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cuenca

Finding a House in Ecuador (and some pictures of my house too)

November 15, 2014 | 6 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

All the planning and preparation can’t prepare one for the unknown. What we did know is that we wanted to rent a home instead of buy as we get more acquainted with Cuenca and the area.  Today, in finding a house in Ecuador (and some pictures of my house too), I want to share a few tips and talk about some of the people we learned about in our house quest.

Plus, I just can’t wait for you to see the house we are renting because we have plenty of room now.

Finding a House in Ecuador

Look at my rental house hunt tips and things to know about renting here in Cuenca:

It can take anywhere from 3 weeks up to 2 months to find close to what you are looking for in a rental home.  For some people, it takes much longer.

I confess secretly I thought I would be able to find a house sooner than we did because I had my checklist of what was important.  I soon realized my list was only half of what needed to be considered.

Realizing that other things affected our decision were equally important.  Things like security and location, which becomes pretty important when you don’t have a vehicle, details of the rental contract become significantly important too and of course there are options like furnished, semi-furnished and not furnished at all, which makes for myriads of options. 

Hiring a local gringo, named Brandon,  who has lived here in Ecuador for quite a few years to help us find our home was one thing we did right.

When we met with him, he wanted all of his payment ($300.00) up front.  We normally don’t do business that way because leverage is a great motivator to completing a job and because we didn’t know him.

Brandon and the Mr. after we found our house(Brandon and my hubby after we found our house.)

However, after meeting Brandon and his local Ecuadorian girlfriend, who was a nice added bonus with her language skills and negotiating know now, we felt comfortable with them. 

Also, he had received great feedback on referrals we read on Gringo Post.

Not only did Brandon and his girlfriend work with us the whole time, they helped to translate the rental contract once we found our home.  Brandon was able to listen to our needs and help us narrow down to the area we wanted and gave us advice on staying away from other areas of town.

Because we enjoyed working with him, we also hired him to help my husband negotiate for the best prices for furniture.  There is so much to learn about the Ecuadorian way of doing business, that for us, the money was well spent to helping us avoid trouble down the road.

As far as the house we wanted, you know I said I have my check list of needs versus want and I had read many things about the homes here in Ecuador. 

Most homes do not have clothes dryers, but then again, it takes the clothes less time to dry on a clothes line. I have not seen clothes hung on a line since I was a little girl, but I am fast adopting their easy way of doing laundry.

Homes are not plumbed to have hot water for the washing machine either.  All clothes are washed in cold. And yes, contrary to popular belief, the showers have hot water.

Also, dish washers are few and far between.

We only saw one house for rent that had a dishwasher and it was owned by an American in the states.  Of course the rental price on it was $200.00 higher than most of the other rental homes.

One more tip to keep in mind is that unless the house is newer, homes with bath tubs are hard to find too.

Though we found plenty of new and beautiful homes, their location being out of the city was not ideal for us either.

Sure, we can learn the bus system, but when there are five us trekking through the streets, it’s not so easy. 

Here is one home we almost pulled the trigger on because I love having some kind of outside space. 

Unless you rent in the country, yards are almost non-existent.  So having an outside terrace or space was important to us.

kitchen area view living room

 

nice bathroom outside spaces

Though the space wasn’t really outside, having the glass roof (which is very common here) because there is no air conditioner here, all homes have windows way up high that are open. 

This house was new and I could just picture a water garden with flowers and a waterfall, but it was still just 3 bedrooms and 2 baths and $550.00 per month unfurnished.

I know I wasn’t quite ready to start buying new furniture all over again after getting rid of mine.  So we started looking for something bigger and somewhat semi furnished.

After all the weeks of looking and almost pulling the trigger on a couple of homes that we liked, but didn’t really fall in love with, we finally found one we just fell in love with. 

