New House construction is Costa Rica is a very daunting task in Costa Rica. Generally, constructing houses is a Herculean task; however, in Costa Rica it can be even more challenging. This is because the natives in Costa Rica (you definitely need their help!) are not as efficient as we would like them to be. This article outlines certain points to keep in mind while constructing a house in Costa Rica.
Firstly, you need to purchase the right kind of place to build your dream house. If you are a person who would like all commodities of life accessible or if you are a retired person planning to settle in Costa Rica, then, you might want to look at some plots available close to the city. If you are a person who would like privacy, seclusion and tranquility, then, you might want to purchase a plot close to the beach.
You also need to services of a good architect who can guide you through the entire process. The plans that you come up with for constructing your house has to be signed off by a professional architect who has good reputation in Costa Rica. An architect can also help you redesign your plans to suit Costa Rican standards in case you have drawn it up based on American standards. The architect also needs to get all the permits needed for building your house.
The primary challenge to begin constructing a house in Costa Rica is finding a good trustworthy builder. You cannot choose a builder blindly by just taking the suggestions of the locals. This is because the way locals prefer their houses to be constructed and the way Americans would want their house constructed are very different. So, just because “ticos” (natives of Costa Rica) hold the builder in high regard you cannot just recruit him.
The actual challenge starts once the place for construction has been decided upon. Electricity in Costa Rica is very expensive. In this country, electricity is more of a luxury than necessity. The electrical wiring in Costa Rica is not properly grounded, which can be potentially dangerous and can give rise to a lot of complications later. Hence it is necessary to ensure that the electrical wiring is properly grounded.
An American also needs to be knowledgeable about the other aspects in Costa Rica which are different from America. Unlike in the United States of America, the electrical wiring of the houses is not properly grounded in most cases. Hence, utmost care has to be taken during the phase where electrical wiring is being established for the new house.
Another important point to keep in mind while selecting a builder, to help you with constructing your dream house in Costa Rica is to ensure that the builder can communicate and converse really well in English and Spanish. The builder needs to be fluent in English because he/she needs to understand the instructions that you give him/her. The builder needs to understand Spanish because he/she needs to be able to converse with the laborers who are mostly ticos.
One major aspect in the construction of a new house in Costa Rica is the constant communication between you and the builder through each step of construction. If you want your dream house to take shape the way you actually dream it, then stay at a place close where the construction is taking place. This way you can constantly meet and talk to the builder and also supervise the construction.