Building a house
Building a house
A lot of people dream of building a second home on a Caribbean Island. For many Dutch people, Bonaire is the perfect choice as the island became a Dutch municipality in 2010 and Dutch is commonly spoken on the island, in addition to English and Papiamentu. But the main attraction of Bonaire for everybody is its peaceful, friendly atmosphere, which people typically first pick up on while they’re on holiday on the island. Sound familiar?
You may be one of those people who’ve returned from their Bonaire holiday, and have started dreaming about what it would be like to own a property on the paradise island you enjoyed so much. Build or buy is the first question that needs to be answered. Building a home is the perfect choice for many as the properties available on the local housing market might not meet your specific needs or budget. Once you’ve bought a piece of land and checked all formalities with the notary, your adventure can begin.
Finding an architect on Bonaire
The next step in the process is to find an architect who can design the house of your dreams. It’s always wise to choose an architect who has previously done work on Bonaire, as that gives you the best chance of being awarded a building permit. That architect will know all the pitfalls and the small print involved with building a house on the island; houses on Bonaire can only be built at a given distance from the road, for example, and there has to be a certain amount of space between two neighbouring properties. Throughout the construction process the local government’s supervisors will inspect if your house meets those requirements – and they will force you to change your plans if you don’t meet those requirements.
The start of the build
Even when you’re not on the island and in fact far away, you can follow what progress the builders are making through our online photo and video update service. We can also serve as your local liaison. Overall it’s wise to appoint a trustworthy individual to manage and supervise construction on the island and to keep you informed. Also consider currency rate fluctuations. The local currency on Bonaire is US Dollars. If you’ve budgeted in your own currency and that currency is not the US Dollar, you may have to readjust your budget regularly. It’s all a great adventure!
There are many aspects to building a house on Bonaire that you do not have control over. Tropical storms for example might force you to have your septic tank emptied before it is due. Things on the island might not be as well organised and structured as you are used to at home. So patience is required, especially when you’re managing the building project from a distance. Remember, if all goes well you will be spending your next holiday in the home of your dreams. But don’t be surprised if things don’t happen as quickly as you planned them!
Patience and understanding
When you’re building a house in a foreign country you need patience and understanding for the local culture. Make the effort to get to know the people you’re working with is always a great help.
Renting out your house before you move into it yourself is a great way of getting a return on investment.
Generally building requirements on the island of Bonaire will not be that different from those you are used to in your home country. Safety regulations for electricity are the same as they are in Europe, for example, and are strictly adhered to by professional electricians and monitored by the planning committee.
There are special requirements however to make your house hurricane proof. You have to submit your construction plans and drawings to the planning office (DROB) for approval. During the construction process, representatives from the planning office will regularly pay a visit to the building site, but this is purely to ensure that all technical and construction requirements are being met. In terms of architectural design, you have all the artistic freedom you want. Unlike in most European cities, there is no committee that can make you change the façade of your house to fit in more with its surroundings, for example.
Geological conditions on Bonaire make the construction of a special foundation necessary for your house. Typically the foundation walls rest on foundation strips and armed concrete. It’s not necessary to drive piles into the ground as the ground on Bonaire is solid, and because extremely large houses are rarely built on the island.
The contractor
How good a contractor is largely depends on the quality of his workers. Most contractors on Bonaire are one-man businesses who work with subcontractors. Your typical contractor does not employ his own electricians, plumbers and plasterers, but hires a specialist for each job. If there is a lot of construction work going on, which is usually the case on Bonaire, you might not have first class professionals available to you, and you will have to make do with lower qualified workers. In summary, it’s difficult to say who the best contractors are. Most contractors act in good faith. If you’re disappointed with the quality of their work, most will try to correct their mistakes, but some will not.
Depending on the location of your property, you may be required to fulfil specific building requirements. These can relate to a restricted choice of types of roof covering, or the surface area of your property. In some areas on the island you might not even be allowed to put up a washing line!
We hope that we have given you useful information to support you in your choice to build a house on Bonaire. Please feel free to contact us if you require more information, advice or support.
