Creating a Sustainable Community Eco-System

Investing in Apes Hill is investing in the environment

Apes Hill is setting a new standard for luxury island living in Barbados and across the world. With 475 acres of land stretching from St James to St Andrew, seventy acres will be developed for various agricultural uses. Furthermore, the reservoir built on-site catches 360 million gallons of rainwater annually to use across the property. And above all, responsible, low-impact construction methods are used using sustainable building design practices and materials. From golf course maintenance to the construction of luxury homes, Apes Hill has a commitment to sustainability that is unmatched.

If you decide to purchase property at Apes Hill, you can rest easy knowing the construction of your new villa was built with an environmentally conscious and energy-efficient mindset. Each home is outfitted with photovoltaic electrical generation (solar energy), LED lighting, Energy Star rated appliances, and electric vehicle and golf cart charging ports. And not only are non-toxic, green materials used where need be, but the houses themselves are designed to coexist with the environment. For instance, you’ll probably hardly use the air conditioner as cool breezes instinctively flow through your home with its natural and elegant fenestration designs. And trust me when I say it can get rather chilly at Apes Hill!

Amongst the menu of activities introduced by Apes Hill for members and their guests is a gully walk through many unbeaten paths led by Ed Paskins, Golf Superintendent and agronomist. I joined one of their hikes and we explored a new path while Ed told us about various trees and flora in the area. He also told us about the development plans for the land. Apes Hill’s goal over the next three years is to turn over seventy acres into farmland, complete with free-range stock and cattle, organic farming, and even beekeeping. They are also working with various farmers in the area to further build up and support the local agricultural community. The farming will further support their farm-to-table initiative, providing Apes Hill residents and the Clubhouse with fresh produce, eggs, meats, and honey. Not only is having chickens, cows, sheep, and goats a great way to feed the community, but Ed states they’re also great at helping keep the grass down.

Apes Hill has made a significant change to its golf course that drastically impacted its water usage. Changing the grass on the course to Zoysia grass, a low water consumption, drought resistant grass that thrives in the Barbados climate, has reduced the number of sprinklers needed for maintenance by 44%. Additionally, the course is watered entirely by rainwater that is collected and pumped from the reservoir; no water is taken from the desalination plant or the community. It almost sounds like an oxymoron to say, but Apes Hill has managed to develop a truly sustainable golf course.

Water preservation techniques are also used across the residences with water catchment from roofs as well as roads and sidewalks throughout the communities. Bioswale networks have been implemented at Apes Hill, allowing rainwater runoff to be collected, transported, and reabsorbed into the ground for future use.

From creating their own chemical-free fertiliser to reusing the dug-up foundation from the residential construction to build the farm road, sustainability is undoubtedly at the core of everything done at Apes Hill. I’m looking forward to seeing how the community and agricultural initiatives develop over the next couple of years. If you’re interested in investing in luxury homes with a sustainable future, send me an email at muffin@barbadossothebysrealty.com. And don’t forget to subscribe to stay up to date on all things realty in Barbados!

Ready Your Home for Selling Success

Considering selling? Here are six things you should start thinking about.

Selling a property is not an easy task. There are many things to consider when preparing your home to sell and knowing where to begin can seem intimidating. Luckily for you, I know all about selling houses.

In Barbados, we have a phrase called “pulling down de house” which means to clean, refresh, and update a home, typically done around the holiday season. Whether it's spring, summer, fall, or winter cleaning, tidying up your home inside and out plays a big part in readying your property for sale.

Here are six tips to help you kickstart the process of getting your house ‘for sale’ ready.

1. Declutter - It’s free! We all have that drawer (or room) in our house filled with various odds and ends of half-working devices, old documents from years ago, almost dried-out pens, and other “I know I’ll need this one day!” items. But do you really need to keep the box of every mobile device or tablet you’ve purchased over the years? Clearing out your space of unnecessary items is a great first step to preparing your home for sale. Categorising your clutter into groups like rubbish/recycling, donation/sale, and keep/store can help keep you organised and quickly get through the clean-up process.

2. Refresh - It’s cheap! Making minor adjustments to a room can completely change how it’s received. Do basic home repairs like replacing old fixtures, fixing leaky faucets, and tightening loose doorknobs. You can also spruce up a room by rearranging the furniture or adding a fresh coat of paint. Focussing on one room at a time is a great way to break up the tasks and organise your refreshing process.

3. Landscaping & Curb Appeal - Make it pretty! Naturally, the outside of a property is the first thing a potential buyer sees and the outside should be as refreshed as the inside. Make sure the lawn is well maintained and the trees and hedges trimmed. Powerwashing is a great and effective way to clean driveways, decks, and walls. And don’t forget to clean the windows for a natural way to brighten up your house. If you maintain your property as best as possible, it will be the most attractive of anything comparable to it. Not only will your property look good in person, but it will also stand out in any photos taken. This leads us to...

