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TO BUILD OR NOT TO BUILD
When choosing to live or invest in property in the beautiful twin islands, to build or not to build, well, that is the question, isn’t it? Embarking on the journey of building your own home – purchasing a plot, finalising the design, and overseeing the construction process – all whilst managing the complexities of everyday life - may seem an overwhelming task and certainly not for the faint-hearted. And whilst in some places around the globe, you may be considered crazy to consider building your own home, that is absolutely not the case in Antigua. With plenty of land available for construction - often comprising of fabulous plots on already designated developments – and excellent professionals who provide a turnkey service from the initial plans to the final luxury
However, the construction route is most definitely not for everyone. Even if you have enlisted the expertise of one of Antigua’s specialised companies to handle the whole procedure with your minimum involvement, it’s essential to recognise that it comes with its own set of pressures. Budgets are notoriously unpredictable, and it’s easy to get carried away when adding all those customised extras. Furthermore, to state the obvious, construction doesn’t happen overnight, and unknowns can always extend the project completion timeline. So, if you want to move quickly, enjoy a (relatively) hassle-free purchasing process and start living your new life as soon as possible, then buying a property might align better with your needs. With a wide variety of ready-made homes available for all budgets and tastes – either new
Finding the right professional, whether a local real estate expert who can guide you through the purchasing process or an experienced architect and contractor who knows the ins and outs of building in the tropics, is vital. touches, the process is a lot less intimidating and stressful than you can imagine, even if you’re on the other side of the globe during the building process. And with several of these developments offering the opportunity to gain citizenship of the twin islands, it is a desirable option for many. Do you want an infinity swimming pool with a swim-up bar? Your own observatory for stargazing? Somewhere to fit your grand piano? No request is too outlandish when building your own home from scratch. Adding these extras during a retrofit of an existing property would be infinitely more challenging. The icing on the cake is that building a state-of-the-art home requires less maintenance (at least for the first few years), and every ecological energy saver imaginable can be incorporated in the process.
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THE CITIZEN
or preloved - including cosy cottages, luxury beachfront villas or modern condos – there is something for everyone, whether you are looking for your own place in the sun or a rental property. And again, many new developments offer that all-important chance of obtaining Antigua & Barbuda citizenship. Whatever decision you ultimately make, finding the right professional, whether a local real estate expert who can guide you through the purchasing process or an experienced architect and contractor who knows the ins and outs of building in the tropics, is vital. So, to build or not to build – that is the question that only you can answer.
