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Costa Rica
Interior
Design |
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| Furnishing Your Heaven on Costa Rica’s North Pacific Coast
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Investor Links: |
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Costa Rica Insurance Advisors |
Costa Rica Condo Advisors |
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Welcome to Summerland Interiors |
We are ready to help you complete the interior furnishing of your Costa Rica real estate investment. Summerland Interiors is an experienced, full-service interior design firm with the ability to handle all aspects of your furnishing process including: |
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We are prepared to work as your partner to accommodate your tastes, color preferences, budget goals, schedule, and desired level of involvement. We will do everything in our power to satisfy you as much as possible. We do not have a singular design approach or egos that will get in the way. We would rather know that you felt involved, and in as much control as is your preference. |
Investment Goals |
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We will take the time to understand your investment goals. We understand the importance of having the interior design and furnishings respond to them. If you will be furnishing for the vacation rental market, the furnishings will need to be competitive with others offered on the Internet. For example, using the least expensive furnishings may result in a rental unit that will not compare favorably, and this can negatively affect your repeat or referral rental business. |
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Our experience indicates that your total budget for “competitive” furnishings in a rental property (including window treatments, painting, linens, kitchen items, some limited artwork, accessories, consulting fees, sales taxes) will start at $20-$22 per square foot. If you will simply be furnishing for your own enjoyment, then your budget can be as low or as high as your desires dictate. |
Product Availability and Color Guidance |
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Costa Rica has products available in every category, including furniture, linens, kitchen accessories, and audio/visual systems, which you will need to furnish your property. While the variety of selections is sometimes limited, it is possible to find something for most tastes. |
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While resources that are available in Guanacaste are growing all the time, the vast majority of furnishings still come from showrooms and stores in San Jose. If you feel it necessary to personally inspect potential purchases, you will need to visit San Jose for 1-2 days early in the process. If you are comfortable reviewing digital images, we can email pictures of furniture and accessories for your approval. We can also refer you to websites to visit, condos to examine on-line, and samples of products for consideration. |
The choice of color in paints, fabrics, woods, linens, etc., is central to each project. We are able to communicate with digital images by email to illustrate possibilities and show you our design recommendations. You can also communicate with us by using the standard Benjamin Moore (BM) paint colors, if it serves your purposes. We have the New and Classic BM paint fans here in Costa Rica and can immediately see what you would like to tell us. Simply go to a BM paint outlet, select the colors you prefer for any use, and email the name and code number to us. We will match as closely as possible with local sources for whatever color and finish you wish. |
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We have cultivated good working relationships with local suppliers, tradespersons, delivery services and others and will involve them as needed for your project. As an example, we employ local craftspeople to construct custom made cabinetry (e.g., built-ins desks, cabinets, tables) to meet client specifications. |
Project Budget |
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After understanding your investment goals, financial targets, personal tastes, and schedule priorities, we will prepare an overall budget for your project. The budget is organized by each internal room or outside space that will receive our attention. It contains allowances for each item of furniture and the accessories we would recommend. |
There are also general allowances for categories including: painting (if the developer-delivered colors will be changed), linens, household items, kitchen accessories, artwork, sales taxes, and professional fees. Once you have agreed to a target budget, we will request a 50% deposit to begin placing orders, and scheduling work in your unit. Our design fee is based on hourly efforts, but usually approximates 10% of interiors expenditures. |
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You will be given detailed reports frequently and all receipts will be available at the end of the project. Your current project budget status will be available 24/7 in a secure on-line account at www.summerlandfinancial.net. If you are a Summerland property management client and are enrolled in our Deloitte tax accounting service or our special Summerland Insurance Pool, all data from your interiors project will automatically be entered for use in both programs. |
Project Management |
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In most cases of a pre-construction investment, the interior design and furnishing process should begin before the final real estate closing to allow it to be enjoyed and/or rented as soon as possible. All the decision-making and preparatory work can be completed in advance so that delivery and installation can begin immediately after you take possession. |
The actual control of your space is an issue for the interior design and furnishing process, if there is a substantial delay in the delivery date or punchlist completion stretches over time. We will work with your developer/builder throughout the construction process to coordinate design and furnishing with the builder’s schedule. Since there is a risk of damage and possible theft from ongoing construction work if furnishings are delivered too soon, we can arrange temporary storage or security staff, depending upon the situation. |
