YOU CAN SAVE A LOT OF MONEY BY BUILDING YOUR OWN HOUSE IN COSTA RICA
BUT YOU MUST BE CAREFUL OF HOW YOU GO ABOUT THE PROCESS
THE COST OF BUILDING VS BUYING FROM DEVELOPER IS ABOUT 60%
OBVIOUSLY YOU GET THE HOUSE YOU WANT IN THE LOCATION YOU WANT BUT MAKE
SURE TO UNDERSTAND THE RULES AND FIND AN ARCHITECT AND ENGINEER THAT
SPEAK GOOD ENGLISH AND WHO CAN SHOW YOU HOUSES THAT THEY DESIGNED AND
BUILT
WE HERE AT ORBIT OF COURSE WANT YOUR BUSINESS BUT THE MAIN ITEM IS WE
CAN PROVE WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST
BY LAW ALL APPLICATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION MUST BE FILED BY AN ARCHITECT
OR CIVIL ENGINEER
WHO IS A MEMBER OF THE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERS AND ARCHITECTS(COLEGIO FEDERADO
E INGENIEROS Y ARQUITECTOS). THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR REVIEW OF ALL
PLANS TO ENSURE THE BUILDING MEETS SEISMIC, ELECTRICAL, STRUCTUAL STANDARDS.
UNLIKE IN THE STATES OR THE MORE DEVELOPED COUNTRIES THERE IS VERY LITTLE
INSPECTION DONE BY THE CITY OR MUNICIPALITY SO IT IS VITAL THAT YOUR
ENGINEER/ARCHITECT DO THE INSPECTIONS ON A CONSTANT BASIS.
THESE ARE THE FEES REGULATED BY THE COLLEGE BUT USUALLY IGNORED SO YOU
CAN NEGOTIATE TO YOUR HEARTS CONTENT BUT BEWARE OF THE ETHICS OF SOMEONE
WHO WILL NEGOTIATE TOO LOW. THEY WILL USUALLY END UP BUILDING AN INFERIOR
HOUSE AND GOING TO COURT HERE TAKES 8 YEARS OR SO.
PREMILINARY STUDY OF PROJECT .5% OF COST
PRE PROJECT DESIGN 1 TO 1.5% OF COST
ACTUAL FINAL DESIGN 4% OF COST
INSPECTION OF CONSTRUCTION 3% OF COST
LIMITED TYPE INSPECTION ONCE A WEEK
SERIOUS INSPECTION OF CONSTRUCTION 10% OF COST
I WOULD NEVER ADVISE DOING WITHOUT THIS SINCE NOT ONLY WILL THEY VISIT
SITE EVERY OTHER DAY BUT WILL BUY YOUR MATERIALS AT MUCH BETTER PRICES
THAN YOU CAN DO YOURSELF
ANY PROJECT MORE THAN 700 SQ FT MUST HAVE BUILDING PERMIT
MANY PEOPLE IGNORE THIS AND END UP WITH PROBLEMS LATER ON BUT TICOS
ARE FAMOUS FOR NOT PAYING FOR PERMITS BUT I ADVISE ANY FOREIGN OWNER
NEVER TO IGNORE THIS
TIME OF COMPLETION
OF COURSE THIS VARIES GREATLY BUT ESTIMATE 5 MONTHS FROM START TO FINISH
MOST CONSTRUCTION IS OF CONCRETE BLOCK WHICH IS MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE
THAN WOOD CONSTRUCTION
THE MOST IMPORTANT REASON IS CONCRETE BUILDINGS DO NOT BURN AND THE
FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARE NOT SO FAST AS THE STATES.
COST OF CONSTRUCTION
THIS IS REALLY THE IMPORTANT POINT WHEN MAKING DECISION TO BUILD YOURSELF.
OK HERE IS THE SCALE
FROM $38 SQ FT TO $60 SQ FT
THIS IS GOOD QUALITY CONSTRUCTION WITH LOTS OF REBAR AND USING GOOD
CONCRETE AND NICE FINSIH INSIDE
MOST IMPORTANT ITEM IS NOT TRYING TO SAVE A LITTLE ON THE CONCRETE
USE CONCRETE MIX PERIOD
THIS IS PREMIXED AND REGULATED BY SERIOUS LAB TESTING AND WILL STAND
UP TO ANY SESMIC EVENTS LESS THAN THE BIG ONE WHERE CALIFORNIA DOES
FALL IN THE OCEAN
USING THE CHEAP WAY YOU END UP WITH LOTS OF CRACKS IN THE WALLS AFTER
A FEW MONTHS
WE HAVE SEEN MILLION DOLLAR HOUSES WITH CONCRETE THAT WILL NOT STAND
THE REQUIRED STRESS TESTS
AT MOST THIS MAY ADD $2 SQ FT TO COST OF YOUR HOUSE
