Let's talk about construction in Costa Rica

There are no manuals, but there are experiences, and during the construction process the stars and the universe either shine upon you or not. It is that simple in this matter. With the understanding that it is necessary to hire consulting professionals (architects or engineers), capable of developing good plans based on the client’s real budget, and who have carried out the pertinent studies, we have to undertake and understand the following tasks: Lowering costs does not depend on the market, the exchange rate (this is momentary and a game of witches) or avoiding mistakes or unforeseen events. It rests on the shoulders of those in charge of an organization, who have the integrity, will, initiative and motivation necessary to carry out not only a construction project, but also a healthy and clear work plan, and a correct project plan. “Saving» is not the same as «not overspending», just as «mistakes» are not the same as «omissions». It all depends on our good habits, savvy decisions and of course wise desires. Therefore, plan your projects with a well defined timeframe, schedule them with a serious organization, be clear about the real budget available, and to have enough information at hand. This is the best way to accomplish the task within reasonable margins. After all, it is the construction business and anything can happen, but this is the art of lowering costs. It is not magic, it is pure science, mathematics and statistics. Thank you very much.

In only 3 months, you can lose as many customers as you can, guaranteed… Generally, in our activity, architecture and construction, there are several highly creative ways to lose a client, or many, a business or even credibility.  We always walk on a thin tightrope like a juggler, I have personally always preferred to dance to the rhythm of Swan Lake, with tutu and all set! You will never know if you lose the business first or the customer first, I think Both happen at the same time, and in the best Tchaikovsky style, right on the main scene! Clients are lost for obvious issues, such as an amusement park level execution, a tasteless or very bitter project, or simply never-ending intellectual disagreements. But they are also lost in not so obvious aspects, such as trust, faith and interest, and just Like a love story, it ends, and we are left empty, just waiting for the final scene, so that the movie ends quickly. Life has taken me to many places in this country and allowed to meet many people, to understand that sales are not just about money and projects, but it is an exchange of value and a service, and, although this has gone out of style – construction engineering – I still have the conviction that we can all do it not only better, but systematically. Saying YES when we really want to say NO commits us to do things we do not want or cannot do, and this generates an atomic deformity in the business relationship. I am here, but I am absent, ( I am here but I am not ! ) and it is easy to discover it when we do not answer the phone, messages or e-mails; yes, I am the owner of my time and agenda, but also of a running business (company or organization) and, therefore, I must allow an efficient communication with customers. Therefore, let us be honest with ourselves, as honesty saves a lot of time. Wanting many projects and not being capable of receiving them, not only in matters of education and knowledge, but in the simple practice of watching, recognizing and adjusting the sails; ambition without a vision is not enough. The ship does not sink because of storms or big waves, but because of the small holes inside the hull. Ahorita: in Costa Rica that word means many things, and at the same time it means nothing. I believe that working with an agenda and a plan is much better; working by inspiration and senses is entertaining, but not so much at the end, when you have to unnecessarily work more than needed, as this is reflected in budget or costs. Hence, does Ahorita = costs ? Quoting numbers in the air can be extremely comfortable, and appropriate for making a sale; only the experts of experts do it. But this is like cross yourself before entering a soccer game, God is not paying attention to winners or losers. Therefore, mathematics, science and statistics, gentlemen, is a profession, a commercial activity; let us use a little abacuses and calculators (old school) and know that we are not gladiators in an arena, we must not enter to kill, It is what it is. Those little details, which normally are not written down nor scheduled or executed, are like the details that we have failed to give to our partner on Valentine’s Day, on their birthday or on the famous anniversary. They gradually degrade the relationship and everything becomes colder and meaningless. In my case, I keep an agenda, which seems more like a poetry book than something to work with, because in the end, it is those emotions that manage us, guide us and inspire us to keep moving. Friendship and Relationship. Although not all of us are psychologists, we must discern between a sincere friendship and a business relationship. For both scenarios can fall victims to misguided trust. In this case, defining the limits and defining what is most convenient is especially important for the destiny of an organization. For example, I would not build my friend´s house nor would I design my partner’s home, in order to avoid problems, and I am happier. Negociaciones de polaco, In Costa Rica, Pagos de polaco, means to chop the numbers to infinity (break the budget), or to have a payable account active (risk money control). If we fall into this practice, we will spend more time in senseless matters rather than focusing on the objective, which is the project. It would be like going to a dentist and telling him he will be paid for each tooth that he pulls out on the spot. Believe me, if so, he will not use enough anesthesia and will not be very gentle with the pliers. I trust that both, professionals or commercial organizations are as equal professional as the customers who contact us, and thus, all at the same level. We can firmly shake hands. Pasarse la bola, In Costa Rica, this is the name given to organizations that are remarkably busy and usually pass the case of a client between departments, until it disappears, gets lost into oblivion or remains in limbo. In the end, the information that reaches the person doing the work is corrupted, distorted and we usually do not notice it until the client looks at us attentively with a subtle smile on their face. Customer service is fundamental in any business we undertake, and to avoid falling into the famous «chatbots», that is only for millennials. Creating products or services just to feed my portfolio, in the case of architecture, is a big Ahhhh…!  Our designs are not to figure in a portfolio and to win a Pritzker Prize, nor are we interested in using them as golden idols with horns against the competition. In reality, our service should be directed to the client and their needs. Environmental issues, why not? Without overdoing an

