Moving is something that millions of Americans do each and every year. Some will move for work or a change of scenery, but there are dozens of different reasons for these moves. Many will move to a different neighborhood and even some to a different city. Of course, some will also make a cross-country move to another state.
One of the most popular states for people to move to is Texas. They are experiencing a lot of growth and offer affordable living and great weather. However, there are some things you should know, do and expect before you decide to make the move to Texas. These will help your move go more smoothly, and ensure it goes off without a hitch. Without any further ado, let’s go over some things to look out for and expect when moving to Texas.
Getting Your Utilities Set Up
In some areas of the country, your options are fairly limited when it comes to your utilities. You might not have many choices, so getting them set up should be quite simple. However, in Texas, this isn’t the case. There are several different energy, power and other providers that all exist to help serve your needs.
The market is regulated, so you are free to choose the best one for your needs. You need to consider things like service, reputation, prices and a variety of other things. If you are struggling, be sure to use some of the online tools and resources to help.
For example, if you are in Dallas, use EnergyBot to find electricity rates and compare some of the best options. If you don’t think about this beforehand, you might not end up working with the right provider for your needs or might be stuck paying too much.
Prepare for People
Second to only California in terms of population size, there are a lot of people living in Texas. If you are coming from a smaller state, this could be a big change for you. There is a ton of traffic, a lot of people and simply a lot of action going on. The state is also huge and many things are quite spread out, so commute and travel time can be long.
Despite this, there are indeed some smaller towns where things are quieter. But if you want to live in or around one of the major cities, you need to prepare yourself for a lot of traffic. In addition to lots of people, expect everything else to be bigger as well. The roads are huge and wide, malls are enormous and even food portions when you order at a restaurant. All of this can certainly take some getting used to, but being prepared and ready for it ahead of time is also a good idea.
The Heat is Real
While summers are quite warm around the country, the heat in Texas is something different. If you are not prepared for it, it could come as a bit of a shock. Summer days often reach over 100 degrees and when the sun is shining, it can feel a lot hotter. Even in the winter, daytime temperatures rarely drop below 60.
Make sure you have the right clothing for this weather, protect your body from the sun, and make sure the place you live has air conditioning. However, because of the size of the state, the weather can differ a little depending on where you are geographically. The weather can be unpredictable at times as well, so you never know what you’re going to get.
In conclusion, hopefully this article has been able to help you learn what to know and expect when you’re moving to Texas.