Building A New Log Styled Vacation Home in the Mountains – Part II – A simple summary of progress so far…
We could have started construction a few months ago but because of some overseas trips and a few other pressing business matters, I felt it would be prudent to delay the beginning of the construction process until such a time when I would be able to focus on the project.
We finally chose the architect who, unknown to us – turned out to be the architect for the local municipality which was most fortunate, and since we had very clear ideas about the design of the new home anyway, the plans were easy for him to draw up and they were approved in less than three weeks.
Over the last three years we have given these families lots of clothes and shoes and the ‘Dumb & Dumber’ T-shirt which was given to me as a birthday gift one year, was donated to Julio who is wearing the shirt in this photograph above.
Julio is luckier than most of us in that he knows absolutely nothing about the ex-President of the United States (GWB) but he does understand what his shirt says…
We were delighted that Juan Carlos could help us with the construction of this home. Juan Carlos is the foreman of our little project. The best translation for foreman would maestro de obra which literally is ‘master of the work’.
Juan Carlos is probably the most humble and honest human being I have every had the privilege of meeting anywhere in the world and I feel genuinely honoured in knowing him.
Build Your Own Log Styled Home – My costs in USD so far:
As of the 21st January 2009 the total cost so far in building this vacation or retirement home in the country has been US$59,478.98 which includes the cost of the 5,000 square meters of land.
| Initial Deposit On 5,000M2 Land = | $5,000.00 |
| 22.8.08 Balance paid for land = | $35,000 |
| 22.8.08 Electricity Cooperative for posts & cable = | $2,920.00 |
| Construction Company Foreman = | $19.26 |
| Construction Company Foreman = | $56 |
| Construction Company Foreman = | $36 |
| Legal expenses (subsidised by seller) at closing = | $145 |
| Deposit to local hardware store = | $909 |
| First payment to architect for new home design = | $1,000 |
| New water tank & filters = | $325 |
| 8.1.09 Hardware store = | $3,616.64 |
| 8.1.09 First weekly payment to Construction Company = | $452.08 |
| 20.1.09 First payment to sawmill for log panels = | $10,000 |
| Grand Total = | $59,478.98 |
Juan Carlos, his eldest son and a few of his neighbours who have built many log styled homes together – including our previous home – over the last five years eventually formed their own company.
You can see photographs of the raw land as we first discovered it at: Building A New Log Styled Vacation Home in the Mountains – The raw land.
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Written by Scott Oliver, author of How To Buy Costa Rica Real Estate Without Losing Your Camisa and Costa Rica’s Guide To Making Money Offshore.
Andrew Makarik
to@welovecostarica.comAndrew 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.
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