How do I find a job/home BEFORE I move?

[anyone101]

I think that this point I just need to move because I have gleaned as much information as I am going to from this forum

So why all of suddenly the rush to move? In your original post getting a job first before moving sounds like a smarter idea. Why do you want to move up to Seattle that prompted you to glean so much information in the first place? Have you comparisons to Portland, Tacoma, Spokane, or elsewhere?

You mentioned about Vancouver is that BC or WA? If Vancouver, WA have you considered Portland as well? Portland is just south of the mighty Columbia River from Vancouver. People live in Vancouver for the lower property tax and affordable housing and commute to Portland each day to work and buy big ticket items w/ no sales tax in Oregon.

If Vancouver, BC; have you secured the proper visas to live & work in Canada or have Canadian citizenship?

[ShadowXOR]

I'm not "rushing" to move all of a sudden. I'm still getting a job before I move, and I'm moving the same time I originally planned. I don't know where you got that idea. And yes, I have already researched all of the places you listed. I have been looking for months (on this forum and elsewhere) and I feel I have learned enough that I have made my decision. I was also looking into Vancouver, WA, and have decided against it for now.

[zilfondel]

Originally Posted by ShadowXOR

I'm not "rushing" to move all of a sudden. I'm still getting a job before I move, and I'm moving the same time I originally planned. I don't know where you got that idea. And yes, I have already researched all of the places you listed. I have been looking for months (on this forum and elsewhere) and I feel I have learned enough that I have made my decision. I was also looking into Vancouver, WA, and have decided against it for now.

Shadow - good luck on your move! I remember my first move from living in the college dorms almost 10 years ago, and it was a lot of stress and new things to take into account! I guess I'll try to put my best advice forth:

-housing apps - make sure to look into if/what they have for the deposit (security deposit, cleaning deposit, dog deposit? Sometimes they refund these, sometimes not - depends upon the rental company). Do you have to pay first/last month rent when you move in? Just first month? Etc.
-rental agreements - what is allowed and what isn't - dogs barking? Walls soundproof? Parties? etc
-If you visit the place in person, knock on a few neighbors' doors and introduce yourself - tell them you are a potential neighbor and that you want their opinion on the place. Most people will be very happy to talk to you and give some advice! Particularly useful to find out their opinion on the management!
-Freeway & Railroad noise - can be quite irritating
-Physical location: south facing apartment? Very hot during summer. North facing? nice and cool during summer! top floor? also will be hot, but nobody clomping in high heels above you! Bottom floor? Lower heating/cooling costs, you can clomp around all you want without waking the neighbors!
-make sure everything works in the apartment: toilet, shower, dishwasher, washing machine, refrigerator. Test them, if you can while you are there. Ask them how soon they can fix it if it's broken (has happened to me several times)
-how close is the nearest park? How to get to downtown Seattle? Bus access?

Anyways, just a few thoughts. Good guidelines to look for/poke around while looking.

[ShadowXOR]

Thanks for the great advice, and I definitely need a bottom story unit because top ones are a pain to move into, I don't want my dogs going down the stairs (they are clumsy) and I play DDR. If you don't know what DDR is, it basically amounts to stomping on the ground!

[zilfondel]

No, I know what DDR is. I'm not an old fogey like some of the other posters on this site.

[Torrie]

I'm originally from CA, lived in Huntington Beach and Long Beach so I understand you're dilema. I got tired of the sun, the traffic and too many people. After graduating from Long Beach State I headed up to Beaverton, Oregon, a suburb outside of Portland. Stayed there for about 2years, liked it very much. Migrated to Vancouver, WA from there for a job and also liked it there. The beauty of living in Vancouver is your house taxes are less than Oregons, but you can drive over the bridge to Portland in about 15 to 20 min. depending on where you live and buy your non-food goods tax free!

Seattle is very expensive to live and traffic is ridiculous. Portland traffic can be tough too depending on what hours you work. There are only two ways to get over to Portland from Vancouver, I 5 or the 205 bridge.

Nice area though. Homes are more affordable in the Portland Metro area than Seattle. You are also about 45 min. from the mountains and about and hour and a half from the coast. Portland is one of the few places in the USA that you can live and be close to both the Ocean and the Mountains at the same time. Oh ya, here's another fun fact about Vancouver, it has the largest fireworks display West of the Mississippi. Great farmers market too! My sister-in-law lives in Seattle and quite frankly, the traffic scares me away. If you live in Portland, you are about 2 1/2 hours away from Seattle, easy drive up the I 5 freeway. Hope this helps your decision.

[nativewashingtonian]

you might want to check out craigslist.org, they have housing posts, and you can post (for free) the type of housing situation you're looking for. obviously you'll have to narrow down where you want to work, so the commute doesn't kill you. i'd just tell it like it is in your ad, and see if anyone responds. i answered an ad on there last june for a couple,and child who were hoping to be in their house in 2 months or less and they're still renting from me! (any month now they'll get the approval to finish their house.) no problem for me, i'd rather have the rent!

[ShadowXOR]

Just when I was sure I want to go to the Seattle area, people make Vancouver/Portland look so appealing. I know I want to move to one of those areas, but the problem is that they are so similar I can't decide which is best for me.