Relocating To Cleveland

Relocating to a new area can be one heck of a stressful journey and project. We deal with many people relocating to the Cleveland Ohio area from all parts of the world. We see many issues and problems arise from the beginning to the end of the process. Many people are uprooting their families and while just changing jobs and neighborhoods can be hard on anyone, selecting a good school in Ohio for the kids and moving into a new home adds icing to the relocation frustration cake.

It's a package deal. Everything has to run smoothly in order for a proper relocation to work well. Planning is key and gathering all the necessary information before and during the move is crucial. Selling a home while transitioning can be a nightmare. You're visiting Ohio and trying to select an area suitable for your family and yet close enough to your new job, while not really knowing what areas to look in. Trying to keep your current home in top notch selling condition is hard while traveling and having so much on your plate. It's tough!

I can empathize with people going through a complete relocation. I know what they're enduring and what they may face during their move. I've put together an Ohio relocation guide on my site for more in-depth information but here are a few pointers for this market and the Cleveland area.

When making the initial trip to the Cleveland area (or any area you're relocating to) make a plan of what you'll be doing. Many want to jump right in and start looking at properties because that's usually the fun part. Schedule yourself in order of importance from the minute you get to Ohio.

Start your list with getting a solid pre-approval from a local lender if possible. There's just something special with dealing local. The appraiser, underwriter and loan officer are here to do some running around if needed and believe me, it's sometimes needed. Picking up papers, coming to you to close, etc. It's just nice to stick with local Ohio banks or mortgage lenders.

Once you know exactly what your comfort zone is as far as affordability, now it's time to think about specific areas and which areas are best for your budget and of course family and needs. While your Realtor will be able to guide you and give you the basics of each city as far as cost and amenities, you'll definitely want to see them for yourself. Pick a day to drive around and soak it all in. Taking notes and discarding immediately all cities that you've ruled out from your brain and list.

If commute time is important to you, most people that relocate to Ohio want to be within about 30 minutes from downtown Cleveland or where they will be working. There are dozens of cities in this range but most are smaller and easy to navigate. One tip to remember: Cleveland's highways aren't like other major cities in the country, our commute time is usually cut in half. Highways run smoothly as a rule so consider this when calculating commute time. Within a half hour of downtown Cleveland, there are all types of neighborhoods and locations. From wooded rural to lake property, to city urban settings. The choice is yours. Cities that run along I-480 and 77 tend to have the most traffic while I-90 (which runs parallel with the lake in all of Ohio) is my personal favorite highway and has the shortest commute time. Mapping cities and areas according to these highways may help you decide.


Now that you have your finances and area of choice selected, it's time to start narrowing down the housing selection. There's quite a bit to choose from in this market. One could lose their mind looking at every home on the market. It's very important to decide up front what you want and don't want. In the greater Cleveland area there's everything to choose from, high end property to bank owned fixer uppers. Many think they'll grab a deal in Cleveland by purchasing a home that needs work. This may be true, but really think about this and decide if you're ready and committed to take on such a project. Vacant homes may be a good idea to look at since the seller may be willing to accommodate your moving schedule. The following questions will help your Realtor narrow down the list:

• Is garage space necessary and if so, how much?
• How many bedrooms do you need?
• How many bathrooms are a must?
• Do you like one floor living or two?
• Is property a factor? How much space do you need?
• Do you prefer older or newer properties?
• Is a basement a must? Finished/unfinished?

You can copy and paste those answers into the comment section of the Find A Home Form and get the process started.

Working with a good real estate agent in Ohio is important. Experience and knowledge when handling relocation matters is very helpful. You'll feel better knowing you have an advocate guiding you and assisting you with all the behind the scenes work and coordinating so you can focus on the move. It's one step at a time. As long as the steps are taken properly and in order, you should be able to transition comfortably.

Always allow a little extra time and a little extra money to the equation. You never know what will happen or if there will be unexpected delays. For the most part our relocation experiences are near perfect. If you're waiting for your home to sell or have a sudden change in plans, that can surely lead to a bump in the chain of events. Make sure you discuss your entire situation and goals with your Ohio Realtor before diving into tons of websites or picking out homes online.

Contact us by email or call anytime. We'd be happy to make you happy.