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Summerland also offers a separate Construction Observation and Punchlist Coordination Service in conjunction with Interior Design and Furnishings. This involves monitoring the work of the developer/builder, whether or not the interior design and furnishing process has begun, sending digital progress reports and photos by email, and working as the facilitator of the entire team as the delivery date approaches. If you are being scheduled to close with a punchlist that prevents your occupancy or the renting of the unit, you may want to resist until the unit is more complete, or close with a significant holdback of closing funds. We are happy to discuss this type of engagement with interested clients |
Body of Work |
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Summerland Interiors is in its 3rd year of service to investors and businesses on the northern Pacific coast of Costa Rica. In that time we have completed over 50 projects with varying scopes, schedules, and budgets. We bring this considerable experience to your project. (Link to Page with past projects) Detailed project profiles and references are available on our website or in person by request. |
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Home Country Resources |
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It is no longer necessary to assume you will be shipping furniture or household items to Costa Rica. Virtually everything can be found here, and we recommend shopping in Costa Rica unless something you desire (from your home country) fits in personal luggage on an airline, or you have an international commercial shipping arrangement through your business, a friend or another connection. The delay and costs of bringing things through customs makes only the most sentimental or unique shipments worthwhile. International shipments require 2 visits to San Jose; one to identify and claim the shipment as yours, and the second to actually retrieve it later, after it has been inspected and appropriate duties calculated. |
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It is also important to be aware that Costa Rica uses the metric system of measurement in almost all furnishings and accessories. Mattress sizes, for example, vary widely from those in the United States, even though they also use the words “King, Queen, and Twin” to describe them. Summerland Interiors is prepared to help you interpret such differences and advise you of what products, you may buy in your home country. |
Project Schedule |
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The entire interior design and furnishing process for a 2 or 3 bedroom condominium, for example, can be completed in as little as 4-6 weeks, if you are a decisive, organized client and willing to accept many “off the shelf” choices. Alternately, this can stretch out much longer if you are uncertain about choices or wish to explore a variety of options before making selections.
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Certain ordered items will have predictable lead times, and others may not. As described above in Project Management, most of the interior design time can overlap the construction or remodeling schedule, so you would be able to enjoy/rent your unit as soon as possible. Once you have tentative delivery date, we can create a probable interior design and furnishing schedule, including a start date. |
By necessity, our work follows the work of your contractor (if a new or remodeled unit), and must respond to the general nature of business in Costa Rica. Either may impact our ability to serve you and we appreciate your assistance and patience, as required. |
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Internet-Based Resources |
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Summerland Interiors makes full use of internet resources for information, accounting, shopping, project management, and communication. We will work to minimize the number of your required trips to Costa Rica, while we complete the interior design and furnishings. Along with emails, digital images, and the websites of vendors, we will work with you through two of our websites: www.costaricainteriordesign.com and www.summerlandfinancial.net |
Summary |
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The time, just before delivery of a condo or home you have had built or remodeled, can be very exciting. It is the culmination of much planning, preparation, and waiting. The interior design and furnishing process is the beginning of really taking possession of your investment. We are prepared to do whatever is necessary to have the process and results fulfill your highest expectations. |
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Contact Us in Costa Rica: |
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Tamarindo - Sunrise Commercial Center #6 |
Brasilito - Hitching Post #1 Brasilito, Guanacaste, Costa Rica Costa Rica Phone: 011-506-654-5445 Costa Rica Fax: 011-506-654-5467 |
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| Costa Rica Summerland Interiors is a member of The Summerland Group, Costa Rica’s most complete and vertically-integrated service organization helping real estate investors, visitors, and anyone seeking to add Costa Rica to their life. Visit www.summerlandgroup-costarica.com to see the entire family of Summerland Group companies. | ||
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The Summerland Group of companies is committed to eliminating discrimination, welcoming diversity, and promoting equality, fairness, truth, respect, and justice. These goals are reflected in their policies, practices, procedures, and all interactions with others. This applies to clients, guests, staff, partners, professional peers, consultants, vendors, and all other third parties. The Summerland Group of companies intends to treat everyone equally and with same attention, courtesy, and respect - regardless of their gender, marital status, race, racial group, color, ethnic or national origin, culture, citizenship, religion or beliefs, disability, age, sexual orientation, health condition, and/or employment status. | |