A true Ecuadorian house with plenty of space for us.  This house has 5 bedrooms, two kitchens, 5 bathrooms and a maid’s quarters.  Though we are paying $750.00 per month, which is double the rental price here, we also are paying for a lot more room and an updated home. 

Too, though, it was semi-furnished which was the other thing we were wanting.  I don’t want to spend my time furnishing a whole house again, but there are some things I draw the line on when renting, like purchasing my own new mattress.

 

Main Kitchen

(I love this kitchen because it is so cheery and big, BUT one of the best things about this house is that it has TWO kitchens.  The one I am actually using is in the back of the house and I can keep this one pretty clean for unexpected guest.)

Second Floor where all bedrooms are off of

(This is the second floor and 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms are off this floor.   You see that spiral staircase on the right, okay you can barely see it, but there are two more bedrooms upstairs.)

Room that has Glass Roof to let in light. Like a courtyard

(This area is my FAVORITE part of the house and where we will be spending our school days at. It is so cheery and bright.  Look at the next picture to see why.)

Roof of the courtyard area so we can let in as much light as we want to

(Like a lot of homes here, they have glass roofs with open windows.  The open windows is the “natural air conditioner”. With the beautiful weather and light, we love schooling in this room for the short time we have been here.)

view from upstairs

(This is the view of the room from the second and third floors above.)

3rd floor and wash room

(Then this is the part of the house where the laundry room is located too.  You see those curtains or shades above the chandelier?  We just roll open to let in more sun or roll closed because the sun here at the equator is VERY bright.)

laundry room upstairs

(Even though everybody is in this picture as we are looking over the house before we rent it, I wanted you to see how most Ecuadorian woman wash.  Okay, not all woman wash this way because I have seen woman down at the Tomebamba River doing laundry.  But those who do own their own homes are proud of an area like this.  You can see the washing machine in the back and right above that clothes line.  A lot of homes have clothes line outside on the terrace too.)

Going up the first set of stairs

(Going up the second story, there is this beautiful mural of the Ecuadorian countryside.)

bright and spacious bedrooms

(And finally, all the bedrooms are bright, spacious and have TONS of built in storage.  Certainly, more storage for clothes than our two suitcases each that we brought.)

We are already loving our new home and though I miss my old home just a bit, our new home with all the local flavor and traditions of Ecuador have made our transition here a memorable one.  We are so happy with our new home.

And my best tip for finding a home here is: Do Not Settle. 

If you have patience, you will find what you want and what the home doesn’t have, doesn’t really matter.

Hugs and love ya,

2012Tinasignature 100 Free Native American Resources

Check out my other posts on living in Ecuador.

8 Small Things About Traveling to Cuenca, Ecuador that Make a Big Difference

5 Things I Love About Cuenca Ecuador

Everyday Life in Cuenca, Ecuador

We Arrived in South America!!!!

6 CommentsFiled Under: Living Abroad Tagged With: cuenca

Everyday Life in Cuenca Ecuador

October 11, 2014 | 5 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I’m sharing everyday life in Cuenca Ecuador today.Also, look at my page Free South America Printable Lapbook and Fun Hands-on Unit Study Ideas

We have been on the house hunt this past week, but with no car to get around, location is going to be everything for us.  Each day has already proven to be an adventure though. 

We get ready to scout out the area and then have to stop to admire some of the everyday life in Cuenca, Ecuador. 

Calderon ParkPhone Charging

Calderon Park is one of the beautiful parks here in the center of town.  We have some research to do find out about the local statues and markers, but it has been nice to spend some of the day just people watching.

Even charging our phone is an adventure here. 

There are two companies for cell phone usage here, which are Claro and Moviestar. 

Finding a place to recharge cell minutes is an everyday thing.

Have you tried prompting along and following instructions on your phone when it’s all in Spanish? We are fast becoming immersed in the language.

Also, look at some of these books about South America.

Books for Kids About South America

13 Resources for a Study of South America

Add some of these fun books and resources to your study of South America.

