“If I could do it over, I’d pad my budget by at least 20% for those ‘just in case’ moments.”
Man, 20% is generous—my rule of thumb is closer to 30% for beach properties. Salt air is like the Terminator: it absolutely will not stop, ever, until your fixtures are dust. I learned the hard way after my “bargain” deck hardware turned into a science experiment in rust. Out of curiosity, did you run into any issues with insurance or flood zone requirements? That’s another sneaky budget killer I’ve seen trip people up.
Salt air is like the Terminator: it absolutely will not stop, ever, until your fixtures are dust.
That’s the truth. I underestimated how fast things corrode—my outdoor showerhead lasted maybe a year before it looked like a relic. And yeah, insurance was a shocker. Flood zone stuff added way more to my costs than I expected. Definitely worth padding the budget, even if it feels like overkill at first.
Yeah, the salt air is brutal. I replaced all the exterior door hardware with “marine grade” stuff thinking it’d last forever, but nope—two years in, I’m already seeing pitting and rust. I guess nothing’s really safe out here unless it’s plastic or teak. I’ve also noticed that even the HVAC system seems to be struggling more than I expected, probably from all the humidity.
On the insurance front, I was surprised by how much the flood zone rating can swing things. My neighbor said their premium jumped after a new FEMA map came out. Did you end up going for any extra coverage for wind or storm damage, or just the basics? I’m trying to figure out if it’s worth adding all those riders or if it’s just overkill.
Yeah, the salt air really does a number on everything, even the stuff that’s supposed to be “marine grade.” I’ve seen stainless hardware corrode faster than you’d think. For HVAC, make sure you’re getting regular coil cleanings—humidity and salt can wreck those units in no time. On insurance, I usually suggest folks at least look into wind and storm riders. It adds up, but after seeing a few clients get burned by uncovered damage, I’d say it’s better safe than sorry, especially near the water.
I get where you’re coming from on the insurance, but honestly, I’ve found some of those wind and storm riders can be a bit of a money pit, especially if you’re not right on the water. My neighbor paid for years and never saw a dime back after a storm—just something to weigh against the peace of mind. As for the HVAC, totally agree—my last unit basically rusted out from the inside after just a couple seasons. Now I just budget for a replacement every few years, sad as that sounds.
