Building
your Home in Turks and Caicos
Many
people investing in Turks and Caicos choose a plot of land in
a good location with the idea of getting a
foothold in paradise now. When considering building a home for
retirement or family vacation on that land, one of the questions
they ask is:
Is
it a good idea to buy now and have my house built later?
Yes.
This is really an exceptionally good idea. Land appreciates
very quickly here, and since there are no land taxes in Turks
and Caicos, buying land here is a carefree investment. A land
purchase provides good capital appreciation with no worries
or further expenses until it is time to build.
Who
do I need to build my house?
When
building in TCI, you must use a local contractor or someone
with a work permit.
Having
a good architect from the beginning is essential as s/he can
advise you through all the stages of the buildling process and
help with your choice of contractor, as well provide counsel
on environmental variables such as prevailing wind, water supply,
landscaping etc.
Due
due the geographical differences with Britain and the similarity
to Florida the Building Code chosen here is similar to the Dade
County Building Code which takes into consideration hurricane-prone
tropical weather in their building regulations.
Considering
that all building materials must be imported, costs are high.
Your local architect can advise you on ways to minimize costs
and avoid costly mistakes. S/he is used to working with the
trades and contractors and understands obstacles to supply delivery
that might hold up construction. A locally based professional
body known as Turks and Caicos Architects, Surveyors and
Engineers (TCASE) consists of licensed professionals who
have a common goal of maintaining high professional standards.
They can be contacted at 946-4670 or 946-4238.
The
most commonly used method for building in TCI is steel-reinforced
concrete and block construction. This method constructs a home
that is hurricane resistant and is easily built with available
skilled labour. Costs of building a new house here on Providenciales
vary from about $200.00/sq foot to $500.00/sq foot depending
on the type of finishes that you choose.
Please
contact Peter Crawford Smith, Turks and Caicos Real Estate Specialist,
to recommend architects and contractors that would best suit
you building goals.
Internet
Phone: 416-619-0746
Cell
Phone: 649-946-5621