New House Construction In Costa Rica
New house construction in Costa Rica is a Herculean task as compared to many other countries. For an American, building a house on the Costa Rican soil can be a real challenge and adventure. There are many aspects to be borne in mind while constructing a house in Costa Rica. This article will outline such points.
The first step to constructing a house in Costa Rica is finding the right place to buy. If you would like to be in a place where everything, ranging from a toothbrush to quality health care, is accessible in just 15-20 minutes, then, you need to consider buying a plot in one of the populous places in Costa Rica. If you are fine with staying in isolation, away from the hustle-bustle of the city, then you can consider the some area on the beach which is a good 2-3 hours drive from the city center.
Once you decide on the plot on which you plan to set up construction, the next step is to draw up a plan for construction. You need to find a good, reputed architect who can draw up plans in sync with the Costa Rican standards which are much different from the American standards. The plans that you design has to be signed off by the architect. The architect needs to obtain building permit and all the other necessary permits to start construction.
Once you have obtained the necessary permissions and the plan ready, the next step is to find a builder who can hand hold you through the entire construction. While looking out for a builder, look around and have a check on the houses he/she has previously constructed and the ease of interaction. It is very important for you and the builder to in good terms with each other to ensure smooth, uninterrupted flow of work.
The actual challenge starts once the place for construction has been decided upon. Electricity in Costa Rica is very expensive. In this country, electricity is more of a luxury than necessity. The electrical wiring in Costa Rica is not properly grounded, which can be potentially dangerous and can give rise to a lot of complications later. Hence it is necessary to ensure that the electrical wiring is properly grounded.
An American also needs to be knowledgeable about the other aspects in Costa Rica which are different from America. Unlike in the United States of America, the electrical wiring of the houses is not properly grounded in most cases. Hence, utmost care has to be taken during the phase where electrical wiring is being established for the new house.
Another important point to keep in mind while selecting a builder, to help you with constructing your dream house in Costa Rica is to ensure that the builder can communicate and converse really well in English and Spanish. The builder needs to be fluent in English because he/she needs to understand the instructions that you give him/her. The builder needs to understand Spanish because he/she needs to be able to converse with the laborers who are mostly ticos.
Finally, work in close connection with the architect and the builder to ensure that your house is being constructed as planned. Communication is a key aspect to constructing a new house in Costa Rica. Ask the builder to give you an estimate of the cost of construction including the materials to be use. Ensure that you communicate to the builder that you will select the finishing materials needed like tiles, flooring, paint, etc. New house construction in Costa Rica will not be as much as burden if you keep these few points in mind. There will be hiccups and obstacles to overcome but not as much as if you had not kept the above points in mind.