Moving to Hawaii Tips
Finding the Perfect Hawaii Neighborhood
The neighborhood you choose can have a big impact on your lifestyle—safety,
available amenities, and convenience all play their part.
- Make a list of the activities available near the Hawaii neighborhood you're researching - movies, shopping centers, health club, beaches
(Hawaii boasts some of the world's best beaches) - you
engage in regularly and stores you visit frequently. See how far you would
have to travel from each Hawaii neighborhood you're considering to engaging
in your most common activities.
- Check out the local Hawaii school district. The Hawaii Department
of Education in your town can probably provide information on test scores,
class size, percentage of
students who attend college, and special enrichment programs. If you
have school-age children, also consider paying a visit to schools in
the neighborhoods you're
considering. Even if you don't have children, a house in one of Hawaii's top
school districts will be easier to sell in the future.
- Find out if the neighborhood is safe. Ask the
Honolulu Police Department (HPD) for local neighborhood crime statistics. Consider not only
the number of crimes but also the type - burglaries,
armed robberies - and the trend of increasing or decreasing crime.
Also, is crime centered in only one part of the neighborhood, such as
near a retail
area.
- Determine if one of the Hawaii neighborhoods you are looking at is economically
stable. Check with Hawaii's city economic development office to see
if income and property values in the
neighborhood are stable or rising. What is the percentage of homes
to apartments? Apartments don't necessarily diminish value, but
they do mean a more transient population. Do you see vacant Hawaii businesses
or homes that have been
for sale for months?
- See if you'll make money. Ask any one of our highly qualified Hawaii real estate agents or call the Hawaii
REALTOR association to get information about price appreciation trends in
the neighborhood. Although past performance is no guarantee of future results,
this information may give you a sense of how good an investment your home will
be. A REALTOR? or the government planning agency also may be able to tell you
about planned developments or other changes in the neighborhood - like
a new school or highway - that might affect value.
- See for yourself. Once you've narrowed
your focus to two or three neighborhoods, go there, and walk around.
Are homes tidy and well maintained?
Are streets quiet? Pick a warm day if you can and chat with people
working or playing outside. Are they friendly? Are their children to
play with your
family?
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Packing Like a Pro
- Develop a master "to do" list so you won't forget something critical.
- Sort and get rid of things you no longer want or need. Have a garage sale, donate to a charity, or recycle.
- Don't throw out everything. If your inclination is to just toss it, ask yourself how frequently
you use an item and how you'd feel if you no longer had it.
- Pack like items together. Put toys with toys, kitchen utensils with kitchen utensils.
- Decide what if anything you plan to move yourself. Precious items, such as family photos, valuable
breakables, or must-haves during the move, should probably stay with you.
- Use the right box for the item. Loose items encourage breakage.
- Put heavy items in small boxes so they're easier to lift. Keep weight under 50 lbs. if possible.
- Don't over-pack boxes and increase the chances they will break.
- Wrap every fragile item separately and pad bottom and sides of boxes.
- Label every box on all sides. You never know how they'll be stacked and you don't want to have to
move other boxes aside to find out what's there.
- Use color-coded labels to indicate which room each item should go in. Color-code a floor plan for
your new house to help movers.
- Keep your moving documents together, including phone numbers, driver's name, and van number. Also
keep your address book handy.
- Back up your computer files before moving your computer.
- Inspect each box and all furniture for damage as soon as it arrives.
- Remember, most movers won't take plants.
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Moving to Hawaii Checklist (download PDF)
Fill out
- U.S. Postal Service change-of-address forms
Redirect
- Newspaper subscriptions
- Magazine subscriptions
Advise
- Catalog companies
- Book, music, and video clubs
- Educational, religious, charitable, and fraternal organizations
Arrange to turn off, or change over
- Water
- Gas
- Phone
- Sewer
- Electric
- Cable/Satellite TV
- Garbage
Notify
- Banks
- Credit card companies
Insurance agents
- Homeowners
- Auto
- Life
- Health
Service Providers
- Internet
- Cellular Phone
- Paging Service
Delivery Services
Contact
- Doctors
- Accountant
- Dentist
- Financial Advisor
- Veterinarian
- Stock Broker
- (If you are moving a great distance away, you may need to have records transferred.)
Inform
- City, State, and Federal government agencies
- Income and property tax authorities
Update
- Driver, pet, and other license data
- Voter, vehicle, and vessel registrations
- Business permits
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