{"id":11097,"date":"2017-04-28T00:22:01","date_gmt":"2017-04-28T04:22:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/?p=11097"},"modified":"2020-09-07T09:04:16","modified_gmt":"2020-09-07T13:04:16","slug":"true-escape-artist-michael-cobb-building-home-overseas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/blog\/true-escape-artist-michael-cobb-building-home-overseas\/","title":{"rendered":"A True \u201cEscape Artist\u201d: Michael Cobb Building a Home Overseas"},"content":{"rendered":"
Building overseas can be stressful. \u00a0Heck, building in the U.S. or Canada can be stressful.<\/span> They say a marriage that survives a house being built is a good one. So now compound the pressure by doing it a couple thousand miles away, possibly in a language you don\u2019t speak, and throw in various cultural aspects and factors. \u00a0Now you have a recipe for a pressure cooker, or with good information, a great fun-filled adventure.<\/span><\/p>\n Many people do build homes overseas, and you can too. \u00a0\u00a0It\u2019s not for the faint-hearted for sure, but with the right attitude, patience, and perseverance, the results can be stunning. \u00a0Remember, things that cost a fortune in North America, like handcrafted items, piece work, and details that take a lot of time, are some of the least expensive parts of the process overseas.Things that are cheap in the States may not be abroad. It\u2019s a mixed bag, but with careful planning and foresight, you can build your dream home overseas. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Doing something right the first time is key. \u00a0That takes proper planning. In a home, this means getting the design and engineering done by qualified professionals and individuals. In every country that I know of, you must have a local architect and engineer to get permits and certifications. You don\u2019t have to rely 100% on them however, and you probably shouldn\u2019t. A hybrid approach is usually best. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Here\u2019s why. <\/span><\/p>\n In many cases, the local designers won\u2019t have a good idea of what you like from a design standpoint. Case and point are kitchens in Latin America. Whereas most people in North America do their own cooking, the wealthy (of which you will be one by local standards) would have a maid in the kitchen doing all the cooking. Because of that, kitchens are walled off, small, and not particularly nice. My wife and I looked at 5 or 6 houses to rent before she found one with a nice enough kitchen, sufficient counter space, and convenient cabinets. The open\/great room concept that includes the kitchen, dining, and living room, popular in North America, is a cultural misfit in Latin America. \u00a0Many architects will simply find it hard to believe that you actually desire this and will draw it \u201ctheir\u201d way instead. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Also, if you plan to rent out your home, create an owner’s lock up. A large closet is fine, but if possible, make sure that you create a process for airflow so clothes don\u2019t get moldy. Some people add a small dehumidifier and drain system to keep the air dry, but not necessarily cool. Depending on what you want to keep, plan accordingly. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n You must take charge of the process. Bring ideas and floor plans with you if you plan to build a custom home. \u00a0There are tons of related books on the market for homes of all sizes and types. <\/span> Starting there and generating your adapted ideas is a winner. Remember too that a picture is worth 1000 words, especially with language barriers. The more pictures you have, the better. They will clarify items like a stair rail, banister, kitchen backsplash, or tile pattern far better than you can with words. Conveying your desired outcome as specifically as possible in pictures will be an extremely valuable tool in the process.<\/span><\/p>\n That said, local architects will have ideas that you would never think of coming from North America – like doors and portals that stay open to the outside 24 hours a day, 365 days per year.<\/span> Sometime with no screens. \u201cWhat! \u00a0You\u2019ve got to be kidding me,\u201d you might say. \u00a0I too was a skeptic, but my home in Managua for 10 plus years was like that. The \u201cporton\u201d to our laundry area was a non-screened, decorative, wrought-iron door that was open to the elements all the time. Our sliding glass doors were open from 5:30 am to 8:00 pm every day, no screens. Bugs were not an issue. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Another local element is taking advantage of the breezes and shading for porches. The amount of outdoor living space will likely be larger than we are familiar with or would design into a home in the U.S. \u00a0Big shaded patios and garden areas will see a lot of use. Big indoor spaces will usually sit empty most of the time. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Another awareness that local architects will have is that electricity is expensive. \u00a0Therefore, many people only have air conditioners in the bedrooms – almost no one installs central AC. Split units, a type of air conditioner popular in the region, allows you to put air only where you are going to need it, which is typically the bedroom. Remember also to add ceiling fans to your design. \u00a0Moving air cools a room nicely, and having fans circulating air will cut back on the need for AC considerably. <\/span><\/p>\n Locating a home to take advantage of the natural airflow is also key. \u00a0Having windows that let the breeze flow through a home, especially at night, will limit AC usage. But just as important is knowing if the breezes are too strong, in which plants or other structures could be added to slow the breeze down. A local architect should have a sense of this, and if they don\u2019t, then you need to pay attention and make sure that you do. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n