Relocation: (aka. The Big Move)
Relocating from Birmingham to another city
More likely than not, at some point in your life, you will need to relocate, due to family, work, or a combination of both. By learning general information on the internet, then contacting a local real estate professional to answer the specifics, you'll discover the stress of finding the right home during this time of transition can be decreased dramatically!
Relocation Information:
As a REALTOR®, I work with people relocating to Birmingham from all over the country. I enjoy it. I know my city. I know the people. (Time for a great cliché') I have my finger on the pulse of Birmingham. (Sorry, I couldn't resist.) Seriously, working with people relocating to Birmingham is rewarding. I personally haven't been through a relocation for a number of years and felt I needed to reconnect with the long distance relocation. Therefore, I decided it was time to put myself through the proverbial relocation ringer, and devised a plan accordingly.
The Plan:
Randomly select three cities. Search for information on the internet. Then attempt to sort through the results and determine where I should purchase a home for my family.
Surf's Up!
Surfing the internet for information regarding your destination city should, in my opinion, be the first place to launch your quest for the perfect home. Even if you are being supported by a relocation company such as Cartus®, it is in your best interest to become educated on your new city. How do I do this? I visit my favorite search engine and type in my destination. This is a rather broad and all encompassing search, but it sets the stage and provides the basics. After that, I start to add in additional terms (keywords), such as real estate, homes, condos, or whatever it is I want to learn about in the city. Now, this will give you the basics. Somewhere along the line, you are going to have specific questions about suburbs, neighborhoods, schools, and other specific information. The next step would be to locate a real estate professional that will answer any questions honestly and provide unbiased information to alleviate any concerns. But, since I am flying solo, I will attempt to decipher the information single handily.
Relocation Search Example:
Below I've provided a quick example of relocating from Birmingham to Seattle. As you will see, searching the internet provides good information, but also opens a Pandora's box of questions.
Relocating to Seattle:
Just Gotta Poke Around
Seattle is interesting. Not only do you have the major city environment, but Seattle is home to the University of Washington which adds a college atmosphere to the environment. So, when shopping Seattle real estate, you really need to determine where you want to be and what you need. Sounds easy enough, but when you start switching between condos, townhomes, house boats, duplexes, and single family homes it can become confusing. Not only that, do you want the U District, Capital Hill, or Downtown? Oh, and don't forget the popular suburbs and towns that line the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. Tough decisions.
I realized quickly that when shopping for homes in Seattle, the best place to start would be to contact a REALTOR® in the Seattle area. A professional real estate agent should be able to provide detailed information regarding the Seattle metropolitan area along with available housing.
Places for Seattle Washington Information:
- Seattle Chamber of Commerce.
- Seattle Tourism Bureau.
- Seattle Real Estate website.
Dazed and "Somewhat" Confused
As you may have noticed, a recurring theme developed during the course of my attempt to reconnect with my relocation side. By only using the internet, I think a popular phrase comes to mind that suggests one "knows just enough to be dangerous". Basically, when you are relocating to a new city, I recommend investigating the area online. There is a plethora of information readily available at your fingertips. But when push comes to shove, and you need answers to the specifics, contact a professional real estate agent. Also, since buyer agency is basically a free service, find a real estate agent that will work for you! An experienced REALTOR® can make your relocation proceed smoothly and answer specific questions all the while offering guidance during your transition. But if you need assistance we will be glad to refer you to a local REALTOR® through our relocation department.
