Want to Build a Custom Villa? Here’s How.
The iconic Samsara Villa in Providenciales
The Turks & Caicos Islands are one of the most desirable tourist destinations in the world, known for their pristine white sandy beaches and dazzling clear turquoise waters. A bespoke villa in the Turks & Caicos is the not only an incredible investment opportunity with significant ROI, but also provides the ultimate in luxury and privacy for you and your family and friends when visiting the Islands.
The Turks & Caicos Islands have long been a favourite destination of celebrities and the ultra-wealthy, who appreciate the islands’ exclusivity and natural beauty. A villa in the Turks & Caicos allows you to enjoy all the best that this tropical paradise has to offer, in luxurious privacy.
Building a luxury villa in the Turks & Caicos Islands is a significant undertaking, so it’s important to do your research and work with experienced professionals. Here are some tips to help you get started on building the perfect custom luxury villa in the Turks & Caicos Islands.
Find the Perfect Location
The Turks & Caicos Islands are made up of 40 islands and cays, each with its own unique character and appeal, but it’s only practical to build on the main islands due to infrastructure, and proximity to the airport, beaches, amenities and services.
If you’re looking for a more laid-back and relaxed atmosphere, Providenciales (or “Provo”) is the largest and most developed of the Turks & Caicos Islands, and home to some of the best beaches in the world (and some of the most iconic villas in the Caribbean). If you want to be close to the action, Grace Bay is the place to be, with a wide variety of shops, restaurants and bars. However, waterfront property availability is in decline, and when available it’s certainly at a premium.
Work with an Experienced Builder
Building a villa in the Turks & Caicos Islands is a significant investment, so it’s important to work with an experienced and reputable builder who has a proven track record in the construction of luxury homes in this challenging marine environment.
When looking for a builder, study their previous work to get an idea of their quality and style. A reputable builder will be experienced with navigating the strict building codes and regulations in the Turks & Caicos Islands, as well as building for the hot climate and sometimes extreme weather conditions.
Create a Detailed Project Path
Once you’ve chosen your builder, it’s time to start creating a detailed path for your project.
At Skape Design+Build, we utilize an 8 step process to shape the direction of every villa, from initial consult to determine readiness, generating the project roadmap, assembling our team of experts, cost estimation, sharing our knowledge of opportunities and potential pitfalls, and more.
screenshot from our Project Planning Guide
Set a Realistic Budget
Building a villa in the Turks & Caicos Islands is a significant investment, so it’s critical to set a realistic budget. There are a lot of factors to consider, such as the cost of land acquisition, the cost of construction, landscaping, furnishings and décor. Your project will also require capital for pre-marketing before villa completion to drive guest reservations in advance of opening.
It’s also important to factor in the costs of any permits or fees that may be required, as well as the cost of utilities and ongoing site maintenance. Once you have a clear idea of your budget, you can start working with your builder to create a realistic and achievable plan for your investment.
Make Your Villa Energy Efficient
One of the benefits of building a new villa is that you have the opportunity to incorporate energy-efficient features and materials into the design and construction. This is not only good for the environment, but it can also help to reduce your operating costs, especially offsetting some of the significant cost of electricity in the Turks & Caicos Islands.
Typical energy-efficient features include LED lighting indoors and out, but you should strongly consider solar production / battery storage systems as well.
Part of the solar array at Wind Chime Villa
Add High-End Finishes and Furnishings
During villa construction, your builder (and potentially interior designer) will work with you to select furnishings and decor. It will be early in the process as order times can be lengthy considering transport from the mainland US to the islands.
When selecting furniture and décor, it’s important to consider the style of your villa and the overall aesthetic you want to achieve. Short-term luxury rental properties often opt for clean lines and minimalistic furnishings, which appeals to a very broad audience and their neutral colours and open spaces form a beautiful frame for the incredible oceanfront views or beautiful outdoor tropical landscaping.
The incredible vista from the dining room at Sandy Bottom Villa
Hire a Professional Property Manager
Hiring a property management company is recommended for all short-term rental properties in the Turks and Caicos Islands. They fully manage all villa-related tasks, such as cleaning, maintenance and accounting, as well as manage guest reservations, communications, marketing channels and more.
A professional property manager can help ensure that your investment is profitable, maximizing bookings and revenue while minimizing any operational or maintenance issues. They will also help to keep your investment safe, ensuring compliance with all local regulations and laws as well as responding quickly to emergency situations.
Listing Your Villa
Listing your villa on Airbnb or VRBO (or a multi-channel integrator) is critical to capture guest reservations in a low-friction user environment. Multi-channel integrators fulfill all financial transactions and provide detailed accounting records to property owners.
As a reminder, the Turks & Caicos Islands have very strict laws regarding short-term rentals and all properties must be properly registered and listed before they can accept reservations.
Building a luxury villa in the Turks & Caicos Islands is a major investment, but it doesn't have to be a daunting one. Working with an experienced builder, setting your budget, making your villa energy efficient, hiring professional villa management and marketers are all key steps to ensuring a smooth process and successful outcome.
We can help. Talk to us today.
To receive our Project Planning Guide, which will assist you in understanding the SKAPE Design + Build process, please get in touch with us below.
SKAPE Design+Build, formerly RA Shaw Fine Architecture, is the pre-eminent builder of iconic villas in the Turks & Caicos Islands. We will be continuing our series of articles on the logistics, challenges, and opportunities surrounding investing in the Turks & Caicos Islands via new construction villas. Visit us at www.skapetci.com
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