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Sunday evening, as I was sitting in the hotel computer room emailing my wife back in Miami, in walked Mr. George Lundquist with a small group of people on his tour. I had been following his progress in Costa Rica on line for two and a half years and had a few email communications with him over that time. It was quite a concidence to bump into him and a pleasure to have a short conversation with him about real estate and house building in the San Ramon area.
Was Oskar with him? What a pair they both make, my May tour was great and I bet I know exactly where you were staying in San Ramon! It was nice to think of the beautiful evening of rain we had when stayed in San Ramon. Remember I am from Portland and I do from time to time admit to liking rain.
Tom on a budget in Portland.
The Posada. It is the only place with three computers in the lobby area and it is the closest to my property.
The weather is THE best in Novemebr. Cool nights with occasional rain and pleasant sunny mornings.Hey Sprite. Where is your property? We are starting our house in Rio Jesus this month. Agree with you guys about George. He is the unofficial Gringo Ambassador to C.R. in our opinion.
My piece of land is north east from Palmares…about an 8 minute drive from the Red Cross station in Palmares.
My land is not contained with a gated community. I do employ a local fellow to keep the weeds down and do some planting for me but until I am ready to move, I have no way to guard an empty house so I must wait a bit longer.
George and I spoke of relative land values in my area. I paid $4.35 a sq meter 3 years ago for 12,000 sq mtrs right off a good paved road with three large build sites and two large waterfalls. Electricity and water are about 70 meters away on the pave road. George estimated land in my area is selling right now for between $10 and $20 per square meter depending upon many factors. I paid a fair price for land but construction costs are what concern me right now. WHat are your per foot estimates?
If you don’t mind me butting into your conversation, and asking, do contractors make bids in Costa Rica?
I ask because we are getting close to having our designs become engineered drawings, and our next step is to interview and choose a builder.
In many conversations I have heard, the fact that prices were skyrocketing, and the case that the cost of building will rise while we are in the middle of our project leads me to understand that most builders are working on a cost plus labor type of agreement.
Two questions:
1)If builders are giving quotes/bids, are they expected to keep true to them?Are there contracts that can be agreed upon that will guarantee there work?
2) If they are not giving bids that they are able to stick to, then what’s the point of a bid or an estimate?
I know that here in the states, either the bid is the bid, or you go with the contractor that you like and hope that they are charging you a fair price as work progresses.
So, what is the best way to assure that you are getting your home built for the best price AND by the best person?
Thanks,
And oh yea………..OBAMA ye haw!!!!!!!!!!You can expect reputable contractors to give you firm bids for your project. They keep a close eye on prices and can be expected to build future anticipated increases into what they quote, just as an American contractor would. There are, however, a couple of things you must be conscious of.
First, you need to be absolutely certain of just what is included in any bid. That is, a bid might or might not include electrical and plumbing fixtures, windows and doors, tile, paint, landscaping, permits, workers’ compensation insurance, an architect’s oversight, etc. You need to know.
Second, you need to know that any allowances, such as for those items, are sufficient to provide the quality of materials you want. Because most of us don’t build a house very often, we don’t know what (say) cabinetry costs. A contractor could include a $3,000 allowance for cabinetry, but can you actually get what you want for that price? (And is he including countertops in that allowance?)
Third, you need to have some assurance that, if prices rise beyond what is quoted, the contractor will be able to absorb the differences. What is his reputation? Has he the financial wherewithal to stand the gaff if he underestimates.
Sometimes, it’s not wise to go for the low initial bid.
Thanks for your thoughts, they’re very helpful.
I am aware of some of the needs that you outlined.
One of the architects I interviewed, but did not end up hiring, described one of his client”s projects and the very thorough contract that he had drawn up with his contractor.
Because it was, by his description, 2-3 inches thick, it included descriptions of every electric outlet, type and grade of wood used, etc etc…..
With that said, do you have an opinion on what may or may not make a particular contractor better or worse at presenting realistic costs, and as importantly, which one will be willing to continue on at a possible loss to themselves in order to see through their obligation?
I realize that contracts are just as binding in Costa Rica as the are in the States, but more then anything we just want both sides to be happy with the costs and final product so that all goes well in the end.
My question?
Is there a best method of picking a contractor?If you’re searching for useful information about building housing in CR, you can click on Inspection/Construction in the Trusted Providers section in the right hand margin on the WLCR home page.
Specifications of the expectations you have imagined for your dream home in CR.
We all have expectations. However, some of us are not able to clearly envision how all the components need to be assembled to achieve the result we have imagined.
Photos help but detailed construction specifications are the best means you have to get your dream home completed to your expectations and the way you imagine it to be.
It’s a good idea to thoroughly communicate your expectations of how you imagine your residence to be to your builder so he can include the items you need in your construction specifications and provide you with the accurate cost to install them in your new residence. If you don’t have a good building contract, with detailed construction specifications you may end up spending more than you anticipated and perhaps become disappointed.
To avoid this inconvenience, visit http://www.costaricahomebuilder.com, and select the “documents” page, then review the “construction specifications” in order to begin the process of selecting the items that you need to discuss and put in writing so your builder can complete your residence within your budget and to your expectations. With a good set of specifications, you can be sure you will receive all the specified materials and labor, at the contracted price, to complete your residence the way you imagined it to be.
Moreover, if you select a builder with whom you can communicate and someone who understands the manner in which you’re accustomed to living, chances are you won’t be inconvenienced by the inconveniences that happen here in paradise.To what crhomebuilder says above, I have to add that oversight during every phase of construction is critical, too. You can have a set of specifications that’s three or six or nine inches thick, but if no one is assuring that the actual building process conforms to those specifications then what good are they?
I’ve talked to several folks who are determined to work up a set of blueprints and maybe written specifications, sent the whole thing out for bids, accept a bid, and have the house built while they’re living in the U.S. “Just call me when it’s finished”, they say. It makes my blood run cold.
If the final product is important to you, don’t shortchange it by not keeping very, very close tabs on the process. If you can’t be on-site almost daily, then be sure to hire someone knowledgeable and trustworthy to be your advocate.
Edited on Nov 07, 2008 19:21
As David recommended, periodic inspections of the construction in progress will insure that your dwelling will be completed up to the specifications you have contracted for. You can view a Construction Progress Inspection Report that I have been working on for a client who is still living in the USA until his new home in CR has been completed. http://groups.google.com/group/housing–property-inspections/web/construction-progress-inspection-report
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