Bev and Rick Durvin’s BCS Home & Pool property management company provides an invaluable set of property management services that helps keep many El Centenario residents’ homes and pools in tip-top shape. But the couple provide much more than property management, which is why they are the focus of this month’s Spotlight on El Centenario.
For years, Bev and Rick have served as the unofficial welcoming committee for countless expats who are moving to El Centenario for the first time and looking for answers. They’ll tell you about their favorite restaurants, point you to the local beaches, and take you cycling, snorkeling or paddleboarding. They’ll pick you up at the airport, book you on the best tours, and even throw parties in their home to welcome new residents and introduce them to their neighbors. In short, Bev and Rick provide the La Paz “training wheels” many of us need when we land in a new country where we don’t even speak the language.
Bev and Rick didn’t set out to create a property management business in Mexico; it’s something that just happened. In 2009, the couple bought one of the first homes to be built in the then-fledgling community of Haciendas Palo Verde – now one of El Centenario’s most sought-after neighborhoods – as a part time vacation/retirement home. Little did they know that within a year, not only would they be living in La Paz full time, they would also be the owners of a local business.
Today, the company has expanded to a core team of eight, plus a well-vetted list of local trusted tradespeople who they deploy to clients’ homes as needed. BCS Home & Pool offers different packages depending on the client’s needs. Packages can include a mix of:
- Weekly pool cleaning, treatment and maintenance to keep your pool sparkling. (Rick is a Certified Pool Technician.)
- Home care: including housecleaning, maintenance and repairs
- Rental management: for those who want to rent their homes out when they’re not here
- Project management for remodeling work, installation of new appliances, etc.
- Storm season service: including prepping your home for storms and after-storm cleanup and repairs
- Paying utility bills
- Gardening and landscaping services
- Insect and termite fumigation services
- Meal preparation: fresh, hot meals prepared and waiting for clients when they arrive here at their homes
Monthly bookkeeping services are also provided to clients with a full accounting of where their fees are being spent.
Pam and Jey Manickam have been BCS Pool & Home clients for over seven years. They rely on BCS Home & Pool to ensure their El Centenario home and pool are maintained and bills are paid. However, as Pam knows, there is a lot more to property management than checking on a house and paying the Telmex bill.
“Our pool is maintained by Rick and his trained crew, our home is inspected regularly, and a checklist completed that includes water, toilets, electrical, auto maintenance, yard inspection and so much more. Because of their service, we have had so many potential problems solved that we would not have known about. Just to mention a few: a roof repaired and repainted, a water pump replaced, fumigation treatment, window screens replaced, and the list goes on. Each time we visit, our patio furniture is carefully put out and the house cleaned prior to our arrival, and a hot meal prepared and waiting. We are always amazed and feel like we have arrived at a resort.”
BCS Home & Pool’s services are particularly in demand during the August – October storm season in La Paz. If NOAA has a named storm forecast for our area, BCS Home & Pool inspects the client’s home before the storm. Rugs are lifted, curtains raised and hatches battened. Afterwards, BCS Home & Pool performs additional inspections, cleanup and repairs as needed. Debbie and Leo Regala have used BCS Home & Pool for over five years, and are particularly grateful for their help during the legendary 2014 storm season.
“When Hurricane Odile struck in 2014, Bev and Rick went to great lengths to contact us. Due to problems with the phone lines, they were unable to reach us, but they went the extra mile to contact a friend in Canada who then contacted us to let us know about the damage our house had sustained. With our blessing, Rick and Bev immediately contacted local tradesmen who were able to make the needed repairs.”
Property management is a 24 hr/day job that addresses just about anything that can go awry with a home. When you hire someone to look after your home in your absence, you are putting your valuable asset in their hands. Rich and Neil from Oakland, California, bought their home in El Centenario in 2013, and BCS Home & Pool helps the owners with marketing, managing rental guests and maintaining their rental property.
“When we first met Bev Durvin, she let us know that a personal goal for her was to provide guests with a wonderful La Paz experience for the duration of their stay. It is evident that Bev loves working with the public, which has been advantageous for us. BCS Home & Pool has helped us achieve an average rating of 4.8/ 5 stars on VRBO, due to their consummate customer service for our renters over the years. Bev has also lined up some great fee-based amenities for our guests, which include optional daily maid service, a cook/housekeeper, massage therapy, salon services, private yoga classes and more.”
No job seems to be too big or too small for BCS Home & Pool to tackle. Some of the things the company has helped its clients with include: re-sealing a roof, reupholstering or purchasing new furniture, furnishing a rental property, installing storm shutters, and creating custom ironwork for window and door security.
The Durvins are strong, smart, resourceful people. Their knowledge of El Centenario is extensive and a valuable asset to our new residents. But the biggest value they provide their clients is their commitment to helping them adjust to and thrive in their new Baja life. “This business is ultimately about taking care of people,” says Bev. “We want new residents to be successful and to love it here as much as we do. If we can help them fall in love with La Paz and El Centenario the way we did all those years ago, we know they’ll stay, and become our friends and neighbors. That is ultimately what this business is all about: it’s about helping people.”
To Contact BCS Home & Pool:
- Email: durvinbev@gmail.com
- US/CAN: +1 (587) 333-1593
- Bev Durvin: (612) 153-1926
- Rick Durvin: (612)167-8168