South America (Rookie Read-About Geography: Continents)

An incredible variety of climates and biomes span the territory of South America. As a result, the continent contains some of the greatest biodiversity on Earth.

Rookie Read-About: Continents series gives the youngest reader (Ages 3-6) an introduction to the components that make each continent distinctive and exceptional. Readers will get to know each continents' geography, history, and wildlife. In this book readers learn about the continent of South America, including the geography, native animals, people and more.

Ancient Civilizations: Aztecs, Maya, Incas!: With 25 Social Studies Projects for Kids (Explore Your World)

A full-color, compelling book for ages 7 to 10 offers a deep dive into the three sophisticated ancient civilizations of Mesoamerica―the Aztecs, Maya, and Incas― through hands-on STEAM projects, essential questions, and loads of fascinating facts!

Why were there more than 3,000 steps built at Machu Picchu? Why did the Aztecs roam Mexico for nearly 200 years before finding a place to settle? How did the Maya study the movements of the stars and the planets? Ancient Civilizations: Aztecs, Maya, Incas! With 25 Social Studies Projects for Kids takes kids ages 7 to 10 on a guided tour to experience the history, culture, economics, and daily life of the Aztecs, Maya, and Incas.

Biblioburro: A True Story from Colombia

A man, his burros, and his books bring joy to children in remote Colombian villages in this inspiring book based on a true story by celebrated picture book creator Jeanette Winter.Luis loves to read, but soon his house in Colombia is so full of books there’s barely room for the family. What to do? Then he comes up with the perfect solution—a traveling library! He buys two donkeys—Alfa and Beto—and travels with them throughout the land, bringing books and reading to the children in faraway villages.

Secret of the Andes (Puffin Newberry Library)

An Incan boy who tends llamas in a hidden valley in Peru learns the traditions and secrets of his ancestors. 

My Mama's Little Ranch on the Pampas

In the sequel to On the Pampas, the author recalls her first year on the small Argentinian ranch purchased and managed by her mother, in an account that includes a visual dictionary of the Spanish words and geographical terms used in the text.

Tales from Silver Lands

Atmospheric woodcuts illustrate this Newbery Award–winning collection of 19 South American folktales. Charles J. Finger heard the tales firsthand from native storytellers, whose fables of talking animals, witches, giants, and ordinary people in supernatural settings provide remarkable insights into regional values and culture. The first of the stories, "A Tale of Three Tails," tells of an age when the rat had a tail like a horse, the rabbit had a tail like a cat, and the deer's tail was plumed like the tail of a dog. "The Magic Dog" recounts an act of kindness to a stray animal that helps overcome a witch's curse. In "The Calabash Man," the creatures of the jungle assist a suitor in winning his bride, and in "El Enano," a greedy troll's insatiable appetite leads to his downfall. Packed with adventure and full of surprises, these and other stories emphasize the importance of hard work, courage, and loyalty.

Turn Right at Machu Picchu: Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time

In 1911, Hiram Bingham III climbed into the Andes Mountains of Peru and “discovered” Machu Picchu. While history has recast Bingham as a villain who stole both priceless artifacts and credit for finding the great archeological site, Mark Adams set out to retrace the explorer’s perilous path in search of the truth—except he’d written about adventure far more than he’d actually lived it. In fact, he’d never even slept in a tent.

Journey to the River Sea

With the memorable characters and plot twists she brings to her best-selling fantasies, acclaimed author Eva Ibbotson has written a hair-raising novel, set in turn-of-the-last-century Brazil.Accompanied by Miss Minton, a fierce-looking, no-nonsense governess, Maia, a young orphan, sets off for the wilderness of the Amazon, expecting curtains of orchids, brightly colored macaws, and a loving family. But what she finds is an evil-tempered aunt and uncle and their spoiled daughters. It is only when she is swept up in a mystery involving a young Indian boy, a homesick child actor, and a missing inheritance that Maia lands in the middle of the Amazon adventure she's dreamed of. Readers of every generation will treasure Ibbotson's lush historical adventure that harkens back to the beloved classics of Frances Hodgson Burnett and Louisa May Alco

This Place Is Wet

Can you imagine living in a place where there is so much water some houses need to be built on stilts to protect them when the river rises? Or where it is so wet that some plants can grow on the sides of trees with their roots gathering water from the air? In This Place Is Wet, you'll find out all sorts of things about what it's like to live in the rain forest of Brazil. Try to imagine living there!

