Planning on moving to Las Vegas? If you are , be certain that you have everything in place to make your transition as smooth as possible.
Learn about the area before you come, preferably from someone who already lives here and knows something about the area. I am not talking here about the “dressed up version” they shovel to tourists, but about the real Vegas. Find out the pros and cons of living here, what the costs of gas, utilities and food are, etc. One way to do this is to visit the website for The Las Vegas Review-Journal. It’s very informative, gives you an idea of what the town is like and lets you know what’s going on.
Plan to apply for temp work, if you don’t have a job lined up when you arrive. There are several temp services, like Manpower, INC, that are always looking for workers to fill positions. It could lead to more long-term work and will at least keep you afloat until you find something more permanent. Again, you can utilize t The Las Vegas Review-Journal, both online and offline, to see what job openings are available in the classifieds section.
Call ahead to the school your child will be attending and request that information be sent to you before you arrive in the area, regarding what is required and what to expect. That way, your child will be prepared to start school when you get here, making it easier for her or him to adjust. You can also find information online at the website for the Clark County School District.
Make sure that you fill out a change-of-address form and get it in to the post office in a timely manner, so that, once you’ve moved, you will receive all of your mail, especially important things like bills. This will keep you from ending up with late payments and bill collectors on your back. There is usually a 90-day window in which you can have your mail forwarded to your new address, giving you ample time to inform businesses, friends and family of your official address change.
Call ahead and set the date for your utilities to be turned on at least 2-3 days before you arrive. You can find the necessary contact information by going to Las Vegas Area Utilities.
It’s wisest to rent an apartment instead of buy a house when you first move here, especially due to the ever changing real estate market. Get an apartment first and then wait to see if home prices drop, which some of them are starting to do. Explore your options in surrounding areas also, such as Pahrump, Boulder City or Searchlight, which may offer competitive prices and also have the added benefit of having less crime and lower utilities. In the meantime, while you wait, there are a number of decent apartments that are reasonably priced.. When you’re ready to think about buying a home, just go to Yellowpages.com for a huge list of local real estate agents.
