The Building Process

Starting the process of building a house in Costa Rica can be daunting and complex. Our team can guide you through the maze.

Where do you want to build?

With the assistance of our sister company, Century 21 Ballena Properties, our agents can assist you in finding that ideal lot for your future dream home. Once you have found it, Ballena Homes will view the land with you,  and advise you of any issues that may arise for construction on the lot. We look for setbacks from creeks, rivers, and roads. We ensure that water and electricity are readily available, so that permitting and design won’t be hindered in any way. Our Architects and Engineers visit every potential build site. It is also strongly recommended that you have a soil test as part of your conditions of the purchase.

The Initial Design.

When designing a new home, we want your vision. What does it look like to you and what is important in your new home. The basic design usually starts with your ideas. We will sit with you and discuss this at length to fully understand your desires. At Ballena Homes, we believe that the land will tell us what to build as well. Where are the breezes during the day and night. How much space is available and what is the view. All of the important factors are taken into consideration to guide us through the design process.

At Ballena Homes, the two biggest factors for us are AIRFLOW and OUTDOOR LIVING SPACE. They go hand in hand.

Architectural and Engineering.

Our team of Architects and Engineers are considered to be some of the best in Costa Rica. They are continually keeping abreast of changes to codes and the permitting process. They also posses very creative ideas to not only get the best design, but also save you money. They will take the initial design and start to build the computer models so we can see the house before it is built. They will also suggest changes to enhance the house or make it more practical. They provide us with detailed designs that show area, function, and overall look. At this point, you and the design team review and make changes as you see the vision come together. We will continue this process until you are satisfied with the final look. When everyone is happy with the design, then the process of Blue Prints and permits begins. Our Architects and Engineers work with the local municipalities and agencies to make sure there isn’t any delays or roadblocks.

Work Begins.

After all the permits are issued and water and electricity are at the lot, our crews move in. Each and every house we build, has a construction crew living on site until the house is finished. A temporary construction office and accommodation is erected for our crews. We are proud of the fact that we have very little turnover and that all trades people are qualified, insured, and quality driven craftsmen. Safety is number one on our work sites and attention to detail is paramount.

Finishings.

This where the fun begins for you the client. At Ballena Homes we provide generous allowances for the finishing products from tile, bathroom equipment, fixtures, lighting, and details. We also provide a guided service to assist you in finding all of the items, and work with your budget and allowances. We also assist you in finding your appliances and color selections. The excitement of seeing your choices come together to the finished product is very rewarding for both of us. We can guide you through this step to make it easy and enjoyable for you.

During the entire construction of your new home, Ballena Homes is on site every day. We have many clients who cannot be here during the construction for various reasons, so we continually give you updates with photos, videos, emails, and phone calls, to make sure that you are involved in every step of the build.