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On Friday Jan 7, 2010 at my job I was given 24 hours to choose a transfer to Honolulu, HI or go off payroll. Within the next 3 to 4 weeks I will be reporting to work In Hawaii. With such short notice I would love some recommendations reasonable priced hotels , cost of living in central Oahu and any other info you can provide.
I currently live in NY state and reside in 3 bedroom 1700 square foot. I will be listing my current cost of living and would like to what could I expect to be paying in places like Aiea, Pearl City, Kailua, Kaneohe, and Wahiawa. Single 35+ woman looking for 1 bdrm/1 ba rental for 1 yr min. What utilities are included and what will I be expected to pay. Monthy Bills
Rent=$1100
Electricity=$153 for 612 KW for Dec ( I used a heater at night)
Gas=$24 for 2 therms
*Car loan=$362
*Student loan=$365
*Cell phone=$70
Car insurance=$124 2009 Honda Accord LX-P
Cable, Internet and Phone=$130 (high speed internet 20 mb/s up &down)
Savings=$200
Everything else=$800 Total=$3328
* these bills will remain the same.
Income will drop after taxes to approx $3000.
Within the next week I will fly into Oahu to look for place to live.I will be staying from 6 to 10 days . I would appreciate any suggestion on reasonable priced and safe accommodations. Also need info shipping good from NY to HI .
My employer will will subsidize some of the cost and the rest will come out of my pocket.
Relocation cost:
Ship Car: $2000-2750
Ship property: ?????? (bed, media chest, desktop computer, 42 inch tv and clothing, linen)
Round trip ticket to look for housing:?????
Round trip or One way to move permanently:?????
Security Deposit: ?????
Hotel Accommodations:??????
I'm on the Big Island, so I can't comment on Oahu specifically, but I'll hit a few general points.
Even if your move was being paid for, I'd still advise you to sell off as much stuff as you can and move only the hard core essentials, i.e. bring the computer, sell the desk; bring the linen, sell the bed, bring the little stuff, get rid of the big stuff. In general Hawai'ian places are smaller than mainland, plus you're downsizing already from 3 bedroom to one bedroom, so get rid of everything you can. Mainland furniture often doesn't do well in the heat and humidity of Hawai'i. Veneered particleboard, in particular (most IKEA stuff) often doesn't last long here.
The good news is that so many people are always moving back to the mainland that you can replace most things you need quite reasonably at moving sales, garage sales, thrift shops, etc.
The bottom line is, don't try to bring your lifestyle with you. Instead, move into Hawai'ian lifestyle wholeheartedly. Everything is different here. Everything. And most things on your monthly expense list, like packaged food and gas and electricity cost more here.
Also, instead of a return ticket, establish a "return ticket fund" for yourself, and put an amount in it equal at least to the highest fare you've seen for the trip, then don't touch it for any other reason! But yes to making a scouting trip first. You'll learn a lot that will help you decide what to do about the move.
Also, spend as much time as you can reading the back pages here. There's a wealth of information already posted about each of your questions.
Are you saying that your take home pay will only be about $3000 a month? That is hardly enough to live on very well at all in Hawaii (and many other places). Maybe I'm misreading your post?
Don't bring anything except your computer and about 25% of the clothes you currently have, minus all the "cold weather" stuff. Store what mementos and keepsakes you treasure - you can always send for t hem later, or they'll be there when you return. Sell the car and buy another one here, save you alot of expense and headache unless you have a fairly new car and can't get what you owe out of it.
Security deposits typically are the equivalent of 1 month's rent minus GE tax. No other deposits are allowed under Hawaii law. Other usual policies of property managers is 2 to 3 times the rent in gross monthly income, a decent credit report with a FICO of 650 and no major derogatory entries, good rental history is helpful too.
What type of work do you do?
Oh, and keep very good records of all your expenses whether they're met by your employer or not. You will definitely want a good Tax person doing your taxes next year because of t his move.