First, building a project should not be an adventure nor a «challenge,» and if so, the matter does not look very good. I concluded that it is essential to have discipline and a lot of ethics. It will be necessary to have something more than commitment or passion. There is never enough budget, not even when we go to the supermarket or the cinema. What would be very bad is that the final result does not meet your expectations lest the film was not as good as expected, or the trip was a fiasco. Ideally, if you invest money, it amazes you, nourishes you well, and entertains you. We all hope that, in the end, the credits are well deserved. My dear colleague Olivier told me: «having a beer with my clients after finishing their house is a privilege. Being calm and sleeping peacefully, and able to see him on the street and greet him as a close friend» is wonderful. Well, what wise teaching, what a time saver. I should have known him years ago, only now we have a few glasses of wine now and then. The bigger the dream, the more important the team, and I have learned to count on trustworthy and good people, who have helped me and taught me many things, supported me, shared, and entrusted their businesses. I don’t owe them, I admire them every day, and I know they will be there for our clients for a long time. We don’t train people; we make them part of the organization; we don’t teach the team to be nice; we only hire nice people! Taking care of money, yes, but taking care of the people who take care of your money is more important; that’s why trying to have a deep respect for mutual values, allows us to communicate better. Papers and more papers to build a project, sometimes it’s tiring. Maybe there is too much paperwork, but I can’t imagine a book without a prologue, the bible without Genesis, or a calendar without September. There is a process, a protocol, a formalization, and, as they say here in TIQUICIA (Costa Rica), a piece of paper speaks!! «Difficult terrain, easy terrain» reminds me of a famous book; it is more expensive to design and build on easy terrain since you assume that everything is resolved. Therefore, there is no prudence with expenses. It is not easier to build on rugged terrain, but at least you pay attention to money more intelligently. Unforeseen, unforeseen, and more unforeseen, that’s like working with the client’s credit card. If it’s not in our minds, they don’t exist. I recommend simply not having it. The most expensive thing in construction is not the materials, it is not the finishes, nor the electrical – well, the latter is – much less the exterior works; it is the personnel, the payroll, and the people who work on the projects. Until there are robots that build houses, people will be here, and they must be reimbursed ethically and responsibly. Sacrificing an ENTIRE project to lower labor costs is like going on a tour to see whales, and the captain is Gilligan. That the storms hit, yes, but hopefully they don’t hit the budget; that the sun burns, yes; and that the plan doesn’t dry out; that price go up, yes, but that our egos don’t go up, that the wind blows hard, yes. Hopefully, it does not affect our relationships; in the end, it is just work and business. Above all, we are human beings with flaws and limitations, and that empathy is the umbrella that protects us from the water and the sun; that umbrella flies with the wind and makes us laugh from time to time. Thank you all.

“Nooo Jose“, my dear friend Michael K. told me, quality shouldn’t cost more. The difference between those who build, and those who build better, lies in the quality of their thoughts, their ingenuity and excellent customer service. I pushed myself to learn more, took notes, and began to apply the new knowledge going forward. Designing is not capturing lines on paper; it is capturing ideas on the ground and in the minds of those who participate in the project. And in the end, a gentile smile from the client is enough to seal a business commitment. Yes, that’s enough, believe me. Architecture is sacred, there are three divinities that participate in the design process, the Clients, the Architects and of course the Land, each one with a 33% participation, and the remaining 1% pure divine inspiration. Simple and poor-quality construction plans generate simple and poor-quality constructions. Paper can hold up to anything, but not a budget. The location of the buildings on campus – land – is not an act of faith of an “architect looking at the sea…”, very romantic. The budget requires a deep mathematical, scientific and statistical analysis. Here the seed is planted that will grow healthy and vital. Otherwise, it might be swept away by a storms, extreme winds, excess sun and rain. Healthy buildings, like our body, require ventilation and natural lighting, not only in the obvious design. Remember that wood, ceilings, walls, floors, and ceilings also perspire. We want to be healthy: «will it be healthy where we are going to live?» “I assumed that…” “I supposed that…” “I thought that…” are not enough reasons to make a decision, my dear friend Rose told me. Everything has to be verified 101 times, and if it still isn’t enough, one more doesn’t cost anything. That’s why now, I do it 102 times, thanks to her. A plan or a project design that is clear and defined from the beginning marks a route to the successful goal. If the road is modified or lengthened, like a map, the horizon disappears, and it will be necessary to ride in unknown terrain, and many times, blindly. Therefore, taking the time to consult is vital; your purse will thank you. Knowing where to put the funds and your money is very important. In the end, the true value of the investment is that the outcome exceeds the initial expectation.  «Million Dollar Baby, «that’s what my dear friend J. called his investment. The street is not the second university as everyone believes. Customers are the second university, so listen to them and understand them! Each line in a plan is the equivalent of a dollar of investment. Therefore, beware of those who make many sketches and doodles without letting go of the pencil.  The lines should only be placed when studies were made and respective mental knots resolved. Thanks to all those who read this article and those who have allowed me to write it!