More About Our Services

Listing your property with us

We will be glad to help you sell your property to the right client; we have good contacts for everything needed to market your property and get to the right audience. From staging to pictures, video and Lidar, depending on the kind of property (house, condo, lot, hotel, farm). We request our clients to provide various needed documents such as land use letters and topography for sloping lots, but such costs can be deducted from our fees at the time of sale as they help foreign shoppers to fully understand local conditions. Our service fee is a percentage of the sales price, to be paid by the seller of the property, upon closing. From the sales price, the buyer shall deduct and pay that commission directly to Honey & Nuts, as previously agreed with the seller.

Finding the property you need

Perhaps you are seeking something in particular and have had trouble finding it? We can listen to the dream, and help guide you to the right region and property by connecting with our network. We can scout locations so that when you come for a trip to CR, you can jump straight to the top contenders. These services are typically quoted after a consultation has been completed, and up front costs can be deducted from a purchase if we become your buyers agents and a transaction happens.

Due diligence for registered property or concession land

Research at the National Registry for both the Plano Catastrado (the graphic boundary line document describing its borders and dimensions), and any necessary legal deeds that describe the last purchases, rights of way or other issues, to provide you with a written description of all details along with any easements or liens. We can also help organize the uso de suelo, or land use document from the local municipality.

Inspection of property

Imagine that you have found a property of interest, listed by another agent somewhere in the country, and want a second opinion. We can do both the legal due diligence on that listing, and potentially neighboring lots, as well as visit the site for a physical inspection.

Service fee

The fees vary depending on how close to San Jose property is and whether one or both of us are desired for our opinions. The base fee is US$500 within the central valley. For other locations, we will quote according to costs of transportation and accommodation.

Scope of service

Depending on the type of property, our inspection may include:
Road and access conditions (such as only 4x4, bridges, rivers, gates, right of way.)
Context of the Area (surroundings, facilities, neighborhood).
Analysis of views, privacy, sources of noise.
Existence of public utilities.
Topography and drainage of the lot and access roads.
Condition of the buildings.
Recommendations about maintenance.
Analysis of Zoning regulations if “uso del suelo” is available.
Possibility of remodeling or creating a rental income, etc.

Other Legal services

Listing your property with us

Purchase deeds for property or vehicles.
Private contracts (lease, construction, labor).
Immigration services.
Set up of Corporations.
Legal Consultations in general.

Design Services

The standard services outlined below are typical of projects in the USA. The system in CR is very different. In the US, fees range from 5-15% of estimated construction cost depending if the project is commercial or residential as well as the level of quality intended. In CR it is usually 5.5% for design and drawings, and another 5% for construction supervision. The projects that Nils is typically involved with are not looking for the cheapest price on everything. Studio XYZ tends to work more on the initial phases and then transitions to local teams as projects move towards documentation and permitting.

Programming

Helping a client write down, analyze, and quantify exactly what they dream of building. The deliverable is a spread sheet that helps to balance desires against ball park budgets.

Site Analysis

This is a graphical plan based exercise that looks at the property boundaries and legal setbacks, and analyzes where best to place the access road, the garage, guest parking and vehicular turnaround areas, and the general best use of the areas depending on the planned use. It analyzes the direction of the rising and setting sun, view directions, noise issues, neighboring context, breezes, and a host of other layers such as setbacks.

Concepting

Assistance with the visual story board of what the spaces may look like, usually done with the help of pinterest and other existing visual cues.

Master Planning

Typically done for larger, or multiple contiguous properties, and for more complex programs, this plan-based to-scale exercise looks at what a project may look like when complete, to help phase the execution in a planned manner as opposed to haphazardly.

Schematic Design

This is the first level of the design process for any one footprint/project, and analyzes the program and site analysis to provide layouts and massing of a styled intent. It is usually based in plan and sectional ideas first, such that the bones and function of interconnecting spaces are considered before the skin of its style. It often ends with 3d modeling and visual renders.

Design Development

This second phase of a design project dives deep into the materials of floors, walls, and ceilings, cabinetry, lighting design, integration with exterior hardscaping and landscaping, and selections of fixtures and appliances. It involved visiting showrooms and finishing all design decisions with a client, such that construction documents can commence with utmost efficiency.

Contract Documents and Permitting

This is typically done through local consultants who are thoroughly familiar with the systems, can simplify drawing sets to the bare minimum needed for easy permits, and understand all the legal requirements and common language of such submittals. Unlike, in the US, the government doesn't do much detailed drawing review nor inspections as these responsibilities rest on the shoulders of the architect or engineer that signs the documents.

Document Review and Critique

On occasion I have been asked to review the ideas and designs of other architects, usually early in the process that people are going through. The path to licensing of all architects in Costa Rica is simply graduating from one of the either public or private universities, and then people are licensed for life and can charge the same fees as professionals who have been building for decades. Some are excellent and many are poor, and don't get the living standards that we tend to develop in the West. We can help guide your team in constructive ways.

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Get In Touch

Work Inquiries

Working Time

More About Our Services

Listing your property with us

Finding the property you need

Due diligence for registered property or concession land

Inspection of property

Service fee

Scope of service

Other Legal services

Listing your property with us

Design Services

Programming

Site Analysis

Concepting

Master Planning

Schematic Design

Design Development

Contract Documents and Permitting

Document Review and Critique

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