Contracts.

I finalized the outline of the agreement between Guillermo and I regarding the design and construction of the Costa Rica house. It all seems so far away right now. The surveyor is again not answering his telephone, which is making it extremely hard for me to allow him to extort more money for me. Furthermore, it is delaying the project. I am frustrated already.

I have been ripping images out of a magazine to which I had a subscription by some weird accident called Coastal living. Apparently, living on the coast is supposed to consist of white people white washing their houses and debating between serving shrimp cocktail and another round of golf. It was most unhelpful. Unless, of course, I want a house that looks like a doiley.

DatumZero's services will cost me 17,400. This covers:

Provision of a fully approved set of design Architectural construction documents; fully approved set of Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Fire Protection & Structural construction documents; Mechanical,Electrical, Plumbing, & Structural specifications; As-Built Documents; Specification binder of selected
exterior & interior finishes, door hardware, plumbing fixture, lighting, kitchen and bathroom accessories.

The proposal lays out timelines for schematic design, project coordination and site visits, legal documentation, scaled drawings and deigns, construction documents, and the filing of pertinent documentation with the government. DM will also assist me in selecting, bidding, and monitoring an independent construction contractor.

Fees will be paid with a retainer of 25 %, then small amount as the design is completed. Only 15% is left to the end of construction. I contacted Guillermo hoping to push more of the payment until completion. I have had a bad experience with contractors not finishing projects once the money is substantially transferred. Guillermo was firm. Apparently he has had the opposite experience, with clients not completing payment once the construction was under way. He wrote me a nice letter explaining his position, and answering all the questions I had about the proposal. He sent me another draft with my concerns explained expressly.

Jeremy went over this with me. He works in urban design and has a lot of experience with proposals and contracts, albeit in a commercial setting. I can read a contract, but there are just too many terms here with which I am unfamiliar. Generally, Jeremy thought it was fair. There are even some elements that will be covered by DM that are not usually covered by an American firm.

So I sent the retainer fee last week, and we are on our way.