Why Californians are Moving to Nevada in Droves

California may look like paradise on earth with its sunny weather and gorgeous weather but residents have gotten fed up with expensive housing costs and taxes, leading them to make a move to low-cost states such as Nevada. This is a claim backed up by data from the United States Census Bureau’s American Community Survey that indicated that Californians are packing up and leaving the state primarily because of the steep housing expenses.

But why are Californians moving to Nevada of all places? When people mention Nevada, the first things that often come to mind are Sin City, gambling, and Area 51. However, there is more to the state than what is usually seen or heard on both social and mainstream media.

In this article, we’ll lift the veil on this incredible state that has given folks from California a fresh start without having to pay an arm and a leg, and discuss some reasons why Californians are moving to Nevada in droves.

1) Nevada is one of the sunniest states in the country

If by any chance you are suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder — which is a type of depression that’s related to changes in seasons — then Nevada is the perfect place for you to call home. The state’s biggest and most prominent city, Las Vegas, enjoys more than 300 days of sunshine every single year. That practically means if you reside in Sin City, eight times out of 10, you’ll be basking in warm, sunny weather.

2) Nevada has a beautiful and diverse landscape

Nevada’s stunning scenery is another major reason why folks love calling this state home. The Red Rock Canyon, which sits just 20 miles from downtown Las Vegas, gives visitors a great view of the Mojave Desert. If you are fond of climbing, you will love this place and its 3,000 different cliffs.

And then, there is the world-famous Lake Tahoe. Considered to be one of the deepest lakes in the entire world, it also has a reputation for being one of the purest with its sparkling blue water, making it a popular haunt for tourists and residents alike. These are but two of many outdoor spots that you can enjoy in Nevada. Simply put, if you are an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys hiking, swimming, mountain biking, rock climbing, etc., Nevada is the right place for you.

3) Reasonable cost of living in Nevada

Unless you’re filthy rich, you’re probably living with a budget in mind. If that’s the case, Nevada is a great place to be as it offers a reasonably low cost of living. While the average home in Nevada can set you back $275,000, it’s still very reasonable compared to other states on the west coast. One such state is Utah where the average price of a home is an eye-watering $338,000.

If you are looking to rent, Nevada has fair rent prices. A one-bedroom apartment has a monthly rental rate of just $783, far below the average rent price in the United States, which is $930!

4) Nevada has plenty of job opportunities

Nevada has plenty of exciting opportunities in the business and tech sector. One prominent example of this is Elon Musk’s decision to build Tesla’s Gigafactor — which is believed to be the largest building in the entire world — right outside of Reno. And then, there is Zappos, the popular online shoe and clothing retailer that calls Las Vegas home.

5) There is no income state tax in Nevada

Because Nevada generates so much revenue from its incredible tourism industry and casinos, it is one of few states in the country that has no state income tax. Moving to Nevada will mean you’ll end up paying lower taxes. Nevada residents don’t even pay for sales tax on items such as food and medicine!…

Moving to Henderson Nevada – What to Know First

Sin City may cast a large shadow over nearby cities but Henderson is a wonderful city in its own right. Forbes ranked Henderson as the “2nd Safest City in America” while the website areavibes.com gave it the distinction as the “#1 Big City in Nevada. While Henderson’s colorful history started with it supplying magnesium at the height of World War II, it has since gained a reputation for being a place for thriving residential and commercial development.

If you are keen on setting your roots down in Nevada to take advantage of the state’s zero income tax, you should seriously consider Henderson. Although it is the state’s second-largest city, Henderson is unique in that it retains that small-town charm. You’ll also enjoy its many parks, reputable academic institutions, scenic hiking trails and a great quality of life.

If you’re a golf enthusiast, Henderson will certainly pique your interest as you’ll be able to play all year long on lush courses scattered all over the city and in surrounding areas. And with Las Vegas a mere 20-minute drive away, you certainly won’t lack activities to enjoy.

