[Rigo]

[quote=”sprite”]I agree, grb….Chinese capitalism, like all and any other versions, is bad news no matter where it operates. I feel a sense of urgency to enjoy Costa Rica while it is still enjoyable.[/quote]

Hi folks.

Being a tico, I appreciate your opinions about the way the current goverment is doing things and the way the next one is going to improve the situation or is going to commit errors that would affect everybody here.

I was one who voted for a different candidate, because I am afraid Chinchilla is going to do many things at Arias´s style that I don´t agree with.

I think we all must criticize in the constructive way what is happening in the country, otherwise politicians, authorities and the goverment could abuse of their power.

For instance, taking about an example a friend from Canada commented me, (a situation he is afraid could happen in the years to come in Costa Rica too), and I will write down exactly what he said, he is deciding moving to Costa Rica, even the immigration law is harder than several months ago for foreigners, because he feels things are becoming worse for citizens in Canada: he is paying around five times more for public services than 15 years ago, even they are trying to expent just the necessary, taxes and other mandatory payments are pretty high, the goverment is controling everything (video cameras in the lights in the streets), money after retiring won´t be enough for having a good quality of life, etc.

So, if we, as the current people living in Costa Rica, if we don´t say that we agree or not about a topic, our people could suffer the bad effects of globalism. Some things are great about it, like keeping in touch with everyone around the world, but on the other hand, there are interests of many big international companies that are usually affecting people and those companies really don´t care about it.

As my Canadian friend said, we are becoming “sheeple” instead of people, and we shouldn´t let it be that way.

It is better, probable the only way available, speaking your mind while it is still possible. It could be the big difference in the years to come for preventing wrong things instead of suffering consecuences and trying to fix them when it is too late.

[Rigo]

Hello John, regarding your consultation, I would like to put a comment about square meter footage than may be useful.

In my opinion, some people in our country are using the concept in an incomplete or an inappropriate way that gets the projects´ owners confused.

First, you have the total area of a project. It means, the whole real footage of the building, but it could be a mistake to use a cost per square meter or square foot based on that area, because, as some friends have said previously, some parts of the building don’t have the same level of finishes and/or components.

So, it would be more appropriate to talk about an equivalent area or footage. It means to convert each room area into an equivalent one according to its components and finishes. For instance, a very common room, such a living room, would be a 100% equivalent area, but a terrace should be converted using a 50% factor, an external corridor, without a wall along one side, should be converted with a 75% factor, a garage with no fine finishes may apply a 75% factor, and a bathroom area should be converted using 150% or 200% (because the walls are very closed and you usually have fine tiles and bathroom furniture in a very narrow space).

For example, I designed a house for client which total real area was 380 M2 or sm (square meters), but the equivalent area, applying the mentioned converting factors, was 320 M2. So, the real cost per each square meter should be obtained by dividing the total cost by the equivalent area.

Some builders are using just the real area of the work but the cost per sm or sf is wrong, because, on one hand, they could be charging more money than necessary or, in the other, generating a very optimistic, but unreal, expectation for the client. Then, in the first situation, they would be earning more than is fair, and in the second scenario, the customer would find than he/she would need an average of 25% or 30% more than the initial estimation, and at that point the project’s owner should decide to fire the builder and hiring a new one to finish the work (what could be more expensive) or giving the extra money to the current builder to get done the house. In both cases, the customer is expending more than expected and in certain cases it could be not only unfair but problematic, too.

So, if you are studying a project for yourself, I recommend using the average cost per sm, but converting first the wanted areas for the house into an equivalent, just for discussing possibilities about your budget, especially with the professional in charge of the design of the project, in order to decide how big the size of the project should be so you can afford it. Then, before choosing a builder, based on the completed blueprints, your professional should prepare an accurate estimate for the project that guides you to hire the builder in charge. That way, you would be able to know you are can to finish the project under the conditions you are expectating and you can control.

I hope this explanation clears the topic a little more.

[Rigo]

Hi Rich, how are you doing ?

If you haven´t find any builder there in Tilaran, maybe you should consider hiring a building company that works all around the country.

One honest company would offer you the service and charge you a reasonable price even the workers come from different locations. For example, some very skilled workers are for Turrialba, Cartago, but the accept to work in other provinces without charging special extra amounts and an organized company can find them for your project.

Good luck about it.

Edited on Aug 02, 2009 07:22

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