Surviving Your First Winter in Spokane, WA

Moving to a new city can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. If you’ve recently moved to the beautiful city of Spokane, Washington, then you’re probably wondering what it will be like to experience your first winter in this area. From snowstorms to cozy coffee shops, Spokane winters are full of surprises that can make it an amazing first season in your new home! Here’s how to make it through your first winter in Spokane.   Prepare for Snowstorms Spokane is known for its cold temperatures during wintertime, but it’s also known for its heavy snowfall. The average yearly snowfall total is around 35 inches and one of the most common forms of precipitation in the winter months is snow. So make sure you’re prepared with a good pair of boots and warm clothing when heading out on those cold frigid days. And if you don't already have a shovel or snowblower at home, now would be a great time to invest in one!   Find Cozy Spots Throughout Town When the temperature starts dropping, there's nothing better than finding spots around town where you can curl up with a hot cup of coffee or tea and get cozy. Spokane has no shortage of amazing cafes and coffee shops that offer delicious treats and drinks while providing a perfect spot to hide away from the cold weather outside. Whether you're looking for breakfast or lunch options, or just need a place to relax and work on your laptop for a few hours, there are plenty of places around town that will provide exactly what you're looking for. (Click Here to See Our List of Best Coffee Places)   Stay Active With Outdoor Activities Just because it's cold outside doesn't mean you have to stay cooped up inside all day! There are plenty of outdoor activities that will help keep you active during the colder months such as skiing, ice skating, sledding and more! Ski resorts like Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park offer great skiing conditions throughout the entire winter season and if skating isn't your thing then check out local parks like Riverfront Park which offer some amazing trails for walking/hiking/biking throughout the year.   Your first winter in Spokane doesn't have to be intimidating or overwhelming - with the right preparation and knowledge about what this area has to offer, you'll be able to enjoy this season just as much as any other! Make sure you know how to prepare yourself (and your home) for any potential snowstorms, find cozy spots around town where you can warm up with some hot drinks or snacks and make sure to stay active by taking advantage of all the outdoor activities available within reach. Have fun exploring all that Spokane has to offer during this upcoming winter season!

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10 Reasons NOT to Move to Spokane

