Architectural Services in the Bahamas: What Investors Need to Know

Written by Christoph Albeck | Aug 25, 2025 12:16:11 PM

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.

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