Exterior Home Maintenance Tips For Your Hawaiian Home

Many people dream of owning a coastal home in Hawaii. They imagine waking up every morning to the sound of waves crashing on the shore and being able to head straight to the beach and enjoy the beautiful sunrise. But while this idyllic lifestyle might seem grand, several challenges also come with it. So if you’ve just bought a house on one of the islands, here are exterior maintenance tips you should know about to protect your investment.

Choose the Right Siding Material

Living near the beach presents various challenges you won’t find in cities or the countryside. Although Hawaii’s weather is sunny most of the year, this doesn’t stop the waves from bringing saltwater to your home’s surface. Because of this, your siding material will have the most impact on the durability of your dwelling place.

That being said, you’ll want to avoid using metal siding on a beach house at all costs. You already know how steel badly rusts to saltwater, right? Fortunately, you’ve got plenty of other options, including:

  • Wood shake siding: Rich in color and texture. Requires consistent maintenance, though.
  • Vinyl siding: Cheap and customizable. Also durable for the most part but can give in to powerful winds without reinforcement.
  • Fiber cement siding: Imitates wood aesthetics. Exceptionally durable and effective against hurricanes. A bit prone to moisture.
  • Brick or stone siding: Offers the most resistance to saltwater and the weather. Downside: pretty expensive.

Keep in mind that no matter what exterior cladding you choose, there will always be compromises. To make the right choice, do further research and select only what fits your needs and budget.

Living near the beach presents various challenges you won’t find in cities or the countryside.

Update Your Roof

The weather in Hawaii can be pretty unpredictable. Sometimes it’s bright and cheerful, then the next moment you’re facing a downpour. This inconsistency can take its toll on your home, so it’s crucial to ensure your roof does its job.

And speaking of roofs… don’t forget about Hawaii’s high winds! They cause wear-and-tear over time. So if you want to rock aesthetics while protecting your house, clay tiles are the best option. Aside from being weatherproof, they also last longer. If you’re on a budget, a thatch roof is a better choice. Just remember that you might have to change it every three years. Other popular options include wood shingle, shakes, and slate tiles.

The weather in Hawaii can be pretty unpredictable.

Take Care of Your Gutters

It takes more than just a good roof to protect your house from water damage. Even with the best canopy possible, there’s still a chance that water will seep into your home through cracks and other openings. This is where gutters come in. They channel rainwater away from internal cavities and redirects it, so it doesn’t accumulate around your house. But just because you’ve had one installed doesn’t mean you’ve done your part already. See, many homeowners fail to realize the importance of cleaning and maintaining gutters. Get a ladder, put on your work clothes, and start removing all the gunk and junk on your gutters. This way, you won’t have to worry (at least as much) even if a storm comes your way.

It takes more than just a good roof to protect your house from water damage.

Landscape Your Yard

Exterior maintenance means more than just taking care of your home itself. You also have to work on your yard to enhance curb appeal. You never know when a potential buyer might be looking around the neighborhood or what outsiders think about your property, so do your best to ensure that it looks its best.

Having said that, landscaping can often be intimidating the first time. What plants do I get? How do I arrange them? And dozens of other concerns. Fortunately, you don’t have to go all out. Take it easy. Start with simple landscaping projects like planting perennials and covering your lawn with grass. If you won’t be moving in a long time, you should plant trees today to have more shade in the future.

You also have to work on your yard to enhance curb appeal.

Make Small Repairs Whenever You Can

When living on the coast, it’s common for your home to take damage. Saltwater is harsh on exterior surfaces, and the wind can wreak havoc on roofs or windows. But even if there are several minor issues with your house that need fixing right away (a broken window pane here, peeling paint there), don’t make any big purchases just yet! Do some research on how to DIY-fix the problem. It might just need a little caulk or something. Plus, this will give you time to consider how much work needs to be done before making expensive decisions about which renovations should happen first.

Clean Your Home’s Exterior

Alright. This might be simple and obvious, yet it’s the most practical tip on this list. Make sure your home’s exterior is clean. This means you need to sweep the walkways, garden paths, and driveway regularly. Power wash your siding, clear the roofs, and clean the windows. You also have to mow the lawn depending on how fast the grass grows. The point of this is, by keeping your exterior in tip-top shape, you’re preventing future damage from happening.

Conclusion

Home maintenance is something every homeowner must learn and do. It’ll save you time, money, and effort in the long run. Plus, a house in Hawaii is a dream come true. Many people will do anything to have what you have right now. Appreciate the blessing, treasure your investment, and take good care of it.

