OFF-PLAN PURCHASE (VEFA) SUPPORT BY AN
INTERIOR ARCHITECT
How can I modify the plans during my VEFA project? How do I manage the coordination of work between my builder and potential contractors later on? What should I pay attention to during visits with the developer? We answer all your questions!
Buying a property off-plan (VEFA) without any unpleasant surprises
Purchasing a property off-plan (VEFA) is an exciting adventure but can also prove to be stressful. There are numerous and complex factors to consider. Buying off-plan presents its own unique set of challenges and uncertainties.
Unlike purchasing an existing property, you cannot physically visit your future home when buying off-plan. You must rely on blueprints, models, and the promises made by developers. This can make it difficult to evaluate every aspect of your future apartment or house, especially if you’re not an expert in real estate or construction. So, how can you avoid common pitfalls and ensure that your VEFA real estate project runs smoothly ? How can you be sure that what you see on paper will match the reality once the construction is complete ?
Sometimes, developers may allow you to choose room layouts or select materials during the process. In such cases, what should you do ? How can you monitor, during visits, to ensure that what you’ve requested is being properly executed?
Perspectives Architecture & Design offers a specialized consulting service for VEFA projects. We guide you throughout the entire process, from signing the reservation contract to receiving the keys, or even during the construction phase ! Our goal is to provide you with expert insights, answer all your questions, and bring you the peace of mind needed to ensure that your project is completed without any unexpected surprises.
Perspectives Architecture & Design supports...
AT THE START OF THE PROGRAM
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Complete interior architecture project (see our services here)
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Option to choose the layout of spaces in consultation with the builder (while adhering to accessibility regulations).
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Option to modify electrical and plumbing systems (within the available channels).
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Selection of materials from the promoter's predefined list (easier with our 3D renderings) and showroom visits.
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Accompaniment at all site visits.
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Custom fit-out works with craftsmen.
MIDWAY THROUGH THE PROGRAM
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Complete interior architecture project (see our service here)
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Selection of materials from the developer's predefined list (made easier with our 3D designs) with showroom visits.
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Support for all site visits.
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Layout work with craftsmen.
AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM
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Complete interior architecture project (see our service here)
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Final site visit (handover)
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Layout work with craftsmen.
The collaboration with the builder : Modifications Work for Buyers
By being involved from the start of your off-plan purchase project, we have the opportunity to work closely with the builder to make personalized modifications to the plans of your future home !
Most builders accept to collaborate with their clients on Buyer Modification Works (TMA in french). As interior architects, we specifically assist you with these Buyer Modification Works. These modifications must adhere to numerous technical aspects that we consider when creating new plans to present to your builder. Most often, we can modify the following with the builder :
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The layout of partitions : allowing you to customize the arrangement of rooms according to your preferences.
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Electrical installations to a certain extent : adjusting the placement of outlets, switches, and lighting for better practicality.
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Plumbing : reorganizing water points for optimal space utilization (e.g., swapping the bathroom and kitchen).
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Interior finishes : choosing materials for floor coverings and wall coverings in wet areas (generally, the builder has a showroom for this purpose).
Of course, all proposed modifications must comply with current regulations and be approved by the developer. We support you throughout the TMA (Modification Work Buyer) request process, ensuring that your wishes are achievable and conform to technical and regulatory requirements.
But our mission doesn’t stop at the validation of the plans ! We remain by your side until the delivery of the property to ensure that your future home is exactly as you envisioned (and that the builder has respected what was requested).
The different visits covered by Perspectives Architecture & Design
We accompany you at every visit with the builder to ensure that your real estate project runs smoothly and with complete peace of mind. Our presence guarantees you professional expertise and a keen eye to detect any potential anomalies or non-compliance issues.
DURING THE WORKS
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Waterproofing and Weatherproofing Inspection ( "Visite hors d'eau, hors d'air" in french) : There is an inspection at each payment request, and since reaching the waterproofing and weatherproofing stage marks the completion of the structural work, the payment request is significant. Depending on the developer's practices, we participate in these inspections.
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Partition Inspection ("Visite des cloisons") : We attend the partition inspection 6 to 9 months before delivery, where we check the progress of the work. This inspection is essential to ensure that the layout of the rooms, as well as the electrical and plumbing installations, conform to the plans.
BEFORE THE HANDOVER OF THE PROPERTY
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Pre-delivery inspection (non-contractual, depending on the developer): One to two months before the official handover, we organize a pre-delivery inspection to identify any remaining work or defects that need to be addressed. Although non-contractual, this step allows us to anticipate corrections that need to be made before the final handover. The interior architect thoroughly checks everything, ensuring that all details are correct: flooring, paint, roller shutters, electrical outlets, water points, joints, baseboards, and finishes. This gives the developer time to address the issues raised before the final handover.
AT THE TIME OF DELIVERY
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Reception Visit : This final visit is crucial, as it precedes the handover of the keys, and you may decide to withhold the remaining 5% of the sale price. As interior architects, we ensure that all previously noted issues have been resolved and no new ones have arisen. Please note, we are not legal officers, but we anticipate the need to engage such professionals if necessary. They provide legal support, complementing our construction expertise. Additionally, any further issues may arise during daily use of the purchased property. You have one month, and up to one year, to report them.
VEFA support, an interior architecture service ?
At Perspectives Architecture & Design, our VEFA support service closely resembles an interior architecture service !
We follow the same key steps :
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Concept Sketch
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Preliminary Design
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Final Design
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Construction Tender Support
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Project Management Assistance
That said, we also include specific steps tailored to your situation, guiding you through communication with the builder.
If you would like to learn more about our interior architecture services beyond the specifics of VEFA, we invite you to visit our dedicated page by clicking the button just below.
Have you purchased an apartment
off-plan and would like assistance ?
Learn more about
our areas of intervention
Our regional expertise extends throughout Paris intra-muros. Although our interior design firm is historically located at 261 rue du faubourg Saint-Martin in the 10th arrondissement of Paris, this does not prevent us from working everywhere! Currently, we have completed projects in the 9th, 10th, 13th, 15th, 17th and 19th arrondissements.
We also work in the inner suburbs (Hauts-de-Seine 92, Seine-Saint-Denis 93, Val-de-Marne 94). In Hauts de Seine, we mainly work in Asnières-sur-Seine, Bois-Colombes, Colombes, Courbevoie, La Garennes-Colombes and Levallois-Perret since these are the towns around where we live. We are also keen on projects in the surrounding areas: Reuil-Malmaison, Issy-les-Moulineaux, Boulogne Billancourt....
We have an extraordinary advantage for getting around: we are on a motorbike! So we no longer have any limits (not even traffic jams): in this way our radius of action also extends to other cities in the Île-de-France, covering Essonne (91), Seine-et-Marne (77), Yvelines (78) and Val d'Oise (95). Among the many cities, we can mention La-Celle-Saint-Cloud, Charenton-le-Pont, Chatou, Le Vésinet, Versailles, Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche, Marnes-la-Coquette, Vaucresson, Maisons-Laffitte, Sceaux, Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, and many others.
We also offer to carry out projects remotely, as was the case, for example, with this project in Athens . Once the quote has been taken, we work on our computers, so it's easy to work remotely! And let's not lie to ourselves, since COVID, it has become a habit to hold meetings on Zoom, Googlemeet, or Teams...