Buying an Older Home in Costa Rica

If you’re about to buy a home, be really detail-oriented, especially if it’s an old house.

Don’t go for it just because the price is low. If it’s true that the price of a new building is high because of costs of promotion, publicity and profits for the developer, that doesn’t mean that the price of a used house should necessarily be lower.

The price of a used house can increase in relation to factors such as size of the lot, physical characteristics of the land and location. A good appraisal will take into account the age and devaluation of the structure.

Don’t forget that old houses have other advantages that can be very tempting to someone looking for a home. Houses built in the past are often more spacious because construction costs were lower. They are often one-floor homes and have gardens and parking.

The decision to buy a new or old house depends on your taste. Quality is present in new and old houses. If the buyer is looking for a large house in which to live, with gardens and old-fashioned finishing than an old house is an option.

On the other hand if the buyer wants modern and technological finishings, he would opt for a new construction.

Go with an architect or an engineer when visiting an old house.

Things To Think About:

1. First, verify the state of the electrical system.
2. Overloading cables could cause a fire. If renovations are needed, renegotiate the price.
3. Another detail to check on is the state of the plumbing and both rainwater and sewage pipes. There could be leaks in the pipes, faucets in bad condition and meters that don’t work.
4. Check out the roof and make sure there are no leaks. Check to see if the structure is metal or wood, to make sure it has not deteriorated.
5. Check that floorboards are not loose or broken.
6. Don’t forget to check doors, locks, and closet doors.
7. If there are damp spots, there could be water in the walls.
8. Ask for the house plans to find out about the type of construction. Watch out for buildings erected without bearing columns or beams.

Location is important. The location is a key point in buying a house so check out the neighborhoodd. Find out what services are offered in the neighborhood. Don’t forget proximity of schools if you have children or the proximity of clinics and hospitals, public wiring, access to electricity, telephone, cable and potable water.

Security. Both in the house and the neighborhood, security is key. Check for walls, access gates, the possibility of installing an alarm system. Try to have a small guardhouse near your home or a security post.

New services. If you are buying an old home it is possible that it has not been appraised for putting in new installations such as air conditioning or new electrical connections.

Our thanks to Marisol Castro and our friends at La Nación – Costa Rica’s largest Spanish circulation newspaper for their permission to include their weekly news reviews.

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Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.