if something needs to be corrected. 

What else have you tried when working with contractors in Mexico? Please drop your ideas in the comments below.

From tipping to moving money into Mexico from abroad, check out more from MND’s “Mexico and My Money” archive.