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10 Important Things Texans Moving to Arizona Need to Know

August 14, 2024

Texas is a powerhouse in its own right, but many Texans find themselves drawn to the unique allure of Arizona. With both states boasting expansive landscapes and rich histories, the differences start to sharpen once you cross the border. For Texans contemplating a move to the Grand Canyon State, understanding these nuances can make the transition smoother and more enjoyable.

Arizona isn’t just a retirement haven or a backdrop for picturesque sunsets; it’s a dynamic state with a strong job market, diverse cultural experiences, and an outdoor lifestyle that can be more rugged than what many Texans are used to. Texans heading to Arizona face a learning curve, from adapting to the arid climate to navigating a housing market influenced by rapid growth and tourism.

This shift isn’t just about swapping state lines. It’s about embracing an entirely new way of life, where desert drives replace hill country, and saguaros become as familiar as oaks. For many, planning a trip to Arizona can turn from a holiday getaway to a relocation plan.

However, the influx from Texas and beyond has its challenges and here’s why. As newcomers pour in, housing demands have soared, with areas like Phoenix and Scottsdale seeing prices climb. This surge has reshaped communities and fueled a market where short-term rentals are increasingly common, impacting long-term residents and altering the local landscape.

Navigating these changes requires awareness and respect for the new surroundings—traits that will not only ease the transition for Texans but also enrich their Arizona experience. So, before you make the leap, here are 15 must know things about Arizona:

1. Say Goodbye to Texas Twisters, Hello Sizzling Suns!

Arizona’s sun blazes brighter and longer than the Lone Star State’s—get ready to swap your tornado shelter for a sun hat and gallons of sunscreen!

2. Dry Heat Over Humid Heat

Forget the muggy Texas mornings; Arizona’s dry heat is a whole new world. You might miss the humidity on your skin, but your hair will thank you!

3. Tax Break Fiesta!

Just like Texas, Arizona loves keeping your income tax to itself. More cash for cacti and convertibles!

4. Desert Magic Awaits

From the mystical saguaros to breathtaking canyons, Arizona’s landscapes promise adventures that are out of this world!

5. Job Opportunities Galore!

Techies, healers, and educators—Arizona’s job market is as hot as its summers. Get ready to launch your career into the stratosphere!

6. A Cultural Melting Pot

Arizona is a tapestry of Native American, Hispanic, and modern American cultures. Dive into a cultural fiesta like no other!

7. Real Estate Rollercoaster

From affordable homes to luxe retreats in places like Sedona, Arizona’s housing market is as varied as its landscapes.

8. Water is Gold

Every drop counts in the desert! Embrace a lifestyle of water wisdom and conservation.

9. Retiree Paradise

Imagine your golden years basking in sun and tranquility—Arizona is a haven for retirees with its endless sunny days.

10. Outdoor Extravaganza

Whether it’s hiking, biking, or star-gazing, Arizona’s natural beauty offers endless outdoor escapades for every adventurer.

11. Academic Excellence

With institutions like Arizona State University, the state is a beacon of knowledge and innovation. Hit the books in the sun!

12. Snow in the Desert?

Yes, it snows here! Northern Arizona flips the script with its snowy winters, offering a chilly surprise to those who venture north.

13. Solar Power Stronghold

Harness the power of the sun! Arizona’s sunny days make it a leader in solar energy—good for the planet and your wallet.

14. Flora and Fauna Wonderland

From coyotes to Joshua trees, Arizona’s wildlife and plant life offer a stark, stunning contrast to Texas’ plains.

15. Gateway to the West

Road trip alert! Arizona’s prime location offers gateways to California, Nevada, and more. Perfect for weekend explorations.

Things to Know When Moving Furniture from State to State

August 1, 2018

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If you’re moving to another state, especially if this is your first move, there are a few steps to making the process go smoothly. If your employer is paying for your furniture to be shipped, you can expect some help. If you’re paying your own way, you’ll want to do all you can to make to make the most of your time and money.

