Tatters at Royal Westmoreland Barbados
By Emily Collins Construction • Project Management • Tips and Tricks • • • 0 Comments

How to Choose the Perfect Location for Your Vacation Home in Barbados

Building Your Own Slice of Paradise: How to Choose the Perfect Location for Your Vacation Home in Barbados

Barbados is a small island paradise in the Caribbean, an increasingly popular destination for those looking for a relaxing getaway. The island’s stunning natural beauty, crystal clear waters, and laid-back lifestyle make it an ideal location for a vacation home.

However, choosing the perfect location for your vacation home in Barbados can be daunting. With so many options available, it can be challenging to know where to start. In this article, we will provide some tips and advice on choosing the perfect location to build your vacation home in Barbados.

Consider the Type of Vacation You Want

The first thing to consider when choosing a location for your vacation home in Barbados is the type of vacation you want. Do you want a secluded and private retreat or to be in the heart of the action? Do you want to be close to the beach, or would you prefer to be nestled in the lush tropical greenery? Understanding your vacation needs will help you determine which location is best suited for you.

If you want a secluded and private retreat, areas like St. James, St. Peter, and St. Andrew are great options. These areas offer stunning natural beauty and a sense of tranquillity that is hard to find elsewhere. On the other hand, if you prefer to be in the heart of the action, then areas like Christ Church and St. Lawrence Gap may be more to your liking. These areas are bustling with activity and offer many restaurants, bars, and nightlife options.

Consider the Accessibility of the Location

Another important factor to consider when choosing the perfect location for your vacation home in Barbados is accessibility. How easy is it to get to the location? Is it close to the airport? Are there transportation options available? These are all critical questions to ask yourself.

If you want easy access to your vacation home, areas like St. Philip and Christ Church may be your best bet. These areas are close to the airport and have good transportation links. On the other hand, if you don’t mind a bit of travel, areas like St. Andrew and St. Joseph may be more to your liking. These areas are more secluded but offer stunning natural beauty worth the journey.

Another important factor to consider when choosing a location for your vacation home and you plan on renting out your property is making sure it’s easily accessible for your guests. In addition, you’ll want to ensure it’s convenient to get to from the airport and other vital amenities your guests will want to enjoy.

Consider the Amenities and Services Available

When choosing the perfect location for your vacation home in Barbados, it’s important to consider the amenities and services available. For example, do you want to be close to a grocery store or a pharmacy? Are there restaurants and bars nearby? What about healthcare facilities? These are all important factors to consider when choosing a location.

Areas like Christ Church, St Michael and St. James are great options if you want easy access to amenities and services. These areas offer a wide range of restaurants, bars, and shops. They also have good healthcare facilities and are close to the airport. If you prefer a more secluded location, areas like St. Andrew and St. Peter may be more to your liking. These areas offer stunning natural beauty but may not have as many amenities and services.

Consider the Security and Safety of the Location

When choosing the perfect location for your vacation home in Barbados, it’s important to consider the security and safety of the area. You want to feel safe and secure in your vacation home, so choosing a location with a good reputation for safety is important.

Areas like St. James, St. Peter, and St. Andrew are known for their safety and security. These areas have a low crime rate and are considered some of the safest places on the island. However, if you want to be extra cautious, purchase in a community with 24-hour security, such as Royal Westmoreland or Apes Hill Barbados (our friends at Residence Barbados can help with this). If not, investing in a security system for your vacation home is a good idea.

Consider Beach Access

One of the main reasons people choose to build a vacation home in Barbados is for the stunning beaches. When selecting a location, it’s important to consider how close you want to be to the beach. If you want to wake up and take a morning dip, you might want to look for a property right on the beach. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a more secluded location, you might prefer a property set back from the beach but still within easy reach.

Consider the Price

Finally, it’s important to consider the price when choosing a location for your vacation home. Barbados has a wide range of properties available at different price points, so it’s important to have a clear budget in mind before you start your search. Also, remember that the property’s price is not the only cost to consider – you’ll also need to factor in the cost of upkeep, utilities, and any other expenses associated with owning a vacation home.

