LIVE with The Agency: we dish design tips, staging tricks and giveaways!

LIVE Interview with Poncho Davalos of The AGENCY and Debra Stevenson, founder of CRATE Interiors

Thank you for taking the time to share this important information with all the social followers of The Agency and Vallarta Paper.

 My pleasure, it’s a profound blessing to live, work and play here in paradise!

Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself? 

I’m Debra Stevenson, the founder of CRATE Interiors, a truly turnkey furnishing solution for vacation residences, rental properties and investment real estate in the Bay of Banderas.

How did you decide to establish your business in Puerto Vallarta and why? 

The idea for CRATE Interiors was born from our design team’s quest to find high quality, modern furnishings for our own rental units in Puerto Vallarta. After 20+ years managing design and product development for global brands in the competitive market of Los Angeles, we realized there was a demand for our service here. 

How long you been doing this in the area?

This year is the 1Oth anniversary of CRATE Interiors in Puerto Vallarta, an amazing milestone for our team!

What do you recommend to people buying a place in town? Any specific tips and tricks to furnishing their place? 

To keep it simple, I always refer to the ABC’s of a professional decor plan - 

A - Always have a decor theme. With the explosion of AirBnb in this market, a professional decor theme  is more important than ever.  

B- Be consistent with color. A little goes a long way and 1-2 colors throughout the space will look most cohesive.  

C- Consider your measurements! Understanding all the different measurements on your floor plans is imperative and will help avoid nasty surprises when the furnishings are delivered.

CRATE Interiors “Savasana Sail” Decor Theme is a harmonious palette of whites

How do buyers avoid a potential nightmare with suppliers or interior designers?

1 Do your research: Just because someone says “we can make that” or “we can get that” does not mean they know how.  CRATE Interiors has literally designed 100’s of condos round the bay, they’re listed on numerous rental websites and consistently earn higher nightly rental rtes for owners.

2. Understand the process of Professional Interior Design: There’s alot that goes into the process of design, delivery and install. It’s much more than picking out pillows and ordering furniture.  We explain the process in depth to educute our clients before the process even begins.  They have pece of mind knowing we are experts at every phase of the process.

3. Look for a proven track record: For more than 120 days during the Covid #StayHome, our supply chain and shipments remained consistent and uninterrupted, due to more than 10 years working with our reliable suppliers.  Many retailers, showrooms and workshops in PV rely on shipments from other cities and other countries.  When we say your furniture will be delivered and White Glove Installed in just 8 weeks, it’s because we have been doing it, year after year.

Is there a recommended percentage on top of the sales price of the house or condo that buyers should consider when furnishing a property? 

This is a CRATE question! We are well known for project management and budgeting. In fact, it’s the first step we take with new clients when they schedule a FREE Design session with us. We look at the purpose of the property, the square meters, the property value or purchase price, number of rooms or spaces to be furnished, and use these guidelines to set a budget as percentage of the investment total that fits the client's expectations.  

How helpful is it for people to purchase furniture to Guadalajara? Or do you provide that service? 

 If you do not live in Mexico, consider how many fly-and-buy trips it will take to come to PV, drive to GDL, including transportation, hotel stays, shipping, paperwork and placing orders, follow up calls, waiting for deliveries, furniture assembly and install. Then ask yourself - how much would you be willing to spend in time and money on this process? Instead, imagine put that investment directly into the quality of furnishings and immediately improving your return on real estate investment!

Offloading during a White Glove Install

What CRATE does to support the community? For example do you use local suppliers? 

We proudly support a local network of established artesans, painters, electricians, delivery services, drivers, warehousing and brokers.  Our team has been with us since day one and is trained in our protocols to deliver the CRATE experience on every install. I consider myself the “madre” of this amazing, fun loving team!!!

What has been the most crazy item a client asked you to source? 

 Well now you’re digging into the private vault...hehehe! Not only do we ship and insure artwork, family heirlooms, business supplies, heavy machinery and other items for clients and local businesses, we also get some crazy requests.  Like exotic pet supplies, waterproof latex mattresses, security surveillance equipment and car parts.  If we can legally put it in a shipping “CRATE” we can probably help you out!

For the sellers reading this interview what are the Top 3 Tips for putting their house on the market, and what they can do to make their place attractive for the public? 

The real estate market around the Bay of Banderas has exploded for investors.  There are more types and styles of properties now than ever before. And thanks to social media, these properties get much more exposure on the international market.  

1.  Consider the value of a professional design plan: A polished decor theme and a cohesive color palette.

2.  Artful staging, updated painting, well chosen artwork and proper photography will ensure your property stands out.

3.  Dont be afraid to discard items that dont fit the look or are simply too personal to appear in photos. The data shows a professionally staged property will spend fewer days on market and will sell for a higher price….now that’s a CRATE idea!

Staging and photography at The Orchid

For buyers what do you recommend right at the moment of closing on a new place?

First of all, celebrate your purchase! Buying property in paradise is a dream come true for so many. If you made the leap, take a moment to appreciate how your life will change.  Second, be clear on your intentions - will you keep it for personal use, manage it as a rental property, flip it as an investment or offset it as a corporate expense? Third, get the right help and resources to help you manage the process.  We help homebuyers get really clear on their plans in our first conversation. Very often this one meeting saves buyers $1000’s of wasted time and money. 

Something else to add? 

It may sound over the top, but our goal is very ambitious. We aim to put the Puerto Vallarta decor style on the international map, one spectacular property and one cover-worthy condo at a time. There are so many talented fine artists, artesans, crafters, chefs, architects and visionaries creating in this town. We are excited to celebrate this distinctive region with a book coming out later this year.