Bolivar: American Liberator

It is astonishing that Simón Bolívar, the great Liberator of South America, is not better known in the United States. He freed six countries from Spanish rule, traveled more than 75,000 miles on horseback to do so, and became the greatest figure in Latin American history. His life is epic, heroic, straight out of Hollywood: he fought battle after battle in punishing terrain, forged uncertain coalitions of competing forces and races, lost his beautiful wife soon after they married and never remarried (although he did have a succession of mistresses, including one who held up the revolution and another who saved his life), and he died relatively young, uncertain whether his
achievements would endure.

Ada's Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay

Ada Ríos grew up in Cateura, a small town in Paraguay built on a landfill. She dreamed of playing the violin, but with little money for anything but the bare essentials, it was never an option...until a music teacher named Favio Chávez arrived. He wanted to give the children of Cateura something special, so he made them instruments out of materials found in the trash

Mayans Aztecs Incas Coloring Book: Coloring Pages of Ancient Mexico Civilizations for Adults and Teens

Mayans Aztecs Incas Coloring Book – Fun And Education For Adults and TeensMake the perfect gift for anyone who loves coloring! Enjoy this Mayans Aztecs Incas Coloring Book for Adults and Teens. Click the cover to reveal what’s inside!About this book:

  • 40 original pages drawings of Symbols, Warriors, Masks and Mandalas.

The Inca Empire (A True Book: Ancient Civilizations) (A True Book (Relaunch))

Explore the Inca empire, including how the Incas survived in the mountains, how the empire was built, and why it disappeared.

A True Book: Ancient Civilizations series allows readers to experience what makes each ancient civilization distinctive and exceptional as well look at its influence on the some of the practices of the modern world. This series includes an age appropriate (grades 3-5) introduction to curriculum-relevant subjects and a robust resource section that encourages independent study.

Favorite Restaurant Don ColonFlower Mall

We have located one of our favorite places to eat at.  Don Colon is owned by a local who spends part of his time in the states and in Cuenca. 

He uses bottle water to make the local fruit juice so this place has been great on our stomachs. 

Too, you can beat the price of almuerzo (lunch) for $4.00. You get an entrée, soup, drink and dessert.  The lunch choices yesterday were steak, fish, chicken and pork loin, so we are not talking sandwiches.  

More Activities About South America

  • Ikat Weaving and Makana Shawl in Gualaceo Ecuador
  • Finding a Home in Cuenca, Ecuador
  • Everyday Life in Cuenca, Ecuador
  • 5 Things I Love About Cuenca Ecuador
  • Effigies, Celebrations and Customs of Cuenca, Ecuador

Then of course, I have been drooling over all the beautiful flowers offered here for just a few bucks.

I can’t wait to get our own place so I can have fresh flowers each day.

stunning architectTraditional Native American Dress

Just a walk down the streets and you are in awe of the dated architect. 

Then when we were out house hunting, we had to pause for this guy who was dressed in his Native American dress of Incan heritage as he played the flutes. 

The music filling the air on that block was beautiful.  It’s hard to house hunt with so many things to look at in every corner.

We took a tour too and I will share some of those pictures soon.  It has rained the last 3 days, but today is sunshine so we will be getting out again to learn some about the local customs.

Everyday life in Cuenca, Ecuador

5 CommentsFiled Under: Living Abroad Tagged With: cuenca, ecuador

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