Building a Home in Belize, Part Two

What a 20-Year Canadian Construction Veteran Recommends for Foreigners Building in Central America

Welcome to Part Two of Building a Home in Belize, where we will continue our exploration of the nuances of residential construction in this beautful part of the world. If you didn't catch Part One, you can read it here..

As I mentioned in my last post, I haven’t included information on finding a contractor, as I wrote a book that explores this subject in depth. So, if it appears I have skipped over an important topic, I have. The process is the same wherever you are, so I encourage the interested reader to grab my book as a companion to this and the previous post. In addition to helping readers find a reliable contractor, the book covers various topics, from receiving quotes and signing contracts to the construction process and workflows.

Anyhow, let's get down to business!

Preparing the Property

At this point in the game, you will have a parcel of land, a design, and possibly a contractor ready to build. Depending on the location and purchase price, your lot could be in a different number of states before you start construction: cleared and build ready, partially cleared- some empty lot owners clear underbrush before they sell the property to make it walkable and more appealing to buyers- or in its natural state, which typically means dense jungle or savanna here in Belize. Let's assume you start with the latter to provide the reader with the most information possible.

Clearing the Land

With an essentially jungle lot, it’s common in Belize to clear or partially clear the land before construction can begin. The amount you clear will depend on the property size and the extent of development you plan. In our case, the previous owner had cleared much of the underbrush. All that remained were some craggy trees and shrubs in the middle of the lot, which we chose to remove so we could have better access for construction.