5 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Building Your Custom Home in Costa Rica
Designing and building a custom home in Costa Rica is thrilling, but success relies heavily on your architect's expertise and guidance.
Unfortunately, some architects fail to steer homeowners away from common pitfalls that can lead to delays, budget overruns, and even design compromises.
In this guide, we’ll uncover five mistakes that a skilled architect should help you avoid, from failing to make the design phase fully detailed to failing to adapt your home to Costa Rica’s unique climate and environment.
With the right team guiding you, you can sidestep these issues and enjoy a smoother, more rewarding building experience.
Mistake 1: Not Going Into Enough Detail in the Design Phase
One of the biggest mistakes when building a custom home is failing to address every detail in the design phase.
Often, architects provide a general layout or floor plan but leave specifics, like custom cabinetry or unique finishes, undecided. This oversight leaves room for unexpected choices and last-minute changes that can disrupt the entire building process.
"It’s very common to see projects where the client gets the design of the home – they get a floor plan, they get some elevations, they get a rough idea of the space itself. But they have no idea what’s going on with special details in the rooms, or how certain custom elements will be resolved. All those things left undecided become last-minute choices that can add stress and cost to the project."
Roderick Anderson, CEO & Design Director of SARCO
To avoid this pitfall, choose a firm that prioritizes thorough design planning, finalizing every element and aligning them with your vision.
At SARCO, our approach emphasizes complete planning before building your dream home, which helps minimize unexpected expenses and maintain your project’s timeline.
Mistake 2: Allowing (or Creating a Need for) Excessive Change Orders During Construction
Change orders—adjustments made once construction has started—are a common source of budget overruns and project delays.
When the design phase isn’t comprehensive, frequent change orders become necessary to fix overlooked details. For homeowners, this means increased costs, more stress, and sometimes, design compromises that don’t align with the original vision.
"Change orders don’t just increase the budget. They create confusion, cause delays, add stress, and lead to mistakes. You’re left with constant questions and confusion that start to compound on each other, until the project feels overwhelming for everyone involved."
Roderick Anderson, CEO & Design Director of SARCO
A smooth custom home build avoids unnecessary change orders by addressing all aspects of the design ahead of time.
By finalizing every detail, from room layouts to energy-efficient features, we help clients reduce change orders, keeping the project on budget and on time.
This approach not only saves money but also helps the final design reflect the client’s dream home vision without compromise.
Mistake 3: Relying on Outdated Design Technology for Your Custom Home Build
The technology used in custom home design can have a significant impact on the outcome of your project.
Some architects still use outdated methods, resulting in inconsistencies between design plans and engineering requirements. This lack of precision can lead to construction mistakes and delays, and costly fixes for structural or design errors discovered too late in the process.
Firms using modern tools like Building Information Modeling (BIM) can offer a more detailed, precise design.
However, not all usage of BIM is equal.
BIM is an incredibly powerful design philosophy and integration of technology. It can take a project to a whole other level, OR it can simply be used to do the same thing firms used to do with lesser technology, only faster.
It is important to differentiate and ask deeper details of how a firm uses BIM.
The ideal situation is where your project is FULLY designed in BIM, from the architectural layout, exterior design, full plans, all details, integration with engineering trades, 3D coordination of architecture and engineering, and integration with interior architecture and design.
BIM allows architects to integrate design and engineering plans seamlessly, which reduces the risk of construction issues.
At SARCO, our use of BIM, for example, provides clients with a 3D view of their home, enabling precise visualization and coordination of all design elements before any construction begins.
This proactive approach helps avoid the costly mistakes that often arise from outdated technology.
Interested in learning more about BIM and how we integrate it into our projects? Learn all about it here.
Mistake 4: Ignoring Site Conditions and Terrain in the Home’s Design
Costa Rica’s natural landscape and tropical climate require careful consideration when you build a home. Homeowners often bring preconceived design ideas, sometimes inspired by different climates or regions, that aren’t well-suited to the local conditions.
Without adjusting design for factors like the intense sunlight, heavy rainfall, and seismic activity common in Costa Rica, the finished home can face issues with water damage, structural stability, and heat management.
To avoid this pitfall, work with a local design team that understands the importance of climate-adapted architecture.
Furthermore, working with a design firm such as SARCO Architects, which not only designs but also builds the projects they design, can ensure that your project benefits from years of project execution experience, and integrates this back into the design of new projects.
In our activity, we are constantly learning and gaining new insight on specific details regarding rainwater management, heat management, airflow, etc. It’s one thing to design good-looking residences, but it’s a whole other game to design great-looking luxury homes that work.
Make sure your design team is willing and able to push back on your ideas that won't work in Costa Rica, while helping you find alternatives that will work.
A custom home designed to suit Costa Rica’s unique environment will integrate proper shading, drainage solutions, and durable materials.
We emphasize site-specific design, helping each home align with its natural surroundings, both visually and functionally. This approach not only enhances the home’s durability but also creates a structure that fits seamlessly into the landscape.
People are definitely not downsizing their kitchens, they want spaces where they can live comfortably, especially for big families or those who enjoy entertaining large groups. But, nobody wants a gigantic kitchen with wasted space either. So, we’re seeing many custom home builders opting to increase the height of their ceilings instead.
Roderick Anderson, CEO & Design Director at SARCO Architects
Mistake 5: Failing to Assemble the Right Team for Your Project
One of the most significant yet often overlooked aspects of building a custom home is assembling the right project team.
Homeowners sometimes prioritize aesthetics or initial costs when selecting an architect, builder, or interior designer.
A poorly matched team can lead to communication breakdowns, delays, and costly mistakes, especially if some members lack experience with Costa Rican design challenges.
To avoid this pitfall, choose a team with a strong reputation, aligned experience, and local expertise.
Our team, for instance, integrates architecture, engineering, and interior design to smooth out collaboration throughout the project. A team that shares a common vision and high standard of quality will help ensure that every aspect of your custom home meets your expectations.
We even collaborate with high-end manufacturers to help design spaces in your home, like bathrooms and kitchens, that blend functionality and luxury seamlessly. This approach ensures that your custom home embodies thoughtful design and cutting-edge trends, such as those highlighted in our insights on 7 key trends in high-end kitchen design.
What to Look for When Choosing a Custom Home Architect in Costa Rica
When selecting an architect for your custom home in Costa Rica, look for firms that:
- Prioritize detailed, comprehensive design plans from the start.
- Use modern technology, such as BIM, to ensure precision in planning and visualization.
- Have a proven track record of successful projects adapted to Costa Rica’s climate and terrain.
- Assemble an experienced, collaborative team that can work effectively within the unique environment.
Now You Know How to Achieve a Successful Home Build in Costa Rica
Building a custom home in Costa Rica comes with unique challenges, but now you have the insights to avoid costly mistakes.
Detailed planning will help you avoid change orders, while selecting a team that uses advanced tools like BIM ensures precision and efficiency.
By understanding the unique nature of Costa Rica’s climate and terrain you have insight into working with architects who can design for resilience, and how choosing an experienced, collaborative team will help keep your project smooth and stress-free.
With SARCO Architects, you gain a partner who combines local expertise, advanced technology, and an integrated approach to create a custom home that’s built to last.
Ready to bring your dream home to life in Costa Rica? Contact SARCO today to start planning a home that fits your vision and thrives in its environment.
SARCO Architects Costa Rica
