Last updated 10 August 2026
A plot is not automatically a buildable project. Before buying land or approving a design, verify title, boundaries, planning rules, access, utilities and the permission required for the exact work. Use local legal and technical professionals and keep authority answers in writing.
Ask the notary to verify the legal title, registered rights, restrictions and transfer route. Compare the deed with the survey document and actual boundaries. Have a professional check access, drainage, slope, soil conditions, neighboring uses and realistic utility connections.
Separately verify the applicable development plan and whether your intended use, footprint, height, setbacks and access can be approved. A seller's statement or nearby building is not permission for your project. If the purchase depends on buildability, put an appropriate condition in the agreement after legal review.
The Curaçao Building and Housing Ordinance governs building permission, and the Island Development Ordinance provides the spatial-planning framework. The Joint Court's public explainer states that construction, renovation and demolition require official government permission.
Before design work becomes expensive, ask the responsible planning/building authority which application, drawings, calculations, supporting documents and professional signatures apply to your scope. Use the government's current Permit Desk contact page to confirm where and how to submit. Do not begin work until the required permission is granted and the approved documents are understood by the project team.
Have a local architect and relevant engineers design to the site, code and approved brief. Topics to resolve include orientation, shade, cross-ventilation, rainwater routing, corrosion-resistant details, roof fixings, water storage, electrical capacity, cooling strategy, security and maintainability.
Ask Aqualectra about the current electricity and water connection process early. A nearby line does not guarantee connection scope, capacity, price or timing for your plot.
Complete enough drawings and specifications before seeking bids. Give each contractor the same package and request a breakdown for labor, materials, provisional sums, taxes, site preparation, utilities, exclusions and change-order pricing. Check references on comparable completed projects and verify who will actually supervise the site.
Budget from project-specific quotes, not a generic price per square metre. Maintain separate allowances for professional fees, permits, site works, utility connections, financing, insurance, owner-supplied items and unforeseen conditions.
Have a local lawyer or qualified contract professional review the agreement. It should identify the approved drawings and specification, contract price and adjustment rules, payment milestones, evidence required for payment, change procedure, completion criteria, delay/default remedies, insurance, site safety, defect correction, warranties and dispute process.
Avoid paying ahead of verified progress. Changes should be priced and approved in writing before execution.
MCB and Orco publish mortgage products that include construction-related finance. Ask the lender how it values the completed project, releases funds, approves contractors and handles cost overruns. Do not assume a standard mortgage process applies unchanged.
Appoint independent supervision with authority to inspect work against the approved documents, record hidden work before it is covered, review variations and verify milestones. Keep a decision log, site reports, photos, approvals, invoices and updated drawings.
Before final payment, inspect the property, test systems and create a written defect list with deadlines. Collect permits/approvals, warranties, manuals, keys, test records, paid invoices and as-built information. Ask the notary and authority whether any final registration or occupancy step applies to your project.
If the uncertainty is too high, compare an existing property through the home-buying guide.
