Knowing the advantages of owning a beachfront property can be a tantalizing prospect. Ocean views enjoyed by those living by the sea never go old and have bright opportunities for investment as a leisure resort destination.
But there is also a set of less desirable characteristics associated with living near the beach or facing the ocean.
Natural calamities
Regardless of where you are in the Philippines, catastrophes such as typhoons and flooding can occur everywhere. But the damage can be more pronounced, and risk is higher among those who live near rivers or large bodies of water, especially when super typhoons strike.
Living by the sea is no exception as tidal swells and rising sea levels during inclement weather conditions such as tropical depressions or typhoons can easily damage or even destroy your seaside property.
Although we often enjoy the peaceful atmosphere in a serene beachfront life, we don’t want to witness the other side of nature and how it can wreak havoc into our homes.
Sandy home floor
Sand is a naturally occurring element on beaches, and if you live by the sea, chances are you’ll get that sandy feel beneath your feet at home. While it’s more annoying than destructive, you’d wish it was easy to get rid of grains of sand to keep your home neat and tidy.
Whether you have an outdoor shower or not, you need to train your visitors in the practice of de-sanding their feet before they come inside. Not everyone may do it properly, so expect to do extra work maintaining a pristine floor and general interior of the house.
Visitor noise and inconvenience
In many cases, living in a beachfront property also exposes your vicinity to tourists and beachgoers. The natural attraction to the beach easily translates to unwanted sound and disturbance throughout the day, sometimes deep in the night. Worse, litterbugs and possibly intrusion of privacy from trespassers might also occur. This is especially common when you live next to a private resort that accommodates day guests.
Not everyone can enjoy the pleasures of seaside residence, so don’t be surprised to get a request from a friend or family relative who wishes to stay and experience living by the sea for a short vacation.
In most cases, you’d be happy to accommodate, as any hospitable host would do. But there might be a time when you are unprepared to host or have other priorities to look after. This makes it awkward to say no to such requests if you are not used to doing so. It could appear as though living by the sea can also be a curse as much as it’s a blessing.
Corrosive sea spray
The salty air coming from the sea breeze has destructive properties that can cause damage to your home appliances such as refrigerators and electronic equipment.
Parking near the beach can have an adverse effect on your car or any motor vehicle. Seaspray and tiny salt particles in the air can be corrosive to your car’s finish and even its internal parts.
Costly preventive maintenance
Development costs for beachfront properties are higher due to the extra expenses needed to extend their lifespan. Insulation from the impact of the sea breeze (such as the corrosive sea spray mentioned above) plus expenses in maintaining a specialized sewerage system, as required by law.
This also means more expensive construction costs to better protect your property and insulation for appliances and motor vehicles.
Expensive insurance coverage
In anticipation of added risks of flood, typhoon, or any property damage, you need to pay higher insurance premiums for your beachfront property that’s likely higher than a typical residential unit far from the sea.
The rise in sea levels
Whether you are on the global warming bandwagon or not, there is an overwhelming amount of evidence that sea levels are rising. If your house is built close to the beach and touches the waves of the sea, be prepared to take measures as the sea levels rise and its associated hazards.
Conclusion
As attractive as it looks, owning a home close to the beach also presents a list of issues often not detected by merely looking at the property and marveling at the majestic views. If you are still keen on getting a beachfront home, the above challenges can and should be used to your advantage to better bargain about its property value.
