We Reduce Your Risk When
Buying Property In Roatan
Concerned About Building In A Forgein Country?
You should be.
According to KPMG, as quoted in their Global Construction Survey, less than a third (33%) of consumer construction projects in developing nations are completed close to on time and within budget.
McKinsey & Company: stated in their Global Infrastructure Initiative report that consumer construction projects tend to run over budget by up to 80% and exceed their schedule by around 20% on islands.
Turn Your Dream Into Reality
If you are concerned about buying a vacant parcel of land in Roatan and attempting to build your dream home in a foreign country, you are not alone. We have successfully helped many of our clients through that same harrowing experience.
Building in Roatan shouldn’t be intimidating, and we can help you reduce your risk.
We understand the local building regulations, the permit process, and what inspectors and regulators require. In addition, we know the best sources to purchase your materials and will likely save you significant time and money in this process.
We can help you transform the unnerving process of building in Roatan into a simple, predictable, and fun-filled adventure.
The Top 10 Biggest Mistakes
People Make When Building On Roatan (An Island In Foreign Country).
Building on an island in a foreign country comes with unique challenges, and people often make critical mistakes due to a lack of knowledge or preparation. Here are the top mistakes you should avoid when building on Roatan or any other island in a foreign country:
- Trusting Without Verification
• Mistake: While it's natural to trust that your builder will handle your project’s funding responsibly, it’s always wise to ensure you have done your due diligence.
• Why It’s a Problem: Although most builders are honest and reliable, there have been instances where homeowners faced issues due to poor money management or lack of transparency. In places like Roatan, where local regulations may not offer extensive protections, it’s important to take some extra steps. You can check with the local authorities to confirm the builder is in good standing, such as having paid taxes and obtained the necessary permits. It’s also helpful to reach out to the local expat community or previous clients to get a sense of the builder’s track record. Don’t hesitate to ask questions—it’s all part of making sure your project goes smoothly and stays on track. - Ignoring Local Regulations and Permits
• Mistake: Not understanding the legal framework. Every country (and island) has specific building regulations, zoning laws, and environmental protections.
• Why It’s a Problem: Without the proper permits, you risk fines, project shutdowns, or even legal action. In some places, certain types of development might be outright forbidden due to environmental or cultural concerns. - Underestimating Supply Chain Challenges
• Mistake: Assuming materials and labor will be as accessible as they are on the mainland.
• Why It’s a Problem: Islands often rely on limited or inconsistent transportation. This can lead to massive delays in receiving building materials, driving up costs and lengthening timelines. - Lack of Local Expertise
• Mistake: Hiring non-local contractors or trying to do everything remotely.
• Why It’s a Problem: Local builders and architects know the terrain, weather patterns, and best practices for island construction. Ignoring their expertise can lead to serious structural issues down the line, especially when dealing with harsh weather conditions like tropical storms. - Neglecting Environmental Impact
• Mistake: Overlooking the environmental considerations or thinking short-term about sustainability.
• Why It’s a Problem: Islands are sensitive ecosystems. Mismanagement of waste, destruction of mangroves, or improper sewage systems can harm the environment and lead to penalties, or worse, irreparable damage to the local ecosystem. - Poor Weather Planning
• Mistake: Not building for extreme weather conditions like hurricanes, tsunamis, or monsoons.
• Why It’s a Problem: Many islands are in areas prone to extreme weather, and improper building techniques or materials can lead to catastrophic damage. Reinforced structures and weather-proof designs are essential. - Forgetting About Water and Energy Sources
• Mistake: Assuming water and power will be easily accessible.
• Why It’s a Problem: Many islands are in areas prone to extreme weather, and improper building techniques or materials can lead to catastrophic damage. Reinforced structures and weather-proof designs are essential. - Misjudging Local Culture and Customs
• Mistake: Not taking into account the local culture and community when designing or building.
• Why It’s a Problem: You might end up with an aesthetically out-of-place building or offend the local population, which could lead to pushback. Some islands have deep-rooted traditions that might clash with modern designs or construction practices. - Underestimating Costs
• Mistake: Thinking the cost will be comparable to mainland construction.
• Why It’s a Problem: Everything tends to be more expensive on an island, from labor to materials to logistics. Failing to account for this can result in massive budget overruns. - Overlooking Long-Term Maintenance
• Mistake: Not considering the impact of saltwater corrosion, humidity, and high winds on long-term building durability.
• Why It’s a Problem: Saltwater can rapidly deteriorate buildings, and regular maintenance will be more frequent and costly. Skimping on high-quality materials upfront will end up costing more in the long run.
Avoiding these mistakes requires detailed research, local partnerships, a mindset prepared for the unique challenges of island construction, and a builder with significant experience in helping you navigate whatever challenges you may face.
Turn-Key Residential & Commercial Land Development
Our turn-key service eliminates all finger-pointing and saves you money. In addition, since our architect created the design, no communication errors result in you getting caught in the middle between the design’s intent and the construction of that design.
This turn-key service means no expensive time delays or reworks required. As a result, we can save you money.
Our Turn-Key Process
Your Vision
We start with your vision. Then, our architect and construction manager will offer their opinions and make suggestions that you may not have considered.
Design
Our in-house architect goes to work and transforms your vision into a much finer level of detail and includes all the specifics required to create the blueprints.
Development
With our architect overseeing the process, our construction team begins to build your vision precisely as detailed in the blueprints. This process leaves no room for errors.
Enjoy
With your project completed, all that remains to do is enjoy the benefits of building your vision in Roatan. You'll be thankful you selected us to help you.
We Are Remodeling Experts
That old saying of “No project too big, no project too small” tends to be very accurate when working with us. From simply adding a porch or new deck to your existing home, all the way up to a complete house remodel where we add new rooms, enlarge existing spaces, or repurpose living rooms; we can do it all and lower your risk in the process
Our design team has the experience to help you to maximize your existing structure while transforming it into exactly what you need.