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8 Things To Consider Before Moving to Hawaii from California

Thousands of people move to Hawaii from all over the country and even the world every year. Everyone is looking for that slice of paradise because after all, it’s that trip to Hawaii that’s always offered on TV game shows. The fact is that moving to Hawaii is an amazing experience, the weather is perfect, the scenery is breathtaking, and it’s a wonderful place to raise kids.

But before you make the move, there are some things you should know that will help prepare you for life in paradise. Because it’s not all sunny beaches, surfing, and coconut shell margaritas in the Aloha State. Even if you’re coming from the beach neighborhoods of California, living on an island is an entirely different world altogether.

1. Life Is Slow

Being an Island State far from the mainland creates one of the most difficult obstacles that you’ll have to deal with if you’re used to getting your fix for random stuff instantly. Whether it’s simply driving across the island or having a gorgeous new dining set shipped from the mainland everything is in slow motion in Hawaii. Even if you opt for next-day shipping, in reality, it could take 2-3 days just to get there.

But that’s not the only slow thing, life in general moves at a much slower pace in the Aloha state, and with good reason. Being on such a beautiful island does have its perks of gorgeous views and scenery that you’ll never really get tired of. And you’ll quickly find out that driving in Hawaii is much slower than the California speed limit, and it’s not because of traffic.

2. Buying A House Isn’t Cheap

What does have a lot of monetary value is housing and it does not come cheap in paradise. After all, land area is a prime commodity that will only continue to get smaller and smaller as more and more people move to the island state. A small house or a condo could cost almost a million dollars, and even then you’d best not compare it to your California home or else become potentially depressed.

Moving is also going to be very expensive considering you’ll have to factor in freight, but it also offers a great opportunity to pare down and start with a clean slate. You will be able to find movers like this local moving company in California that services move to Hawaii, but it’s a good idea to bring as few items as possible.

Houses in Hawaii are not cheap.

3. You’ll Never Be “Hawaiian”

It takes Hawai’ian blood to be Hawai’ian. Even if you can say that you attended one of the high schools, you’re still not a native. A resident, yes, but keep in mind that you should still always be polite, show respect, and don’t act like you own Hawaii just because you own a house.

That’s not to say that the native population despises you for coming from California or any other mainland state. It’s not any different than in Los Angeles or San Francisco, of course, there are shady neighborhoods and places where you may not feel safe. But the general population is very friendly and somewhat much happier as well because of the laid-back island lifestyle that just puts a smile on your face.

4. It’s Not Heaven on Earth

Sure it’s an island paradise, but that doesn’t make it immune to the harsh reality of the world. People do still get sick, there’s unemployment and homelessness, and of course, neighbors and drivers will have a few squabbles or road rage.

Hawaii also has crime and other typical incidents you’ll find in any city in the country. Although it’s good to know that it’s one of the lowest violent crime rates among the Pacific-coast states sharing the title with Washington and Oregon.

The islands do experience rainy seasons.

5. Get Ready for Random Rain

Although it rains pretty regularly across the islands, it doesn’t take long for the sun to come out, so taking a breather while waiting for the rain to stop is more of the local way than braving the wet with an umbrella.

The problem with the rain is that everything is wet and damp. There are some neighborhoods where you barely see a dry rooftop for days. The sloping valleys and hills of other areas can also result in lush, windy environments where others are a bit hotter and drier. Hawaii is home to a host of microclimates, where one island can be very different from its neighbor.

6. Rust Is Your New Friend

Living close to the salty ocean and having rainfall almost every day means that you’re going to battle rust regularly. This may be one reason why others don’t take too long before packing up and going back to the mainland, but it’s more of a first-world problem than anything.

Sure it means you’re going to be repainting your home and replacing hinges more often than if you were in California, but that’s one of the caveats when you live in an island paradise. Inevitably nothing lasts forever, just don’t expect anything made of metal to last as long as they would back in the mainland.

7. You May Not Live On The Beach

Maybe for the first few weeks or even months but the reality of living on an island doesn’t mean sitting on the beach sipping on coconut drinks while working on your laptop. It’s just like any other city where you’ll spend a lot of time indoors in your home office or within a building.

Of course, you’ll have gorgeous views of the ocean and beach practically from any window but you’ll soon realize that it’s not every day that you get to walk barefoot along the sandy beach or hang ten on the waves. You do have the option and it’s not like you’ll ever get bored of it, it’s just that even if the lifestyle pace is slower in Hawaii, it’s still a city that keeps moving forward.

Time to face reality. You’ve got other things to do, too. Make sure you take care of the priority list!

