The city of Sarasota was recently named Forbes 13th fastest growing cities in the nation. We’re not a big city in comparison to areas like Tampa or Miami. We understand that moving from a small town or suburb to a larger city can be an intimidating proposition. We’ve put together a few tips to help make your move as painless as possible.

Research before you move.

It’s important to understand the culture you’re joining. Do research online and find out about school systems, neighborhoods, parking, weather, public transportation, and laws that are native to that area. If you can, visit Sarasota before moving and connect with someone who’s lived there before.

Have a plan.

There are a lot of steps to go through before you start packing the moving truck. Find housing before you leave, or at least know where you’ll stay while you look for a home. Never sign a lease on an apartment that you haven’t seen. If you can’t get there, find a friend or an employer to check for you. Have a job waiting for you, or if that’s not possible, know what you’ll do for money in the first few weeks of living there. Try to line up things like driver’s licenses, car insurance, renter’s insurance, and parking passes ahead of time as well.

Get involved.

Meeting people in a big city can be daunting. Don’t expect the neighbors to knock your door down with a casserole when you arrive: city life is often too noisy and hectic. Take the initiative. If there are things you liked to do in your town, find ways to do those things in the city. Try new things. Volunteer. Big cities offer so many opportunities to engage other people, so find what you like.

Mind your wallet.

City life is expensive. Everything costs more: food, insurance, clothes, rent. There are also a lot more ways to get ripped off, whether legally or criminally. Be careful how you spend, and know where your money is going.

We want your move to the Sarasota-Bradenton area to be as smooth as possible. Our real estate agents will gladly introduce you to