So here’s where we are today. We were given a cost estimate by the developer of our subdivision (Almond Grove). A friend who is an architect took one look at it and advised it was grossly underprepared. Uh huh. We anticipated it being understated, cost-wise, as well. Their estimated cost seemed really low to us. So we started pricing out floors, doors, tiles, etc., so that we could present that to the developer for a final estimate. No worries so far, the cost is about what we anticipated.
So….in the meantime Andy decides to add up each line item for the estimate we were given by the developer. Lo and behold, despite it literally being a line item on the cost estimate, and despite it being part of the blueprints, their final cost estimate didn’t include the cost of the pool. Insert maniacal laugh here 😵💫😆. So, right off the bat, we’re 5 figures off budget 🤪🤪. Yeah, ok.
So, after we realized the enormous errors in the developer’s cost estimate, which I’ll add, the bank must have in order to begin construction loan talks, we emailed the developer that we would love to discuss correcting their estimate. They wrote back that they were essentially washing their hands of it, and “any contractor’s estimate would be within 10-15% of their final total”, which is literally laughable. So far, best we can tell, it’s off by at least 6 figures 🤪😜😵💫
The GOOD NEWS is, we ANTICIPATED this and because we had a budget in mind up front, we’re still well within that, yes, even with the missing pool cost 😂.
In the EVERYTHING FOR A REASON column, there is a REASON we didn’t jump into buying or building here for the 3 years we’ve been here. As a result of connections we’ve built, we have good friends advising us, we fully grasp island time, and best believe, when this is over, we’ll be experts as well 😝 “Caveat emptor” was absolutely started by some dude building a house in the Caribbean, I have zero doubt, lol. We’ll get through this, I know it. At this point laughter truly is the best medicine. Oh. And bananas foster martinis 😆
St. Maarten Move 
And it sure helps to have a good attitude and outlook..👍
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For sure! Fortunately nothing has happened to make us regret the decision to build. I’m simply realizing that I’m in a US mindset when it comes to building and I gotta let that go, like, yesterday 😆 At this point, laughing and nodding is all we can do. It’s gonna happen for sure. And wow! What stories to tell lol!
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