If you have any plans of relocating to Henderson, here are some things you should know about life in the city:

1) Summers can get extremely hot

Henderson has a hot desert climate that features summers that can get extremely toasty. The average highs for July and August hover around 100° and 103° while lows are at 69° and 70°. The coolest months in Henderson are December and January with highs reaching 55° and average lows of just 31°. There is no snowfall in Henderson but you can see some on the mountain peaks not long after a storm.

The most common natural disasters in Henderson are flash floods, wildfires, earthquakes, and drought.

2) Job opportunities are increasing

Henderson’s job market rose by 3.5% over the past year and experts expect the trend to continue in the next 10 years. They project a 42% increase during that period which is nearly 10% higher than the national average of 33.5%. However, Henderson has an unemployment rate of 4.5%, which is a shade higher than the US average of 3.9%.

The most prominent sectors in Henderson are the government, tourism, gaming, and healthcare. Meanwhile, the top employers in the city are the Fiesta Henderson Casino Hotel, St. Rose Dominican Hospital — Siena Campus, and the City of Henderson just to cite a few.

3) You’ll likely need a car to get around

When commuting in Henderson, you’ll likely spend an average of 23.2 minutes per trip, which is less than the country’s average of 26.4 minutes. However, a whopping 83% of commuters drive their vehicles to work while 7% carpool. There are 5% that work at home while a mere 1.4% use the mass transportation system.

You can take the bus courtesy of the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, which plies numerous routes 24 hours a day. Overall, Henderson’s transit score is 24, which means having a car is recommended if you want to get from one spot to another without much fuss.

4) Lots of fun things to do in Henderson

If you crave Las Vegas-style fun but are not fond of going there, Henderson can still provide you what you want with the presence of the Sunset Station Casino, the M Resort, Green Valley Ranch Resort, and the Fiesta Henderson Hotel & Casino in the city. You can visit these spots and have your fill of the slots, tables or place some bets on your favorite sports teams. If you are an outdoors person or enjoy golf, you can head over to the nearby mountains for a leisurely, scenic stroll or one of Henderson’s many golf courses.…

How to Plan An Accurate Moving Budget

Whenever you are planning a move, the first thing you should do is create a moving budget. Most people who move feel they do not have time to set up a budget. However, not being prepared could cost you more in the long run. Small items like new bed sheets or a shower curtain may not seem like all that much but the total bill of buying brand new items for the house can deplete your resources quickly. So before you do anything else regarding the move, it’s best that you first set a budget.

So what are the things that you should include in your budget? Let’s take a look:

1) The Cost of Hiring a Moving Company

Unless you’re planning on overseeing and executing the move by yourself, then hiring a dependable and trustworthy moving company is one of the first things you should allocate money for. Having the professionals handle your move will take a lot off of your shoulders and will help make the process go a lot smoother.

However, there are costs that you need to consider such as the moving fee that includes fuel charges and the labor cost. You should also think about getting insurance for your belongings especially if you have any antiques or heirlooms. As these Henderson movers indicate, some companies may also charge extra for handling and moving heavy furniture.

2) Moving on Your Own

If you elect to move on your own, there is a different set of charges that you have to think of. This includes the truck rental cost, which may vary depending on the size of the truck you are renting, and whether you are driving one-way or returning the vehicle yourself. Also, you have to allot money for the gas. You can ask the rental agency how fuel-efficient their trucks are so that you can budget your gas money accordingly.

Since you are doing the move yourself, you may need to use equipment like a dolly, a loading ramp, furniture covers, and so on, so prepare the money to rent these out.

3) Making a Road Trip to Your New Home

If you are driving your vehicle along with the moving truck, then you must also factor in fuel cost, lodging expenses, meals along the way and so much more. If you are making a cross-country trip, you should get your vehicle thoroughly checked to avoid any mishaps out on the road. This means having its oil, tires, engine and other parts carefully checked by a professional to ensure it can endure a long road trip.

Unless you plan on driving all through the night, you will have to make a stop at a lodge to get some rest. Before making the trip, you should take a look at the options available on the route you’ll be taking and then book using a tool like Expedia to get cheaper rates.

