For owners

Looking after the house

A beautiful home on Nicaragua's Pacific coast is a wonderful thing. Looking after one properly takes a little more work than people might imagine.

Our approach is simple: if something isn't right, put it right. Catch it before it becomes a problem.

Something coming loose? Tighten it. A leaking tap? Fix it. A mark on the wall? Wipe it off while it's fresh. Dust appearing regularly at same spot? Find out what's happening above. Check the filters. Touch up the grout. Pull the weeds while small. Cut back plants regularly.

Most of these things cost little or nothing. But leave them for a few weeks and they can become expensive. A loose fitting becomes a broken one. A small leak becomes a big bill at the least. A few weeds become a lawn full of them.

Little things, done properly, over and over again. That's all. Humidity, heat, salt air and wildlife never rest.

Shades of grey

Of course, not everything is quite so black and white.

A mark on a wall. Does it need a wipe, a touch-up or a fresh coat of paint? A bedsheet has a tiny stain or nick. Is it still OK, or is it time for a new one? A towel is beginning to look a little tired. Another few washes, or replace it?

These are small judgement calls, every day, that have a significant cumulative effect. Unlike a leaking tap or a loose screw, there isn't always one obviously right answer.

The thing is knowing when to leave alone, and when its time to act. Many things are best just left, get as much life out of as possible and replace when the time comes.

We won't replace perfectly serviceable things just because they're no longer brand new. Equally, we won't let standards slip to save a few dollars. A home should feel properly cared for, not tired around the edges.

There's no magic formula. It takes a good eye, a little common sense, knowing the home and understanding what matters to its owner. Sometimes the answer is to clean it, sometimes to mend it, sometimes to replace it, and sometimes simply to make a note and keep an eye on it.

We always look at things from both sides: would we be happy with this if it were our own home, and would we be happy to find it in a home we'd paid good money to stay in?

The people behind Nica Azul

We're a small family business. James and Yolanda, with our daughter Clarita increasingly involved too. She grew up here, one of the first generation of Hacienda Iguana kids.

Jason looks after maintenance, alongside our housekeeping and gardening team. Good people who know the homes, notice the little things and take pride in what they do.

We're a close team with many years experience. We all know eachother, perfectly well. What we're good at, and what we're not so good at. We talk, laugh, help each other out and generally enjoy working together. Our team are well paid, and we're as flexible with them as possible. When people feel comfortable and happy in their work, it shows in the results.

Housekeeping & gardens

A good housekeeper does much more than clean. They notice when something isn't working, when a room smells unusual/ different, when a cushion needs a new zipper or when something simply doesn't look right.

The same goes for the gardens. A little attention, regularly, is worth far more than an occasional massive cleanup. Pruning, weeding, clearing, watering, keeping things tidy. And knowing when to cut something back rather than letting it grow.

We encourage everyone to keep their eyes open, think ahead and speak up. Our housekeepers and gardeners are around the properties more than anyone, and they're often the first to notice when something needs attention.

Guests & rentals

We want guests to arrive at a lovely, clean, properly prepared home, feel genuinely welcome and have a wonderful time in Nicaragua.

Good communication, smooth arrivals, help when it's needed and attention to the details that make a stay special. Nothing complicated, just good old-fashioned manners and hospitality.

For homeowners, we take care of reservations, guest communication, rental administration and reporting. We aim to keep things straightforward, transparent and easy to follow.

Repairs, improvements & keeping owners informed

Some things do need proper repairs, specialist attention or a bit of investment. When they do, we try to find sensible solutions, use good local people and make sure the work is done properly.

We're not interested in spending owners' money unnecessarily. We'd much rather catch a $10 problem than have to explain a $1,000 repair.

And we believe owners should know what's happening with their homes, the good and the not-so-good. Clear communication, honest advice and no nasty surprises wherever we can help it.

We like to keep things small. More than anything, being small keeps stress at the door and allows us to enjoy life in our beautiful corner of Nicaragua. It also means we can give the homes we look after, and the people connected to them, the attention they deserve.

That said, we're always open to adding well located and beautiful homes to our portfolio. So if you have a beautiful home in or around Hacienda Iguana, Rancho Santana, Guacalito de la Isla, or maybe even as far afield as the northern beaches of San Juan del Sur, we'd be delighted to hear from you, learn a little about your needs & ideas. And see if we're a good fit for each other.