8. Everyone Wants To Visit

Being the family member or friend that lives on an island paradise means that everyone will want to visit at least once. Everyone loves the idea of going to Hawaii, and since you’re the one that lives there permanently you’ll end up having to guide people around all the tourist spots whenever they visit.

For the first couple of years be prepared to play host quite a lot but as the idea gets older and most have already visited at least once, you’ll only be seeing a visitor maybe once or twice a year. Of course, you can always visit them instead and see how the miserable continental lifestyle is treating them. When you get back to Hawaii, you’ll truly feel at home in your cozy island paradise.

Complete Guide to Shipping Your Car to the Islands

Have you ever dreamed of living in Hawaii? It’s a paradise on Earth with gorgeous landscapes, warm weather, glorious beaches, and friendly people. Life here is the dream! But it can be pretty tricky to hop from island to island without a vehicle. If you’re not sure how to get your auto over there, take heart! Here’s a complete guide on the process of shipping a car all the way to Honolulu. 

Look at that gorgeous place!

How Much Does It Cost to Transport a Car to Hawaii?

Distance is the biggest wall when it comes to bringing a car over to an island. Not only is Hawaii far, but it’s in the middle of the Pacific! This means land transport will be out of the equation! In general, shipping a car to the island typically costs between $1,500 and $5000.

The factors that can affect the price include:

  • Vehicle model and size.
  • The present location of the car.
  • Where in Hawaii it will be shipped.
  • How fast you want the car to be delivered.
  • Method of transport.

Naturally, it would cost you more to ship your car via air, expedite the delivery, or move large vehicles like an SUV or luxurious ones such as a Ferrari.

How Long Does It Take to Ship a Car to Hawaii?

Depending on where you live, Hawaii is 3000 – 3700 miles away from the U.S.! That’s why you need to prepare yourself for the wait longer than you would for an average shipment. In addition to that, here are the expected timeframes for car shipping via sea transport:

  • Washington D.C. – about 3 weeks to Hawaii.
  • Miami – about 3 weeks to Hawaii.
  • Chicago – also 3 weeks to Hawaii.
  • San Francisco – takes about 2 weeks to Hawaii.
  • Dallas – 2 and a half weeks to Hawaii.
  • Seattle – 2 and a half weeks to Hawaii.

As for air freight, you can expect your car to arrive in a few days. This is because it will have to be delivered to the airport first and undergo strict inspection and preparation before being loaded into the plane. 

Step-by-step Guide to Shipping a Car to Hawaii

The entire thing isn’t any different from your typical car shipping process. Just note that there will be some added details. Here’s how you can do it:

  • Obtain multiple quotes: When it comes to options, two is better than one. Three is even better! Reach out to different companies and compare their prices, services, and customer service. This way, you will be able to find the right one to fit your needs and budget.
  • Do further research: Once you’ve found a potential shipping company, take the extra mile to find out if it’s legitimate or not. Check reviews, ask for proof of their licenses, and evaluate their online presence.
  • Book a schedule: After you’ve made sure that your company can be trusted, it’s time to start the process. Call the company and ask them about the specifics on how to ship your car. You will have to provide substantial documentation that includes car ownership, vehicle make, condition reports, and identification.
  • Prepare your car for shipping:
  • Get the car cleaned. Wash it so it looks best before and after delivery.
  • Remove all personal items from the car. Don’t risk losing important stuff since insurance clearly won’t cover these things.
  • Have a mechanic perform maintenance. This helps ensure that the vehicle is in perfect condition, and you’ll know if something is wrong with your car once it arrives.
  • Document everything: Take photos of pre-existing scratches and report any mechanical issue to your shipping company. Don’t forget to include date stamps.
  • Drain the fuel tank to a quarter. This will help avoid delays and accidents since a full gas tank violates safety protocols.
  • Disable the alarms. This will help save the driver some inconvenience in case it pops off during transit.
  • Be patient: Again, shipping a car to Hawaii will take a while. It can be frustrating to wait, so make sure you talk with your carrier about how you can keep track of the progress.
  • Pick up your car at the port. Typically, there are four ports where you will be expecting your car to arrive: Honolulu, Hilo, Kahului, or Nawiliwili.
  •  Check your car: Before you deem the process complete, make sure to do a full inspection of your vehicle. Keep an eye out for scratches, dents, or any marks. Do a test run with the driver and see if anything feels off. Finally, ask for a vehicle condition report.

You’re finally, officially, done!

And you’re done! Congratulations on finally sending your car over to Hawaii. It wasn’t easy, but you did it at last. Now, remember that the operation’s success will greatly depend on your shipping company. Make sure you choose the right one!

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