In conclusion, choosing the perfect location for your vacation home in Barbados requires careful consideration of various factors, from beach access and accessibility to safety and security, local amenities, and price. By taking the time to research different areas and weigh up the pros and cons of each, you can find the perfect spot to build your own slice of paradise. The team at Berkan Construction can help you with your decision with our wealth of local knowledge. Just contact the Berkan Construction Services team today to discuss your project.

Image: Tatters at Royal Westmoreland constructed by Berkan Construction Services Inc.

Building your home in Barbados
By Emily Collins Architects • Barbados • Construction • General Information • Interior Design • Project Management • Tips and Tricks • • • • 0 Comments

4 tips for building your Barbados house

Building your home in Barbados is an exciting time. Not only do you have the opportunity to live in this beautiful country, but you get to live in a house of your design.

While there is no magic formula, some tips simplify the process, especially if you are not on the island during the build. 

1 Be flexible from the start

We don’t want to start with a negative but rather a dose of realism. Despite everyone’s best efforts, things will go amiss during the build. Suppliers will deliver the wrong products, and tiles will break, cables cut accidentally, permits delayed. However, patience, understanding and acceptance that this will happen will cut your stress levels when it does – and make the process more enjoyable.

2 Planning, planning, planning

Put in the time in the beginning to plan your project. Work out precisely what you want, your must-haves and non-negotiables. Think about your nice-to-haves. Can you afford them? Importantly plan your budget, so there are no surprises or disappointments later in the build.

3 Hire the right people to support you

Understanding construction cost estimates or Barbados’ building regulations can be daunting if you have no building knowledge. However, while bringing different professions on board during your build adds to the overall budget, it will pay off in terms of time, energy, stress and even money in the long term.

Architect

Your chosen architect will be your first point of reference. Not only will they design your home to your specifications, budget, structural limitations, and in line with building regulations, they will also manage planning permissions and any other permits. They can also liaise with an engineer.

Visit the Barbados Institute of Architects or speak with the team at Berkan Construction who can help.

Contractor

Selecting the right contractor for your budget is key to its success. You need to hire not just on price alone – but make sure they have a passion for their work, have the necessary qualifications, have an eye for detail and understand your vision. Always ask for references, visit some of their projects.

Berkan Construction makes the construction process as painless as possible by offering complete general contracting services, including site clearing, grading of land, and maintaining existing and erecting new structures related to building construction and maintenance.

In addition, the team offers commitment at all levels of a building project, from preparing for construction to construction management services. As a result, they successfully meet clients demands for cost-effective and responsive services.

Architect project manager

Project Manager

Unless you are prepared to be on-site daily and understand the building process, planning and budgets, you need to employ a project manager. The role of the project manager is diverse, covering:

  • Managing the contractor
  • Ensuring the build is following the plan
  • Checking costs and orders
  • Following up deliveries
  • Keeping everything on schedule
  • Liaising with local teams

A good project manager will keep your build on schedule, on budget and safe from unscrupulous people who can jeopardise your dream.

Berkan Construction can provide this service for you. They provide overall planning, coordination and control of a project, so you don’t have to worry about anything.

Interior Designer

Don’t leave appointing an interior designer to the end of the project. Bringing a designer in at the early stages can save compromises and additional costs later on. 

Knowing where you will place your dining table and sofa means you can place your electrical sockets in the right place. The colours, materials and style of your open-plan kitchen will have an impact on your entire living space. Without knowing the overall style of your new home, how can you choose flooring? And, knowing what type of window coverings you want will determine the type of windows and doors you install. 

Use professional services

Before you sign, always use a lawyer to draw up your contracts and ensure you understand and agree with every aspect, including payments and liability.

And make sure you have construction insurance in place just in case mistakes happen. It will give you great peace of mind even if you don’t need it during your build.

4 Budget for the interior

Many house builders are so focused on building a beautiful home on the outside, and they don’t allocate a sufficient budget for the interior. This isn’t just for the kitchen and bathrooms but flooring, paint, lighting, furnishing, window treatments and all the little things that make a home.  

If you are thinking of building a home in Barbados and need help and guidance, then contact the team at Berkan Construction. They will be more than happy to discuss your project and answer any questions you might have. 

Just complete the contact form and book a discovery call today.