3 Essential Tips to Start your Successful Land Project in Haiti
Do you have vacant land in Haiti, or have you recently purchased or obtained land here and are a little unsure about what your next steps should be? In this blog, we’ll talk about three essential tips to make your next steps a success. I arrived in Haiti four years ago to manage family land and assets, and similar to how you may be feeling, I was a bit lost at first. Through multiple projects and many mistakes, I’ve established three essential tips that I now take with me into every project. These are what I recommend to you.
#1 Have Clear Steps
Having clear steps is essential when starting your land project in Haiti. To create those steps, first evaluate what needs to be done on your land. Ask yourself: Are there existing structures, a perimeter wall, a water well, or anything else? This matters because your property taxes depend on whether the land is vacant or developed. In Haiti, you can inherit unpaid debt with the land, often undisclosed at purchase. Since certain taxes start the year the first block was placed on the land, if you obtained land with an existing structure, you might be responsible for unpaid taxes, especially if you did not receive receipts at the time of purchase. Plus, Haiti has a declarative system, so you must report your building activities. Even if officials don’t contact you, they often know when your project begins. So once you’ve assessed your situation, list exactly what must be done, whether it’s authorization, a water well, a perimeter wall, or building your home. This will help you greatly take your next steps and also with your budget, which brings us to number two.
#2 Have a Budget
Having a budget is essential for successfully managing your land project in Haiti. The beauty about Haiti is that you can pace yourself with your projects. There is no one who will approach you and say your construction must be finished in a certain time, so take your time. Know how much money you have available and set aside funds based on your clear steps. Determine how much each step will cost you and decide how to tackle it. What you want to avoid is blindly starting a project and sending money constantly for something never-ending, with no clear accounting. Trust me, as someone who spent my first couple of years in Haiti spending money without a plan, take this advice. A budget will also help you be clear with contractors and professionals about your expectations and show them how important financial organization is to you.
#3 Have a Local Project Manager
Having a local project manager is vital to keeping your land project on track in Haiti. So often, you hear horror stories of people who build in Haiti and are disappointed with the money spent or the final result. Even for me, when I moved to Haiti to manage my family property, I inherited buildings less than five years old. Yet I’ve spent thousands on repairs and remodeling due to poor initial construction. This is what I want you to avoid. Much of that disappointment can be avoided by having a third party manage your project. This person is separate from your contractor or engineer—separate from those emotionally involved. They are your eyes on the ground if you can’t be in Haiti. They communicate with contractors, ask questions, send you photos, and ensure things are done according to your plan and budget. If you’ve dealt with contractors, you know how costly negligence can be. Family or friends can help if they’re reliable, but if you don’t have someone, The Journey Group is ready and committed to help manage your project.
Conclusion: Your Roadmap to Success
To recap, having clear steps ensures you know what needs to be done. Having a budget keeps you financially grounded. And having a local project manager protects your investment and keeps everything on track.
I know that in Haiti, things can be done in many different ways. These tips are best practices to ensure your long-term success with ownership in Haiti. It’s not to say you can’t do things out of this order, but always keep these principles in mind. Even if you find yourself doing things differently, come back to these tips. As I said earlier, even if expectations aren’t mentioned to you, it doesn’t mean they don’t exist, even if not enforced at the time. Keep these steps close and you’ll set yourself up for a successful and stable project.
If you’re currently in this process and have questions, feel free to book a discovery call with me so we can discuss your specific details. And if you need project management, don’t hesitate to reach out—I’m here to help!
