![\"\"](\"http:\/\/propertyjournal.com.mx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Property-Journal-Jan-2021-Image-3-300x225-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThis week I had the pleasure of meeting a lovely couple from Canada who just purchased a new condo in downtown Vallarta.\u00a0 While they await the build\u2019s completion, they decided to start putting together their order with us for their furniture and d\u00e9cor.\u00a0 Even though they are not expecting to take possession of their condo for another three months, planning will save them money and stress.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The most challenging way to furnish a new home in Mexico is to wait until it is completed and then fly here for one frantic week where you try to buy everything, get it all delivered and set up.\u00a0 One week is not enough time to do the job right.\u00a0 I know because I tried to do that ten years ago.\u00a0 Not only was I a complete basket case by the end of the week, but I also ended up purchasing many things just because they were immediately available.\u00a0 That meant I did not get the style that I wanted, I had to settle for the colors available, and I sure did not get any deals.\u00a0 I paid far more than I should have.\u00a0 It would have been a much better investment for me to put all the money I spent into airfare, hotel and rental car towards my furniture.<\/p>\n
Most furniture retailers had already downsized the inventory on their sales floor before COVID hit.\u00a0 Regardless if you are in the US, Canada or Mexico, the days of furniture stores with thirty or forty sofas and just as many sectionals in a large building are pretty much over.\u00a0 Furniture stores are moving to a model where they will show only one or two lines from their manufacturers on their sales floor.\u00a0 They will have samples of available leather and fabric covers, stains and hardware, and images of different design options available for each line.<\/p>\n
Today, it isn\u2019t easy to find stores that allow you to buy items right off their floor with immediate delivery.\u00a0 Instead, they have the piece manufactured to your specifications.\u00a0 Before COVID, most manufacturing plants in North America could produce their goods in just three to four weeks.\u00a0 For example, Palliser, who is arguably the best upholstery manufacturer in North America, consistently met their four-week production target.<\/p>\n
Sadly, COVID has caused significant disruption in the furniture supply chain.\u00a0 In the late winter\/early spring of 2020, most retailers, manufacturers, shipping companies and any company in the furniture and d\u00e9cor industry shut down operations for a minimum of four weeks.\u00a0 Many companies remained shuttered longer.\u00a0 Orders that were scheduled for this period came to a halt.\u00a0 With most people isolating at home and spending more time looking and using their furniture, the number of online orders for furniture and d\u00e9cor skyrocketed.\u00a0 When it was all right to reopen the business, COVID workplace safety regulations required a reduced number of employees.\u00a0 Even today, the furniture industry is only able to operate at approximately 1\/3 of pre-COVID capacity.\u00a0 Raw goods to make furniture are scarce and running out.\u00a0 On-hand inventory of furniture is at an all-time low throughout the world.\u00a0 Experts in the furniture industry say that they have not seen this high demand and low, slow supply since just after WWII.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, many first-time vacation, retirement or rental home buyers in Mexico don\u2019t realize they will not be able to select from a vast inventory, buy everything and then have it immediately delivered.\u00a0 It was unlikely they would have been able to do this before COVID.\u00a0 It is going to be impossible to do for the foreseeable future.<\/p>\n
Those that do not plan will end up settling for what is available and paying a premium.\u00a0 Furniture buyers in Puerto Vallarta will have to sacrifice their preference for color, style and comfort.\u00a0 They will be unlikely to buy furniture made with quality materials and will likely have to replace pieces within a couple of years.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/propertyjournal.com.mx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Property-Journal-Jan-2021-Image-2-300x248-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
For those of you who have been reading my column and posts, you know that I am a big believer in buying furniture that is well-made with the right materials.\u00a0 If you are purchasing a condo or casa in Mexico, do not wait until the possession date to buy your furniture.\u00a0 Start shopping early.<\/p>\n
For more great information about furniture for your home in Puerto Vallarta, visit our website at www.solutionsmexico.com, join our FB group at Mexico Furniture and Decor, and check out our blog at www.propertyweb.com.<\/p>\n
Sheryl Novak<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
This week I had the pleasure of meeting a lovely couple from Canada who just purchased a new condo in downtown Vallarta.\u00a0 While they await the build\u2019s completion, they decided to start putting together their order with us for their furniture and d\u00e9cor.\u00a0 Even though they are not expecting to take possession of their condo […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":814,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[328],"tags":[367,971,664,303,332,970],"class_list":["post-819","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-deco-eng","tag-covid","tag-furniture","tag-muebles","tag-puerto-vallarta","tag-realestate","tag-rentals"],"yoast_head":"\n