Six Steps to an Organized Move

1. Plan.

As soon as you find out about the move, get a checklist that covers all your bases. Most moving companies have information to help you plan. A spiral notebook is a good idea to hold your notes. Just punch holes in the info you collect and keep it in one place.

2. Research.

Find moving companies, make calls, and read reviews. Ask for quotes and find out exactly what to expect. Ask if they are available on the dates of your move. Examine your belongings. Sell or donate furniture you don’t want to move. Make a list of what you want to take so you’ll know what to tell the movers when they estimate the space you’ll need.

3. Choose a mover.

Decide if you’ll move by yourself or hire a professional to do some or all the work for you. Movers can show up with all the materials you need, pack everything, load it, deliver it to your new home, and then unpack it. Or you can hire them to do some of those things. Much will depend on your budget and schedule.

A move that crosses state lines will cost more than one within your state.

4. Check references.

If you hire professionals, ask for references, check reviews, and make sure the movers are licensed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Cross-state moves require companies to be licensed and display their identification number from the U.S. Department of Transportation. They are also required to settle disputes, tell homeowners about their rights, provide an accurate description of their claims process, and provide a phone number to consumers.

5. Get bids.

If you decide not to handle your own move, get bids from three or more companies. Ask for a binding and nonbinding estimate. One is a guaranteed price; the other is an estimate that can go up if the weight is heavier than expected. Ask about a special contract that lets you pay the lower amount if the move ends up costing less than the non-binding estimate. Ask about the different kinds of insurance and find out how much each one will pay.

6. Decide what you will pack and move.

You will need to set aside the items you need during or immediately after the move and pack them yourself. Once the movers arrive, you won’t have time to make these decisions. When you pack fragile items, follow directions from a good moving company. Use good packing materials, organize the items according to use or location, and label the boxes so you can find what you need when you get to your new place.

Best Tips on How to Efficiently Pack a Self-Storage Unit

March 31, 2018

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Using a self-storage unit is sometimes necessary and can be cheaper than the alternative of hiring an apartment moving service. You may have to vacate your previous home, before your new home is ready, for example. Whatever the reason for renting storage, it’s important to know how best to pack your belongings into the storage unit to maximize the use of the space and to protect your items from damage.

1. Lay Down Pallets

This is especially important if you live in an area that receives regular rain or snowfall (not likely here unless it’s monsoon season!). There’s no telling if water will be able to leak into the unit, so setting wooden pallets down first will protect your items. For just a few bucks, you can get enough pallets to create a barrier between your things and the floor. Unless the flooding is excessive, this will be enough to protect your things from water damage.

2. Wrap Everything in Plastic

Many moving and storage businesses sell industrial size shrink wrap rolls. There are a few reasons you should consider investing in some. Wrapping your boxes and furniture in plastic will protect everything from accumulating dust and debris, while it sits in storage. Additionally, the plastic wrapping will protect against insects and rodents hitching a ride.

3. Stick with the Same Size of Box

Limit your boxes to just one or two sizes so that you can pack the unit more efficiently. This will make it easier to stack them, allowing you to take advantage of the height of the unit. On that note, make sure all of your boxes are fully packed, even if it means stuffing half of the box with foam or bubble wrap. A partially packed box will be weaker and may crush under the weight of other boxes.

4. Create an Inventory List

Even if you label each box, you’ll want to keep a separate list that you can access from home. This list should detail every item you have in the storage unit, and it may be wise to add the estimated value of each item. This will help you keep track of everything you have in the unit in case something is needed, before completing your move. Also, this will help with a claim for damages, if the unit gets flooded or destroyed. Thankfully, there are plenty of apps you can use to easily create your inventory and keep track of things.

5. Renters Insurance

Just like apartments, renters insurance can protect your things in a self-storage unit. Even if you only intend to use the unit for a short term, it’s still wise to invest in some insurance to protect your valuables. There’s no telling when a natural disaster may strike, destroying your belongings.