About Us
Two brothers (Guillermo & Maickol) started Colins Development to make it easier for people to build their vision projects on the island of Roatan. By offering a complete turn-key service from Vision to Enjoy (the benefits), Colins Development has blossomed and is transforming the process of building a project on our island.
To this day, both brothers are directly involved and oversee every single project the company undertakes.
Building Superintendent.
Guillermo
Guillermo is a highly motivated entrepreneur and civil engineer. Since 2015, he has focused on construction engineering and is dedicated to construction and helping people obtain their dream structures.
Furthermore, he believes that caring for the world’s natural resources is a crucial aspect of engineering. Therefore, one of his primary goals is to play a significant role in helping society build projects that will benefit both humans and the environment.
In 2019, he moved to the beautiful island of Roatan, where he has successfully been working on different projects around the island. His plans include more advanced projects that adapt to new technological challenges while using innovative, eco-friendly materials.
What sets Guillermo apart is his high-quality and detailed-oriented work, with a plus in maintaining these works within a competitive budget.
Maickol
Maickol is an architect whose source of inspiration is nature and his field’s adaptability in our constantly changing world. He is also an entrepreneur who decided to dive into design and construction in property development on Roatan, Bay Islands.
Through his work, he means to create spaces with maximum performance in structure and design. Along with innovative architecture and new technologies, he aims to design spaces that will adapt to biotic and abiotic components in living places and the use of sustainable materials.
As a professional architect and serious individual, he and his brother Guillermo, a Civil Engineer, have built residential areas in parts of Honduras coastline and Roatan.
Architect/Designer.
The Number One Reason To Work With Us.
Based on Roatan, Colins Development is a local Land Development Company owned by two brothers, one an architect (Maickol) and the other an engineer (Guillermo), which gives our clients a unique and powerful advantage. Here’s how:
- No Room For “The Blame Game”
In every construction project, some friction is created between the architect’s design and the builder’s delivery. This friction may be minor or quickly become major depending upon where and when it appears. Regardless of where and when the problem arises, rest assured that you are caught in the middle as one entity blames the other, as the headaches volley back and forth. And this “blame game” will most likely cost YOU time and money.
With one brother handling the design (architect) and the other managing the structural integrity (engineer), we offer integrated project delivery. This close collaboration leads to fewer miscommunications between design and construction, resulting in faster turnaround times and cost efficiency. Our clients benefit from aesthetically pleasing and structurally sound designs without needing extra time and money to juggle between different firms.
This means that you have the Architect who designed it and the Engineer who is responsible for making it happen “ONSITE” daily checking progress and ensuring things continue to progress as they should. - Cost Efficiency
With both design and engineering handled in-house, we can offer competitive pricing by reducing outsourcing costs. This also allows for more flexibility in budgeting, making it easier to provide our clients with more cost-effective solutions without compromising quality. - Custom Solutions & Innovation
The architect’s creative vision and the engineer’s problem-solving mindset mean the company can offer highly customized homes that balance innovation with practicality. They can push design boundaries while ensuring compliance with building codes, resulting in homes that are unique yet functional. - Holistic Approach to Problem Solving
Issues that often arise during construction, like design modifications or unexpected site conditions, can be quickly resolved internally. The brothers’ expertise means they can quickly brainstorm solutions together without external consultations, giving us a competitive edge in quick adaptability. - Enhanced Client Trust and Communication
Clients get the best of both worlds in-house: creative design choices and technical execution. The combined expertise of both brothers allows for better communication with clients, as each aspect of the project is overseen by a specialized expert. This results in a higher level of client trust and greater client satisfaction.
Overall, combining these two professional disciplines under one roof allows the company to deliver homes that are not just well-designed and sturdy but also affordable, innovative, and quickly built—a rare trifecta in the home-building industry. No one else on Roatan offers this advantage.
Additional Reasons Why You Should Select Us
Just A Few Of The Additional Benefits You Will Experience By Working With Us:
We know the local building requirements.
We have lots of experience building on Roatan.
We understand and can help guide you through the permit process.
We know the best sources for you to buy your materials .
We can speak the local language, but also communicate with you in English.
We are comfortable working in both metric and imperial (US) measurements.
We can save you money, and reduce your risk.
What Our Clients Say About Us
Here’s what a few of our clients have to say about the process of working with us.
We’ve been building on Roatan for the past two years. Colins Development was the sixth builder we have worked with, BUT they are the ONLY ONE I recommend. They did more than they had originally promised, finished on-time, on-budget, and ensured we knew what was happening throughout the entire project. They were FABULOUS!
Colins Development built our casita and main house here in Sandy Bay on Roatan. Guillermo and Maickol are incredibly talented and knowledgeable and made the process easy. From permits, to demolition of the existing house, to the completion of our two new houses, they were always available to answer questions and offer helpful suggestions and solutions. We would highly recommend their services if you are considering building here on Roatan.
I had the pleasure of having Guillermo and Maickol complete several projects at my vacation rental property on the island of Roatan. I found their knowledge and their local connections on the island to be an irreplaceable asset. From start to finish, Guillermo and Maickol were very professional. I would highly recommend them for your project.
Colin’s Development is absolutely wonderful! If you want to build on Roatan, this is the builder you want to use! They far exceeded our expectations with the schedule, especially in light of true adversity of not having power or water and having access issues!!! Our home is absolutely beautiful and the quality outstanding! I would give them 20 stars if I could!!!
I had the privilege of working with Guillermo and Maickol on a very successful residential project. They delivered a project of outstanding quality while staying on schedule and on the budget. I aim to work on many more projects with them in the near future and strongly recommend them to everyone!