4) Packing Supply Costs

While it’s difficult to estimate just how many boxes or packing tape you’ll need to store and secure all your belongings, you still need to add the cost of packing supplies to the budget. You can try to get boxes for free at grocery or liquor stores or from the moving company, who can provide these for you. You also need to add in wrapping and packing materials such as bubble wrap to protect your breakables. You’ll also need markers and labels so you can easily keep track of what’s inside a box.

If you need storage space at any point during the move, there are plenty of storage companies that you can get in touch with. You can ask for their rates and decide on which one fits your budget like a glove.…

Cleaning Up from Your Move: Best Tips for Getting Back Your Apartment Deposit

Here is an example of a recent blog post I produced for movers in San Antonio. My standard blog post is about 500 words, and I usually charge $.10/word, though I can do shorter or longer posts for your site depending on your needs. My fee includes writing and posting the blog along with applicable pictures and links.

Cleaning Up from Your Move: Best Tips for Getting Back Your Deposit

Summer is finally upon us, which means that the busy moving season has begun, as many people take advantage of warmer weather and a break from school. While Apple Moving can help you handle the logistics of moving your household to your new home, there are several other moving to-dos to consider before you can say your move is complete.

If you’re a renter, make sure you add giving your apartment or house a thorough cleaning to the list. Many people miss out on getting their deposits back, simply because they fail to clean their rental unit! Getting a month’s worth of rent back would likely completely offset the cost of your move. We got together with our friends at local cleaning service, Veronica’s Maid Services, to give you some tips on getting your old place spic and span so it passes inspection. While Veronica does offer deep cleaning service, putting in a little elbow grease yourself can have a big payoff.

1. Dusting

When your landlord does their final walkthrough, one of the things they’ll be looking for is clean surfaces. Make sure you don’t forget to vacuum off those floorboards that were likely forgotten in your weekly cleanings. Pristine floorboards go a long way in making your apartment shine and sparkle. Also make sure to vacuum off hard to reach places, like the top of ceiling fans and dust blinds and windowsills, where bugs can sometimes accumulate.

2. Stove

This one is a biggie. Most leases specify that the tenant is responsible for cleaning the oven. Most moms recommend making a small investment in Easy Off, an oven cleaner that takes a lot of the hard work out of cleaning your oven. You simply spray on, put your oven on the self-cleaning cycle, and wipe down for a shiny, clean oven. Additionally, you’ll want to assess the cleanliness of the stovetop burner plates. If you’re a messy cook, these probably have lots of baked on grit and grime. Sometimes soaking them overnight in the sink will help you restore these bad boys, but if not, you can order new ones for cheap on Amazon or pick some up at a restaurant supply store like Ace Mart. Spending a little to get the kitchen in good shape will likely save you from getting a ding on your deposit refund.

3. Carpet

Though most apartments will hire a professional carpet cleaner to come behind you and clean, it’s wise to take a stab at cleaning up any stains you may have behind, especially if you have a pet. Use a stain lifter like Resolve, or an equivalent generic brand. Just spray on, let it sit for 15 or so minutes, and then vacuum up. If that doesn’t work, you can rent a small carpet cleaning machine from your local grocer or hardware store.

4. Sinks, Tubs & Toilets

Our gals at Veronica’s recommend giving your faucet handles a nice final scrub down with vinegar and baking soda. This will make your bathroom fixtures sparkles like new. If you weren’t diligent about keeping your tub or shower clean, you might need to roll up those sleeves and bust out some Scrubbing Bubbles or bleach to get the pink mold and mildew out of the shower. An icky bathroom is one of the top reasons landlords take a deduction from your deposit.

5. Walls

Did you hang pictures or do some painting over the course of your lease? If so, check your lease agreement and see what it says. Many apartment complexes will require that you spackle over holes in the wall and repaint the walls a neutral color if you want your deposit back. Spackle is cheap and easy to apply, so there’s really no excuse for not at least patching up all those holes you put in the dry wall. Here’s a helpful how-to video:

So pullout those vacuums, dust rags, and cleaning supplies and to scrubbing! You’ll be relieved that you can put that deposit refund towards your move or something in your new home.…