Moving to Boquete area

[J. Don Kirby and Shellie Leon]

We will be moving to the Boquete area, specifically The Portorellios area,in Feb. 2009 and have a few questions, actually, request. I will be bringing down a 40 Ft. Container and will need a secure area to store our container until we buy some property. somewhere along the Boquete, David Hi-way will be OK.for the time being, then I will have it moved to our property when we purchase
Also, will be opening up a bank account with HSBC,down there Probably. My wife and I are retired Military, and I am also retired Civil service, and wonder if anyone there is like wise, and if they have their retirement checks deposited to a bank down there. I have contacted HSBC here, and they don't know because its two different banking systems. Considered having our funds transfered, but the transfer fees are excessive.
Thanks, Don Kirby and Shellie Leon

[J. Don Kirby and Shellie Leon]

Hey Gary, thanks for the info. Yes we put in our paperwork for our Pensionado this past July, and we used a law firm in PC. We don't expect it to come thru until after the first of the year.
We will be shipping our container out of Tampa, and I have a couple of shipping companies that have been recommended to us, but will still be open to any suggestions that anyone has to offer.
We will be buying our own container, and using it in constructing our home. I have experience in using shipping containers to construct office spaces, and recently visited a fellow up in Savanha, Ga.that constructs homes out of containers, and the look fantastic.
Thanks agian, and we hope to see you all in Feb.
Don Kirby and Shellie Leon

[Les Schee]

I own property in Volcancito and am interested in building 6 Cabins using 4/ 20ft containers stacked

i need advice and some one to oversee the project. I still live in Ocala Florida

Plan is to have some one to permanent live in one cabin and oversee the rentals till we can sell our business in Florida and move to Boquete

[Bob Wolfe]

Hi Les,

I am not a contractor or engineer, but if I am reading correctly, I would definitely advise against stacking 4 containers on one another. You could probably not get a permit for more than 2 high. The seismic activity would give the folks on the top unit a real shaking. But then again, perhaps I am misreading your plans.

[Les Schee]

The design is 2 side by side and the other 2 side by side with top stacked one container on one of the bottom ones stair steped only two floors.

[J. Don Kirby and Shellie Leon]

Hey Les, thanks for your e-mail. We just live down the road from you now in Lady Lake, so we could get together before we go down to Panama and discuss the project. Our target date for departing Florida is the middle of June, but that could slip some depending on getting the house rented. We want to get that done before we depart.
Give us a call at 362-753-1719.
Don Kirby and Shellie Leon

[Les Schee]

We would love to get together
Our # is 352-867-0973
We also own a business in Ocala called the Ocala Wine Experience 36 SW 1st Ave Ocala
Ph 352-369-9858
www.wineexperience.cc
We have live music in our wine bar Friday and Saturday night. Come in and I will buy you a drink and talk

[J. Don Kirby and Shellie Leon]

Hey Thanks Les, this week is cramed full of stuff, but I'll give you a call next week, and we can plan a get together. We have to run up to Savana to get some things from the relatives, and to take some stuff up. (The junk exchange),but will be back Monday evening.
Don and Shellie

[David Feinstein]

Hey there, I own a home in potrerillos and plan to move there within the year. My house needs soime work and I have big plans for the property. I would like to discus working with you on your project.
I am good with people and a profesional designer / landscaper.
I am prepareing now tp move to Potrerillos and will be there in november.
I expect we can mutually benifit eachother.
Dave..

[Martine Heyer]

Hi there

We moved here and bought a container here about 4 months ago.
We had the most marvellous Customs broker and got our container released within 5 days of its arrival in Colon.
Got it delivered to Boquete Pronto, and then trans-shipped our stuff.
feel free to call me for more information about all this and proper names of helpers IN Panama city
call 650 328 8269
that rings here in Boquete and if you wish I can return the call at no cost to you, thank you Vonnage.

container issues are:
1. There is no way to unload the container (full) from the truck without major breakage.
There are NO cranes of that size here in Chiriqui.
So if you buy a container (rather cheap they are in the USA) you will also have to by the wheels a much more expensive proposition, and ship them or whatever.
2. If you have the container on wheels stored somewhere you better put in a dehumidifyer pronto this needs electricity, as your property furniture and all --will mildew and rot quite happily within 2 months or less, leather, clothes, fabric upholstery mattresses will all go bye bye unless dehumidifyers are inside the container.
So other than that you are fine.
3. Most containers for sale are indeed great for homes but they are not the "sea worthy ones", so be careful with what you buy.

Now we did bring down a 40 and a 20 ft container so all is do-able, but we did just use the shipping Co's container and then got one here for our use. similar pricing here in Colon as in the USA $1300.00 to $2000.00. But once again once it sits without wheels bewar about moving it and picking up a full container is not do-able.
When you get the Co's container you have 24 hours to turn it around, so get yourself a crew of strong guys and a truck to take it to your purchased container, we unloaded 40 ft between the hours of 7 AM and 3 PM.
Customs never opened it and neither did home land security (we give great thanks for that) all came through beautifully.

ON the bank issue

I have a US HSBC account and a Panama Boquete HSBC, checks can be deposited from social security or any other source to either bank as you designate it. But best is, that you can personally transfer moneys from account to account on line, no cost to you and no waiting either. My US bank was better at explaining this that the bank here in Panama, They never use/need these services themselves, so they do not know what it is you are looking for.

Any more questions feel free to call me.

[J. Don Kirby and Shellie Leon]

Hey Martine, just sent down some photos of a container built house. Its in the photos section. My wife and I plan to build these homes in Panama, and yes we are well aware of the problems of moving these containers. I will have a special Roll-back trailer built, that will permit loading and un-loading full containers. Its done here in the states quite frequently.
I have experience building offices out of containers, so this is just another challange.
Agian thank you for all your info, and we will be in touch.
Don and Shellie

[Judy Sacco]

I would like to see those photos. Can you tell me what tab they are in so I don't have to hunt through 64 groups of photos to find them?
Thanks,
Judy

[J. Don Kirby and Shellie Leon]

Hi Judy, I have the container photo's on my page, and I will add them to the photo's section. The house I took the pics of, is in Savanah, Ga, and its currently up for sale, but my wife and I will be constructing houses of a similar type. The buyer will be able to choose any type of exterior they desire, within reason, and the interior will be drywall finishes, or similar material.Look in Tab 4 of the photo section.
Don and Shellie