4. Photography - Show it off! Now that you’ve decluttered, refreshed, and got your curb appeal on point, invest in good photography. Before anyone sees your home in person, they see it online. The photos are the first impression and play a huge part for potential buyers when choosing to view your home. Make sure to get photos of the property’s best features and selling points, such as an updated kitchen, a pool, or a beautiful patio space.

5. Rentals and Guest Feedback - Make it easy! If you’re selling a second home in Barbados, it’s likely you or your buyer will want to rent the property to help offset some of the costs of running it. Many buyers will ask for past revenue, future bookings, and guest reviews before they decide to buy. Positive reviews from previous tenants and a strong book of future rentals are attractive to potential buyers.

6. Prepare inventory, accounts, and the rest - Make it quick! Prepare everything you’ll need to pass on to the attorneys once a sale is agreed upon. Provide your real estate agent with up-to-date running costs of the property, both monthly and annually. Include communal fees and what they entail, land tax, insurance, various maintenance costs, pool and garden, and an average cost of utilities. If your property is owned by a company, make sure all accounts are up to date to avoid any delays in closing.

Do you have more questions about what it takes to get your property ready for sale? Feel free to shoot me an email at muffin@barbadossothebysrealty.com.

And don’t forget to subscribe to our mailing list to be updated with my latest blog post every month.

Stay tuned!

5 Things to Love about Island-Life in Barbados

Who wants to be stranded on an island in the Caribbean with 100% chance of sunshine, a high standard of living with activities for all members of the family as well as easy and seamless connections to the rest of the world? Turns out, it’s the most idyllic dream for lots of people, especially, during the pandemic. Many travellers stayed on making longer-term commitments than the regular two-week holiday to escape the cold and cramped cities of the more developed world. But long before that, Barbados has been the destination of choice for many international travellers. Why? Well, there are infinite reasons but here are five things I love about Barbados and hopefully you will too!

1. The beach, bright blue sky and clear water

Every day (almost every day) I look up in awe of the sky and practically perfect weather we have in Barbados. We do need some rain to survive after all. Whether you prefer to watch the sunrises over the rugged East Coast and the Atlantic Ocean or the much calmer sunsets, cocktail in hand, on the West as the sun dips under the horizon of the Caribbean Sea, it doesn’t get much better than this. How lucky are we to call this “home”?!

2. The people

The weather is what brings people to Barbados but our people are what keep them coming back! Always welcoming with a big friendly smile, you can ask anyone on the street for directions if you’re lost, have a flat tire or almost any other questions you need. Actually, it’s easy to get caught up in hours of “long talk”. When it comes to your property, our people (your staff) are key to giving you peace of mind that your home is being taken care of and making your experiences on island seamless and memorable.

3. The lifestyle

For a small island of only 166 square miles, we pack a pretty good punch. When you’re thinking of a second home to spend a few months a year in, you want things to do and (maybe) people around that you can make friends with and hang out while you’re here. This is where Barbados becomes the first choice for many of our homeowners over neighbouring islands and we’re packed full of things to do throughout the year. From eclectic dining experiences to vivid beach bars and nightlife to endless watersports adventures, luxury golf and a year-round calendar of sporting activities, you won’t be disappointed as you explore Barbados.

4. The convenience of direct flights and multiple options

If you’re living on island for extended periods or just visiting, it’s always nice to have the option to travel in or out if needed without much hassle. We’re lucky to be one of the major hubs of the Caribbean with direct flights to major international cities like London, Manchester, Newcastle, Montreal, Toronto, New York, New Jersey, Miami, Charlotte, Fort Lauderdale and Munich to name a few. So, if you’re traveling for business or just a spontaneous holiday, we’re really just a few hours away!

5. The Rum, of course! (says the rum drinker)

Did you know that rum was born in Barbados over 350 years ago? Our very own Mount Gay Rum is the oldest and one of the most respected rum brands in existence. You won’t make it very far on the island without passing one of our 1,500 brightly painted rum shops which are often branded with local advertising. A popular gathering spot for locals where you’ll often find a game of dominoes being played in the corner, some have expanded deck spaces to cater for more casual sit down lunch with local dishes like souse on Saturdays and most also serve as a variety store for any basics you may need to pick up on the way home.

If you’re interested in a tour of one of our distilleries, have a look at the links below:

• FourSquare Rum Factory and Heritage Park

• Malibu Club and Visitors Centre

• Mount Gay Rum Tour & Visitors Centre

• The West Indies Rum Distillery Ltd.

• St. Nicholas Abbey

Or, if you’re keen to visit one of the rum shops on your next trip, give me a call. I’d be happy to show you some of the best spots.

Barbados is indeed a perfect destination with something for everyone. Whether it’s family, adventure, business, short-term or long-term, you’ll absolutely fall in love with this gem of the Caribbean. If Barbados is one of your favourite destinations, tell me more about your “why” when you have a minute! If you’re thinking of visiting and need some assistance making your travel plans, feel free to reach out and I’ll connect you with our reservations team; I can also show you some exceptional properties for sale in case you’re looking for a home away from home.

Hope to see you soon!