6. Pack Furniture First

By moving your furniture into the storage unit first, they will be in the back and out of the way. This will make it easier to get at the boxes if you need access to some of your belongings. Additionally, large flat pieces, like headboards and table tops, can provide stabilizing support for stacking boxes.

By organizing the way you pack your things into the unit, you can take the most advantage of the available space. This can be helpful, especially if you have a tremendous amount of boxes of stuff into the unit. By stacking with precision and keeping everything organized, your things will remain safe, while you wait to move into your new home.

Tips for Improving Your Real Estate Email Subject Lines & More

February 15, 2018

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Email marketing is an effective way to market your business and should be taken advantage of if you work as a real estate agent. Unfortunately, real estate agencies have trouble implementing email marketing tactics well. However, with the help of this guide, you should be able to improve your email marketing strategy and see some real gains. Here are four tips you can use to improve your real estate marketing email strategy.

1. Ensure Your Emails are Mobile-Friendly

In this modern era, more and more people are checking their emails on mobile devices. Keeping this in mind, it’s important that alter your emails, so they’re mobile friendly and anyone can view them. If you don’t optimize your emails, your marketing efforts aren’t going to get anywhere because no one can see your emails. Reports from comScore show that device usage for mobile devices accounts for 60 percent of the time people view digital media, which makes this optimization completely essential. Before putting out your emails, you should make sure they work well on both iOS and Android devices to ensure everyone will be able to see them, no matter what kind of device they have.

2. Segment Your Subscribers

Believe it or not, segmenting your email subscribers can improve the targeting of your email marketing efforts. This is because it will use the CRM details to help you reach a better audience to prevent a loss of current subscribers. When you host open houses or talk about real estate news, your emails will target nearby leads, rather than emailing everyone in your database, because that may feel scammy to some subscribers.

3. Incorporate Videos

A great way to spice up your real estate email marketing strategy is to start incorporating videos into your emails. Although you don’t want to find random videos on YouTube to implement into your email marketing efforts, you should either choose or create emails that drive the message of your email to your subscribers.

4. Use Better Subject Lines

Using subject lines that warrant opens is key to your email marketing strategy. As Outbound Engine points out, the best email subject lines for sales are informal, casual (think punctuation), incorporate personalization, and creative. Read up on their helpful strategies for sprucing up your subject lines, and increase those open rates.

5. Analyze Your Results to See What Does and Doesn’t Work

Unfortunately, not every single email marketing strategy is going to work. But, that’s okay, because it’s important to do some testing and see what does and doesn’t work. Every week, you should check your email analytics and see which tactics had open rates. Once you start noticing your rates increase due to a specific marketing technique, repeat it for next time to boost your email marketing strategy. Over time, you’ll notice serious results and this process will pay off for the long haul.

Improving your real estate email marketing strategy is no easy task. Not everyone is a gifted marketer, and it takes time to see leads convert to full-time subscribers. However, with the help of our tips in this guide, you should be able to start seeing real improvement in your email marketing technique. With time and effort, you’ll see strategy paying off and your income increasing as a result. Remember, be patient and always test new strategies to see what does and doesn’t work.

Residential Movers Share The Ultimate Local Moving Checklist

November 20, 2017

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Moving in-town can be a lot easier than moving to another state. You will also be able to complete your move within a shorter amount of time. However, there are still a lot of things that you will need to do to ensure that your residential move is a success.

1. Start Preparing Early

Many people think that they can wait until the last minute to start preparing for their move. However, it is never too early to start preparing for a move. You should create a weekly checklist that lists all of the activities that you want to complete. Planning your move few months ahead of time will make your move a lot less stressful.

2. Pack in Stages

Packing everything at one time is not realistic. That is why you will need to pack everything in stages. For example, you can pack up one room every week until you have finished moving. Pack up the items that you use the least first. They also recommend starting the packing process at least a month in advance.

3. Get a Babysitter or Pet Sitter

Both children and pets can get in the way if you are trying to pack. They may also get upset if their routine is changed. You should hire a pet sitter or babysitter. You will also get more done in a shorter amount of time if you have a pet sitter or babysitter.

