Body man moving to AK (Anchorage, Wasilla: sales, to rent, insurance) - Alaska - City-Data Forum

Mr & Mrs C · 02-27-2009, 05:08 PM

I am an auto body technician in Maryland. I want to move to Alaska, Anchorage area and start a new life with my family. I have many questions about doing this. Is there a need for my skills in Alaska? How is the school system? What should I expect to be different in Alaska than in Maryland other than the weather. I am not worried about crime considering where we are from. Can anyone point me to any body shops that have pretty good reputations. I am thinking of flying by myself to check out the area, do some interveiws, and look for a house to rent. Hopefully I can get work and in a month or so I will get the wife and kids. Let me know if I am missing anything thanks!

warptman · 02-27-2009, 05:20 PM

Just make sure you have a way of getting back home when you move here for you and your family. Would hate to see you and the family get stuck here.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&c...ps&btnG=Search

Mr & Mrs C · 02-27-2009, 05:26 PM

What do you mean by that? I am keeping my house in Maryland and renting it out just in case I have to come back. Thanks for the info by the way.

Crossfire600 · 02-27-2009, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr & Mrs C

What do you mean by that? I am keeping my house in Maryland and renting it out just in case I have to come back. Thanks for the info by the way.

I can't speak for Warpt but I think he meant that Alaska is not for everyone. People come her for different reasons and when they get here the cold, snow and dark winters take there toll and they are outta here!

Just make sure you plan on an escape route in case you need one. Living here is expensive and getting home is just as expensive as getting here.

Alaska is a playground if you love the outdoors. If you are not an outdoors person then Alaska may not be your cup of tea. Although, Anchorage being a city has all or most all of the things cities in the lower 48 have so if you are a city person Anchorage would probably fit your bill.

There are a lot of good people on here and they helps the wife and I when we moved. In fact, we have made friends with many of them. We have had dinner at their homes, went out for coffee and are planning remote hunts and fishing trips (Wooo Hoo)!

All that said, considering that we saw 54 wrecks on the parks this winter in one day you should be able to find a job performing body work.

Chilkoot · 02-27-2009, 05:41 PM

Here's a website by the department of labor that may be of some help.

Finding Work in Alaska

Glitch · 02-27-2009, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr & Mrs C

I am an auto body technician in Maryland. I want to move to Alaska, Anchorage area and start a new life with my family. I have many questions about doing this. Is there a need for my skills in Alaska? How is the school system? What should I expect to be different in Alaska than in Maryland other than the weather. I am not worried about crime considering where we are from. Can anyone point me to any body shops that have pretty good reputations. I am thinking of flying by myself to check out the area, do some interveiws, and look for a house to rent. Hopefully I can get work and in a month or so I will get the wife and kids. Let me know if I am missing anything thanks!

I can't tell you what the market is like for body technicians in Anchorage, but I can tell you that there are a lot of body shops, if that is any indication. Lots of fender benders and the ditch diving taking place in the winter keeps these places with plenty of business.

As far as education is concerned, Alaska ranks just below the national average scores in both reading and mathematics for both 4th and 8th graders according to the National Center for Education Statistics. I have no children in the Anchorage school system, so I can't inform you about specific schools.

A few body shops in the Anchorage area:

Before applying with Chaz Limited Collision Express, you might want to read this: Rip-off Report: State Farm And Chez Limited Collison Express ripoff. chez unlimited also. Damaged property. State farm REFUSE to deal with it they say. Anchorage Alaska

Mr & Mrs C · 02-27-2009, 05:51 PM

I am not worried about the dark, cold, or snow. I am looking forward to it. I am only worried about my wife who is from the Phillipines but I think she will be alright. Maryland has a lot of stupid rules that are new for the insurance companies. They are totalling fixable cars left and right. Maryland is also extremely expensive. I have a 2 bedroom townhouse that cost me 200K. From what I see Alaska has a better cost of living than here. Thanks for the links. I have learned that the labor rate is $60+ an hour here its around $38+. That there has my bags packed and ready!

RayinAK · 02-27-2009, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr & Mrs C

I am not worried about the dark, cold, or snow. I am looking forward to it. I am only worried about my wife who is from the Phillipines but I think she will be alright. Maryland has a lot of stupid rules that are new for the insurance companies. They are totalling fixable cars left and right. Maryland is also extremely expensive. I have a 2 bedroom townhouse that cost me 200K. From what I see Alaska has a better cost of living than here. Thanks for the links. I have learned that the labor rate is $60+ an hour here its around $38+. That there has my bags packed and ready!

No. The cost of living is greater here than in Maryland. Little houses across from mine, much like double-size trailers, can fetch over 200K in North Pole. Worst of all, keeping a house warm, at least in the interior of Alaska, can be quite expensive unless the house is well insulated. For example (just the foundation): concrete blocks with 4" or insulating foam-board for R28 is OK, and most houses built in the late '70s and early '80s have around R14 or less insulation.

akck · 02-27-2009, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr & Mrs C

What do you mean by that? I am keeping my house in Maryland and renting it out just in case I have to come back. Thanks for the info by the way.

The two basics are to have enough money to get here and live here for several months while you look for a job and to have another pile of money in case your family decides to move back to the lower 48. The second may not be necessary, but is a good idea to have available.

Glitch · 02-27-2009, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr & Mrs C

I am not worried about the dark, cold, or snow. I am looking forward to it. I am only worried about my wife who is from the Phillipines but I think she will be alright. Maryland has a lot of stupid rules that are new for the insurance companies. They are totalling fixable cars left and right. Maryland is also extremely expensive. I have a 2 bedroom townhouse that cost me 200K. From what I see Alaska has a better cost of living than here. Thanks for the links. I have learned that the labor rate is $60+ an hour here its around $38+. That there has my bags packed and ready!

Anchorage's cost of living is equivalent to Boston, MA, and considerably higher than Maryland. Median home prices in Anchorage are just over $250,000. The Mill Levy is between 12.5 and 14. Gasoline is at least 50% more expensive than lower-48 prices. Fresh foods will be 2 to 3 times more expensive, especially in the winter. In fact, you will be paying more for just about everything, because just about everying is flown or barged into the state from the lower-48. The cost of living in Anchorage is 127% above the national norm.

Having said that, Alaska's wages do tend to be slightly higher than you might find in the lower-48, but whether it is enough to offset the increased cost of living, I couldn't say.