If you have been following the Chattel Houses blog or the Instagram page, you would know that I bought my first chattel house at the end of 2025. The home features a modern chattel house design which was popularized in the 1980s and 1990s.
This is my first renovation, and I made the decision when I was finalising the purchase, to make functional, yet beautiful updates. To be fair, the home was livable when I bought it, but I wanted to make it mine, whilst still maintaining the character.
Embarking on a renovation, is not for you if you are not willing to work hard. When I hired a surveyor/ valuer, I told him exactly what I wanted. He then incorporated that information into his valuation and provided estimates of what it would cost to achieve my home goals.
This became my starting point and was the basis upon which I acquired funding to complete the renovation. I’m not sure if that is the norm, but I am a PMP certified project manager, and I believe this worked in my favour. There’s more to this, but I will explain a bit later.
The Perfect Opportunity
This journey began many years ago, around the time I started the Chattel Houses IG page. I discovered a love for the chattel house – the various structures, ingenuity of the designs and their history. I began a quest to search for and purchase a chattel house.
The search was largely unfruitful, and I had given up hope. The next step would be to find a nice piece of land and build my own chattel house.
However, a family member announced that she was selling a property with a chattel house on it. I was familiar with the home, so I visited it to see what condition it was in and if it made sense. At this point, the house had been vacant for over 10 years, and I was nervous about what I would find inside.
It was in excellent condition. There were no leaks, no termite infestations, or any structural issues. In fact, the biggest concern was the grass and vegetation that grew around the house. I would later learn from my valuer, that the home was likely constructed with a hard wood, probably greenheart.
My family member stated her price, I made my offer, we agreed and I was on my way.
The Renovation
The story of the renovation begins with the original bones of the home. The house is approximately 900 square feet and consists of three bedrooms, one bathroom, kitchen, living room and dining room. I decided very early in the process that I would not change the footprint of the home.
My reasoning was determined by the cost and work associated with an extension (digging a foundation, buying blocks, cement, steel and overseeing a team of workmen etc.) and the hassle of seeking permission from the town planning department.
No. I wanted the smoothest path to upgrading the home and I chose to avoid all of that.
Renovation Plan
The renovation plan is simple. I will have to:
- Replace rotting boards
- Remove the partitions between the living room, dining room and kitchen
- Create a ceiling space that would provide access to electrical wiring
- Upgrade the electrical wiring to modern standards
- Add a laundry closet that will house a washing machine and dryer
- Add a second full bathroom with shower
- Renovate the existing bathroom
- Upgrade the kitchen and change the layout
- Block out the doorways linking the bedrooms
- Replace glass louvres with sash windows
- Repair broken windows and have all windows serviced
- Change the front and side entry doors *this was a painful decision
- Repair the property fence, remove galvanise paling and add new fencing
- Repair cracks in front guard wall
- Replace wooden balustrades in patio and by steps
- Landscape the property with tropical plants
- Paint the interior and exterior
- Tile the bathrooms, kitchen, patio and side and back steps
- Add hurricane straps to the roof
- Install a solar water heater
My budget to complete these tasks is BBD $50,000. Based on the surveyor’s estimates, this would be just enough to cover the major tasks on the list.
After I created a list and broke down each to-do item into a work package, I secured actual estimates for each package and identified potential contractors.
However, the biggest issue was that I cannot devote time to Project Bird. I have a full-time job, and I know I will not be able to manage the project effectively. I will likely need the services of a Project Manager.
Saving Money by Taking on Tasks
Because hiring a project manager will cause large ripples in my budget, there are some items that I will have to undertake or find alternative options to save money:
- Painting (choosing colours, renting paint sprayer and painting)
- Landscaping (creating a landscape plan, sourcing plants and planting them)
- Fencing (use DIY fencing panels to secure the property)
- Tiling (this is a stretch, but I must try it)
Another plan to save money is to shop around for deals. Many stores share deals at the end of the month or around bank holidays in Barbados. I hope to find good deals on paint, tiles, bathroom fittings, windows and doors.
To save money on the kitchen, I will opt for a simple cabinet design which utilises ready made doors. I will also use tiles for the countertop instead of buying granite or marble.
Embarking on a Journey
Renovating a home is a journey. You have a starting point, which is the house when you buy it and you have an ending, which is your renovated property. The space in between those two points is where there are tears, frustrations and laughter. Although it’s very early in the process, things are going well. I hope that my plans can make this project come to fruition with the visions that I have.
Anyone interested in renovating a chattel house in Barbados, can follow the project, which will be known as Project Bird going forward. Feel free to reach out on Instagram for advice and insights.
Related Posts
- I Bought My First Chattel House
- Fresh and Clean: What is a Bidet, and Should I Get One
- How to Find a Good Contractor to Build Your Home