4. Get Rid of Your Unused Stuff

There is no point in moving things that you do not need or want. You can sell or donate things that you do not need anymore. You can also throw them away if they are no longer any good.

5. Hire a Professional Moving Company

Many people think that they can just pack everything in their car and move if they are moving in town. However, you may not be able to fit everything into your vehicle. You may have to make several trips back and forth, and this can cost you a lot of money in gas. You also risk getting injured if you lift things that are too heavy.

That is why you will need to hire a professional moving company. Even if you plan to move the small items yourself, you should hire movers to take care of the big things.

6. Transfer Utilities

You will need to transfer your utilities. All you will have to do is call your utility providers and let them know about your new address. Make sure that you keep a record of everything.

7. Clean up Your Old Place

It is important to clean up your old place before you move. If you are renting, then cleaning up your place will increase your chances of getting your security deposit back. You can also clean up your new place before you move in.

Relocation Service Directory – Phoenix Arizona Real Estate

September 5, 2017

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Relocating to the metro Phoenix area opens your life up to new experiences, immaculate beauty, and divine desert city living that offers the best living experience. Ease the hassles of relocating with the right companies working for you. The following resources help you easily transition into Phoenix with ease.

Public Storage

Public Storage is a nationwide storage facility with nine locations in Phoenix. Professionalism, safety and security, and reasonable rates for your storage needs are all perks of using Public Storage for your storage unit needs. A $1 move-in special is available for new customers. Although one of many storage unit rental companies in Phoenix, Public Storage is a trusted name with an excellent reputation and plenty of experience.

NorthStar Moving Company

Moving companies simplify the moving process, bringing the muscle and the tools needed to easily move furniture, appliances, and other items from one location to the next. NorthStar Moving Company is a trusted moving company offering customers flexible schedules, reasonable prices, and services that ensure your move is smooth and carefree. NorthStar is a locally owned company with years of making customers happy.

Cheap Movers Phoenix

If you’re looking for the lowest moving rates in town, stop your shopping and call up Cheap Movers in Phoenix. This Valley moving company helps customers save money on moves to and from Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale, and other nearby cities. With Cheap Movers, you’ll always get great deals from licensed, local movers that you can trust. Need storage or have a specialty relocation? No problem! Cheap Movers Phoenix offers a whole host of moving services.

Century 21 Real Estate Company

Century 21 Real Estate Company has real estate agents ready to help you find the perfect Phoenix home to buy or to rent. With professional agents offering properties in all price ranges and all areas of town, Century 21 can certainly help you find the perfect place to call home.

Nanke Signature Builders

Nanke Signature Builders has been a part of Phoenix since 1948, making dreams come true for many people. If you dream of owning a custom-built or brand new home, Nanke Signature Builders can make those dreams a reality. Nanke has an excellent reputation of catering to their client’s needs, ensuring the perfect home is erected when the job is complete.

VisitPhoenix.com

When you arrive in Phoenix, there’s so much to know. Where is the electric company? What schools will your kids attend? Where’s the nearest public library or supermarket? Those questions and many others are answered at visitphoenix.com. Also, you can find lists of restaurants, things to do in the city, hotels, landmarks, and so much more. If it concerns Phoenix, you can find the information right here on this website. This easy-to use website provides bountiful information for people relocating to the city.

Action Piano Movers

When you need pianos, pool tables, and other large, specialty freight moved from one location to the next, Action Piano Movers is a Phoenix company that delivers exceptional services at a reasonable price. The locally owned company also offers crane services and can move items up and down stairs with ease.

DIY Going Away Party Decorations

July 17, 2017

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Throughout your life, people will move away, either indefinitely or just for long periods of time. It’s always bittersweet when a dear friend or loved one in your life leaves. […]

Guide to Staging Your Home for a Fast Sale

July 10, 2017

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Most homeowners know it is important to keep a home clean and organized while it is on the market. But the majority of buyers’ agents agree that taking some extra […]