A Cozy Abode in Guatemala: Month 17 Chronicles

A Cozy Abode in Guatemala: Month 17 Chronicles

If you’re curious about where we began, I’ve put together a page with links to all our earlier posts about the house and Guatemala in general—covering topics like the cost of living and travel tips. Feel free to check out my Guatemala page.

The past month has been incredibly busy. As we signed the contracts for our first few plots and I had some serious prospects, I spent a lot of time traveling back and forth to the land, taking pictures and videos for those who wanted a closer look at individual plots. Uploading Youtube videos with Guatemalan internet is a challenge; something that usually takes five minutes can stretch to fifty. It’s frustrating, but the lovely weather makes up for it. This is also why this blog won’t turn into a vlog and why my interview on the Stacking Benjamins Podcast sounded like it was being broadcast from outer space.

Despite the challenges, I’m proud of our comprehensive website that includes prices, maps, and project descriptions. This level of detail is rare, as I found out when inquiring about a building in Guatemala City. Their website had no info, and even after several emails, I got no clear answers on prices or sizes. Luckily, despite the housing crisis, clients still come knocking even if the service isn’t great.

However, even with a good website, some people still ask for prices and sizes and aren’t satisfied when redirected to the site. This takes up a significant part of my day.

We also had to burn the land clear just like last year, which was quite a sight since it hadn’t rained in a while. But soon enough, the rains returned, making everything green again. We rushed this process because one of our buyers was planning their first construction, so we needed everything ready. Not only did we clean and weed, but we also hired the same Caterpillar company that did our roads to flatten them again and cover them with ballast for stability.

Our friend the mayor finally widened the road bordering our land and poured some ballast, after promising to do so for over a year. We’re still waiting for another machine to flatten everything, but this is great news. In just a year, we’ve seen significant improvements: an asphalt road to the back of our land, electricity brought to our eastern border, and now this.

At home, the guest house is progressing well. I had two groups of friends from France visiting, so I took a break to explore Guatemala with them. It was great to take a break, although leaving the builders in charge of the new room was stressful. I left detailed instructions, but you never know. Here’s the room design, with a bedroom and attached bathroom to the left. Clearly, I missed my calling as an architect!

While I was away, the builders sometimes borrowed materials from the nearest construction site, promising to replace them later, so my site might have served as a borrowing center. Ensuring everything was returned or that no one stole anything is tough, but I chose to have peace of mind.

During my visit to the natural pools of Semuc Champey, construction on the room continued. On Day 1, they worked on the bathroom foundation, and by Day 20, the walls were up. The new room, partly buried, is adjacent to the old house.

I’m considering moving into this new room for more privacy, separate from the guest house. It could have a roof terrace with a small kitchen, hammocks, or bean bags, and a private mini garden with a table and L-shaped seating area.

Concrete furniture, though cold at first, becomes comfortable with the right mats and is easy to clean. It also keeps pests from sneaking underneath.

As expected, I’ve been spending a lot—everyone wants cash payments. I feel like a millionaire, handing out huge stacks of bills multiple times a week. The total cost for the 12 sqm room, 6 sqm bathroom, walk-in closet, concrete bed, desk, storage cabinets, and closet, fully finished with plumbing and electricity, is $4,500 with the contractor, plus about the same for materials. The contractor is supplying the stones and wood, while I handle the rest.

Next, we’ll negotiate the roof terrace, front terrace, and deep trenches for rainwater. Working by contract is great because I can take holidays, and if the builders don’t work, it’s their problem. I hope they continue while I’m away so I don’t have to deal with the noise and dust like before.