Building - The safest route in 5 steps

Step 1

Head for the bank

A meeting with your banker is a must, and should be scheduled as a priority. It's the first step on the road to a financing plan. You'll know how much you can borrow and how much you'll pay back each month. It's worth remembering that the current climate offers excellent opportunities, with a rate of 1.50% for a 20-year loan. It's also at this stage that you need to consider the zero-rate loan available depending on the location of the building project. This can represent between 20% and 40% of the total acquisition cost. You also need to take stock of your savings and determine how much of them can be devoted to the purchase. Don't panic if you don't have any cash on hand: bankers are willing to lend over long periods to lighten your monthly payments.

Estimated time
3months. Loan granted within 1 month and funds released within 2 months.

Step 2

First step: the land

No matter how beautiful the house, it can't see the light of day until the land has been found. This can be a tricky process, given the scarcity of land in certain areas. The main question to ask yourself is whether to opt for an allotment or a plot in a dispersed area. The main difference lies in surface area and servicing. Plots that have already been subdivided may be smaller, but they are generally connected to the water, electricity and gas networks, and even to the fiber optic network. Your notary can help you in your search for that perfect plot. Builders also offer ready-to-build plots.

An endurance test
3to 6 months. Quite long, this stage is based on research time and notary registration formalities.

Stage 3

Stopover at the builder's

This is the most exciting stage of all, as it takes you to the builder of your new home. After explaining your project to the builder, it's time to choose the most appropriate house model for your budget. Your discussions with the professionals will result in a number of documents to be carefully studied:

- the house plan, giving the detailed surface area of each room;
- the specification sheet, which details all the work planned and to be carried out by you, as well as the total cost of the project;
- the construction contract, detailing the work to be carried out and certifying the associated warranties (ten-year warranty, structural damage warranty, biennial warranty, guarantee of perfect completion).

An important milestone
2to 5 months. This is the time needed to define the house plan and choose the builder.

Step 4

Validating the roadmap

It's time to stop and make the right decisions. Starting with validation of the house plan. Once the permit application has been submitted, it will no longer be possible to modify the exterior appearance. This is the time to check the specifications before signing. The total cost of the project depends on the amount of work required. And don't forget to ask the bank for a financial study, to complete the file and enable the builder to move forward. Once these elements have been validated, the building work can begin.

Short sprint to signature
about 1month. All the documents contain important information that needs to be checked carefully, because once the building permit has been granted and the building work begun, it'll be too late!

Step 5

House ready for occupancy

From this point on, the focus shifts to delivery of the house. All you have to do is wait for the building permit to be processed, which can take up to 2 months. This is followed by the period during which third parties have the right to appeal, within 2 months of the building permit being posted on the property. The law authorizes a neighbor to challenge the validity of a building permit, so this period must be respected before starting work.
The builder can then start work, and will keep you regularly informed of progress. He may even give you a pass to access the site before handing over the keys. At the same time, meetings with the builder allow you to choose materials and decor. This ensures that you're in good hands right up to delivery of the house. A pre-acceptance inspection verifies that the builder's commitments have been respected. Failing this, if the inspection fails to verify that the plasterwork or finishes are entirely satisfactory, the builder has one month in which to make the necessary repairs. On delivery, the builder and his customer will again inspect the exterior and interior of the house. In all cases, the law authorizes the purchaser to retain up to 5% of the price until all reservations concerning the quality of the finish have been removed. The various guarantees - defined by the Spinetta law of January 4, 1978 - take effect from the date of signature of the acceptance report.

The home stretch
16 months. That's the average time needed to build your home in good conditions, obtain planning permission and purge any third-party rights of appeal.

Christophe RAFFAILLAC