The cost of shipping (determined by weight and size) is expensive as you will soon find out. It may be cheaper to get new local appliances. Parts for local appliances may be easier to source if service is needed. Most NA stoves do not fit in the allocated space for such an appliance in Dominican Kitchens. 220V appliances such as stoves/ovens, clothes driers may not have a 220V power source where you want to place these. After paying a premium to ship your whiz-bang KitcheAid electric range here, it can be a tad disappointing when the ants eat through the wire insulation shorting out the control board. A replacement board to restore functionality to the appliance will not be cheap or conveniently available.
The humidity and insects are murder on NA fabrics and wood products. Everything molds up and deteriorates quickly in the tropics. It is often more practical to furnish using local materials that have been shown to last longer than paying to ship your favorite couch from home. One will be able to sell their good furniture at home for far more $$$ than they would be able to get here. Use this money to offset the replacement costs here after your arrival.
Just my opinion offered solely as something to consider. As always people a free to do whatever they want. Most will not think to consider what happens to that nice teak dinning room table when it goes from 30% humidity to a place where the humidity is always north of 80%. When it splits down the middle, the wood worms will thank you.
If I had it to do again, I would import more large items including appliances and TVs. I moved a 40 foot container and did so primarily because of my music related equipment.
I recently purchased a new refrigerator and saved hundreds by using a door to door shipper over purchasing the exact same model here. A couple of years ago, I had the same situation when I imported a back up generator. If I need parts I cannot get here, I order them. Parts availability and local "service" are hard to come by for many products that are sold here. So if you thnk you are secure by purchasing locally, that would be naive.
Teak, by the way, is a wood known for its durability and water resistance. If I had a teak table I would definitely include it in a move here. Teak is also resistant to insects.
The Teak Tree, or Tectona, is one of the tropical hardwood birches, included in the family Verbenaceae. This tree is originally from the plantations of South East Asia, and can grow to a height of 30 - 40 m. As part of its life cycle, this tree sheds its leaves every year at dry season. Its longevity is very great, the Teak tree often living to an age of 100 years. Teak is especially noted for its capacity to withstand changes in the weather and season. One of the reasons for this is the ability of the Teak to bend, but not break, in the face of high winds.
Also, the Teak tree resin typically has an oil in its Galih (Cambium/heartwood) that is highly water resistant. This content alone can protect the Teak from decay, insects, and bacteria. At the same time, the combination of unique Teak tree content and thick fibers make it easier to cut and then later sculpt into pleasing forms. Because of this special characteristic, not found in other trees, there has always been interest in using Teak wood for various types of furniture. The teak trees found in South-East Asia forests reach a height of up to 150 feet, have reddish-green leaves with rough skin, and heartwood that is brown to dark gold in color. Of the main teak producers in the area, Indonesia, India, Myanmar, Philippine, and Malaysia, Indonesia's teak is considered of the highest quality in the world.
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