I’m not only a qualified regional realtor in the South Pacific of Costa Rica; I’m also a dedicated family man who has always dreamed of having a home to call my own. My new home in the South Pacific of Costa Rica rose from the foundations in just four months, so how did I do it?

No matter where you are in the world, building a home can be a daunting task not to be undertaken lightly. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of finding the right builder with the right work ethic and attention to detail is paramount to the success of your project.

Learn How to Price Your Build.

Before you even start looking for a builder you need to know how much your home is going to cost to build. This requires a lot of dedication research and more importantly time. But the time you spend defining an accurate budget will save you a lot of money and hassle when your project gets underway.

Even before you begin the search for the right lot — you need to have an idea about what you want to build to ensure the property suits your specifications and building regulations permit such a construction.

If you don’t know how to speak Spanish make sure that you enlist the services of someone who can work as your translator. Nevertheless, make it your duty to make an effort to learn the names of the different materials that are going to be used in the construction of your home.

Collect References and Visit Completed Projects.

It is not enough to search the internet for builders advertising their services in the South Pacific of Costa Rica. Begin to collect names through recommendation and make an appointment with your local real estate office to view homes that have been built by that builder.

While there are building regulations in Costa Rica there is sometimes minimal enforcement, so you need to be sure that the builder your hire doesn’t cut any corners. Home viewings will ensure that you can see the quality of finishes which can sometimes be a problem in Costa Rica.

Decide whether you have gained enough expertise so that you are in charge of purchasing the materials and ask the builder to submit a quote for the labor only. If this seems like a daunting task ask for them to submit a bid for labor and materials separately so you see where your money is going.

It goes without saying that you need to be cautious of builders that submit a very high bid and doubly wary of those that submit very low bids.

Ensure that you feel comfortable with the builder, meet him more than a couple of times before you exchange contracts and remember there will be times when your patience will be tested.

Keep in mind that as the construction gets underway you will need to make sure you visit the site frequently and this is the best way to ensure nothing gets lost in translation. If frequent visits are not possible you will need to ensure someone trustworthy is overlooking the project, taking photos and relaying the projects progress.

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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.