Don't bring anything except your computer and about 25% of the clothes you currently have, minus all the "cold weather" stuff. Store what mementos and keepsakes you treasure - you can always send for t hem later, or they'll be there when you return. Sell the car and buy another one here, save you alot of expense and headache unless you have a fairly new car and can't get what you owe out of it.
I disagree with this to a point... you said your employer would help with relocation expenses. Most likely, they will not help with buying new (or used... new to you) stuff when you arrive. I was in this same situation. What I suggest:
- Get in writing the maximum they will spend on your relo, and any restrictions on what can be covered. (For example, my employer would cover the cost of flying my pets here, but not all the expense related to the dept of ag regulations, not even the $185 fee the dept of ag charges.)
- Figure out how to max out what they will give you, and spend as little of your own money as possible.
In my case, I was given $8K to move from the East Coast. I brought my car (drove to CA and shipped), my husband & self, my pets, some bikes (as baggage on the plane), and I shipped a small ABF U-Pack cube. I put in it sentimental stuff that I didn't want to part with, but it really doesn't hold much... not nearly a household full of stuff. I also shipped a bunch of books media rate.
When I got here, I furnished with Craigslist and at the hotel re-sale places for really cheap. But it was worth it to me to bring the stuff I really cared about, since it only cost me a few hundred dollars in the end.
By the way, you do have this offer from them with the moving expenses detail in writing, don't you? If not, I would not so much as price an airline ticket until I had that in my hot little hand. Giving you this very dramatic indeed, "choice" with only 24 hours to think makes me suspicious of them in general.
I have a couple of RE friends on Oahu, one is a broker who does a lot of property management and rentals, so if you want her name & number, let me know. I wish you well.
I disagree with this to a point... you said your employer would help with relocation expenses. Most likely, they will not help with buying new (or used... new to you) stuff when you arrive. I was in this same situation. What I suggest:
- Get in writing the maximum they will spend on your relo, and any restrictions on what can be covered. (For example, my employer would cover the cost of flying my pets here, but not all the expense related to the dept of ag regulations, not even the $185 fee the dept of ag charges.)
- Figure out how to max out what they will give you, and spend as little of your own money as possible.
In my case, I was given $8K to move from the East Coast. I brought my car (drove to CA and shipped), my husband & self, my pets, some bikes (as baggage on the plane), and I shipped a small ABF U-Pack cube. I put in it sentimental stuff that I didn't want to part with, but it really doesn't hold much... not nearly a household full of stuff. I also shipped a bunch of books media rate.
When I got here, I furnished with Craigslist and at the hotel re-sale places for really cheap. But it was worth it to me to bring the stuff I really cared about, since it only cost me a few hundred dollars in the end.
I work under a union contract. Per my contract I get 13000 minus taxes ( fed, NY & Fica). All I have to provide to the relocation company is an apartment lease within 45 days of the move. I will get the money within 7 to 10 days of talking with relocation specialist. No restriction on the money other than having to complete the move.
I have a couple of RE friends on Oahu, one is a broker who does a lot of property management and rentals, so if you want her name & number, let me know. I wish you well.[/quote]
Thank You. I would like have the broker name and number.
I have a 1bd rm in mililani mauka that I will be renting ending of this month. It's only three years old and Im looking for someone responsible that will
care for the place. I'm looking at 1400 a month but will be willing to negotiate in order to get the right person. Specifics can be discussed later. If interested please
let me know. Mahalo Kane. [email]Hawaiianforce@aol.com[/email]
Location: Was in Western New York but now in Hilo Hawaii
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mdand3boys
It might be worth it in your case to sell the car before you move and buy something else here. Shipping a car from NY adds a lot to the expense.
Shipping a car from NY a little more than doubles the price than say from Cale. I did both shipped one from NY and drove one and shipped it from Long Beach Cal.
If you need a recommendation just pm me and i will give you the names.
Koa
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