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Architectural Services in the Bahamas: What Investors Need to Know
CPH Invest · Insights
Architectural Services & Planning Costs in the Bahamas: What Investors Need to Know
In the Bahamas, location is only half the story. Planning quality drives build quality, timelines, and long-term value. If you’re investing in premium real estate, you should budget realistically for architectural and engineering services.
Typical Fee Landscape in the Bahamas
- Entry-level homes: For standard villas without complex details, planning and engineering fees tend to sit at the lower end of international ranges.
- Luxury residences: For villas with pools, private dockage, expansive glazing, and integrated smart-home systems, fees often reach top European levels—and can exceed them in highly bespoke cases. Drivers include custom detailing, tighter technical standards, and additional specialty consultants.
Cost Structure at a Glance (as a % of hard construction)
Architecture (incl. construction documents)
10–15%
Structural engineering
2–4%
MEP engineering (HVAC, plumbing, electrical)
3–5%
Building physics (energy, acoustics, fire)
0.5–1% or fixed fee
Specialty consultants (pool, smart-home, docks)
USD 10,000–50,000 (fixed)
For simple projects, “engineering & drawings” remain modest. For luxury villas, a total planning budget of 15–20% of hard costs (architecture + technical disciplines) is realistic.
Investor Takeaways
- Standard homes: efficient planning, faster delivery.
- Luxury assets: international standards and deep customization. Higher planning budgets translate into measurable quality, schedule discipline, and value retention.
Bottom line: Premium builds invest more up front in planning—and protect value throughout the asset’s lifecycle.
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Disclaimer: All figures are indicative. Fees vary by scope, complexity, and local requirements.
