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When moving to a new country it is important for foreigners to bring their common sense along. Until you have had time to acclimate to the local language and culture your common sense is all you have to help you sort through the different opinions you will hear.
I have built and remodeled homes and condos in Costa Rica for over 15 years. And like David Murray said, “It’s important to know exactly what is and is not included in any price quoted”
We all have expectations. But some of us are not able to clearly envision how all the components need to be assembled to achieve the end 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 is 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 get disappointed.
To avoid this inconvenience ask your builder for a copy of his “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 that you are getting the total cost for all the work to complete your residence the way you imagine it to be.
Plus 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.
PS: If your builder doesn’t have a copy of construction specifications available for your review, look for another builder who does.
Terrific advice Tomasino …
“Thoroughly communicate” and of course get it in writing!
Scott Oliver – Founder
WeLoveCostaRica.comThere are specifications and there are specifications. In construction the specifications are the drawings. If words are used they can often be misinterpreted. The problem is that in our modern world drawings have become more and more symbolic and communicate less than they should to be good specifications.
Look for DETAILS. If you want something and your architect specifies a certain construction method say for moldings, roof insulation, drain system, be SURE there are detailed drawings. If YOU the non-expert cannot understand the drawings then they are not clear enough to avoid conflicts of what is expected.
I suggest that anyone building a home or having one built get a copy of “Architectural Graphics Standards”. It is not an inexpensive book but it can save you hundreds of times its cost. Look at the cross section detail drawings. Ask your architect to provide similar drawings of important details of your project. They will be different than in AGS because the construction methods will be different than in North America. But the point is to communicate exactly what you and the architect expect with fewer words in a way that cannot be misread, misconstrued, mistranslated or argued with.
Really good drawings will cost you a little more than the “usual” symbolic ones. They will SAVE you much more than they cost.
I was in the machine construction business for many years. We made drawings in the “old style” before over simplified symbolic drawings became the rage. Where they needed notes we had long clear notes in English (not symbolic shorthand), where we needed a shaded and cross sectioned detail we provided it. Where there were bolts and screws we drew them (not just a little center line). We received nothing but praise from the customer and the makers of the parts. We had very few “mistakes” in manufacturing. Everyone appreciates clear instructions. It is no different in construction. Don’t accept “the usual”. If it isn’t clear to you it may not make sense to the laborer doing the work either.
You need both. Good written specifications (especially to indicate material quality) AND drawings so there can be no arguing about the use of those materials.
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