The Buying Process
Building
Architect
A civil engineer is much like an architect as they aid in the design and building process. They will be responsible for learning about your wants and desires for the final product and communicating with the builders and contractors to make sure you get exactly what you are looking for. In the U.S. the building guidelines are often dictated by the preexisting building standards. In Costa Rica, the rules are much more liberal and there will be a lot of freedom in construction!
Finding a good civil engineer or architect is very import. The main difference between these two types of professionals is that the architect will have more of an artistic eye, while the civil engineer is trained in pragmatic design. To work in Costa Rican Real estate as either a civil engineer or an architect, one must be certified and licensed with affiliation to the Costa Rican Federated College of Engineers and Architects. Before choosing a civil engineer or architect you should ask to check his or her license to make sure they have one and that it is current. Being affiliated with the Association gives you, the client, recourse should there be a problem with your Civil Engineer or architect. If a claim is filed against them, the Association with act as a judge and mandate any concessions be made that are necessary. The Civil Engineer or architect can loose his or her license for an extended period of time and be forced to pay damages to their client if it is found that they have committed inequitable conduct.
Make sure that you get quotes from several civil engineers and architects before committing to one because they will often vary greatly in their proposed costs for the same project. Because they will be responsible for walking you through an expensive and dynamic process, unless you are fluent in Spanish, find one that is bilingual. Once you select your architect or engineer, make sure you have a thorough contract that explicitly details what is to be done and the full extent of their responsibility to you.
An architect may be the best route to go for some one who wants something that is truly unique and special. Fountains and cascading pools or exotic gardens and patios maybe something you want an architect to work on.