  #1 Location The location isn’t for everyone. Everyone thinks that we’re right next door to Seattle but it’s about a 5 hour drive and then in regards to the next closest big city you’re looking at a minimum of an 8 hour drive to Portland or Boise or a 10+ to Salt Lake. It’s much different than the east coast where the next big city is only 1 to 2 hours away and it’s just one major metro after another.    #2 Crime Spokane has had an increasing issue with the level of property crime. The Spokane police department released their report back in June 2022 and at the time, property crime was up nearly 30% and in some areas, specifically right downtown, there was nearly a 200% increase in property crime. It’s not everywhere, its definitely contained to certain areas and time of day and so I think more often than not you have to be putting yourself in the situation that would cause you to be at risk of dealing with the increase in crime.   #3 Homelessness Another issue that some may argue to be in correlation with the rise in crime, is our growing homelessness problem. Again, this is effecting our downtown core a lot more than anywhere else around town but a big issue that has been dividing our city is Camp Hope. It’s a large homeless camp that is just off the Freya exit. It’s very dividing and challenging issue for Spokane to overcome that started exactly a year ago after a protest at our city hall for a lack of low barrier housing around Spokane. It was moved to this location because the land was owned by the department of transportation and that would open it up to more types of funding. That’s the extremely short version but it has caused a lot of issues amongst Spokane residents. I think most of us can agree we want to help the people in there so we don’t have it as a statement piece for our city right along the freeway, but the most vocal people have much stronger opinions in both directions. I’m hopeful the best resolution for our community as a whole is found soon.   #4 Taxes People love moving to Washington because we have no state income tax. We are one of eight total states to not have any income tax which is especially attractive to people moving from states like California that has the highest income tax. What people don’t plan for his we have very high sales tax. Our sales tax rate is 8.9% here in Spokane. So for anyone moving from a no sales tax state like Oregon or montana, it can be a hard pill to swallow. I would say for the high net worth individuals moving to Spokane, it makes total sense, but for some that is more middle class, it is definitely something to consider if you’re really interested in running the numbers!   #5 Weather You have to come prepared for the weather here in Spokane! Right now it is December 5th and we’ve already have snow on the ground for well over 2 weeks. We do get all 4 seasons here but sometimes it feels like fall and spring get cut very short. Fall was only about 2 weeks long. It went from 80 degrees to snow on the ground very quickly this year. So, be prepared to adjust your driving, maybe take some driving in winter classes as it seems like every year the drivers in Spokane get worse and worse at driving in the snow. In the summer time though we’ve regularly have multiple weeks of 100 degree weather so in spokane you will experience temperature swings from 0 degrees to 100 degrees within a 12 month period.   #6 Seasonal Depression Most people who live here won’t even admit that they have it but only 171 days out of the year are sunny days. That’s less than half. And when our winters can last from November to March and even sometimes April, that’s a long time to be in the cold with not a lot of sun and so there can be a little lack of energy, lack of motivation in some people around town. You really have to work hard to get out of bed in the morning and get to the gym. It can be dark as early as 3pm in December so there are challenges that come with that. In the winter time you usually arrive at work when it’s dark and you leave work when it’s dark so if you don’t have a lot of windows or get to spend time outside, it’s possible that you won’t see the sun until the weekend.   #7 Road Construction And when you have a lot of snow that sticks around for months and you have to have snow plows and traction tires driving on all the roads, it makes the roads really bad. We have lots of potholes throughout spokane and there summer time is always insane when it comes to road construction and road repairs. Not a single year has gone by in my 27 year existence in Spokane where multiple major arterials are closed at the same time and slow traffic all over town.   #8 Transportation Having a card in Spokane is pretty vital. We have a very decent public transportation system as in a bus system and not a lot of people love to use it. They’ve been making a lot of upgrades and opening more routes so that could change in the future but for the most part everything you need is generally not close enough to your house to walk or bike everywhere and especially if you live on the the south hill or five mile where you will have to conquer a very large hill to get home if you make your way downtown. I live just outside of downtown so its relatively flat and easy to bike but for someone with my job, I absolutely have to have a car to make to Spokane. I’ve had a lot of people that come visit Spokane to check it out before moving here and most of them mention that it is way more spread out than they anticipated and to prove my point even further here’s a map of the walkability of Spokane, suffice to say, it’s not great.   #9 Diversity Spokane, Washington may be known for its beautiful surroundings and mild climate, but it lacks a topic common in many cities - diversity. With a population that is about 85% white, there are limited opportunities to explore culture and meet people from different backgrounds. This lack of variety means we miss out on the various perspectives and interesting experiences that cross-cultural interactions can bring. Therefore, creating an environment where everyone feels welcome regardless of their race or ethnicity could help provide richer experiences to both longtime residents and new arrivals alike.   #10 The Divide This isn’t just a Spokane issue but we are technically the second largest city in washington which I think not a lot of people realize that. Obviously the west side of the state has a lot more concentration of cities that add up to about 80% of the population of Washington state. So the much smaller sliver west of the cascade mountains has about 5 million more people than the other side east of the cascade mountains. Now, generally speaking, the section west of the cascades swings more liberal or democrat and the section east of the cascades swings more republican or conservative. This has actually been in some form of debate since 1861 and is still ongoing. Again there’s people in the middle of the aisle that probably don’t care that much either way, but some far more extreme opinions on both sides as to why or why not.

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How to Make Your Move As Simple As Possible During This Holiday Season

Are you in the process of moving to a new house? If so, you're probably wondering how to make the move as simple as possible. Moving can be a drag, but it doesn't have to be. Follow these tips and you'll be on your way to an easy move. Planning ahead is key - start packing as soon as you know you're moving Moving to a new place is always a time of excitement and anticipation, but it's also essential to make sure you have everything organized. Planning ahead is key to make the move as stress-free as possible. Starting to pack your items well in advance of your move will save lots of time and effort. Not only that, but packing from the start ensures no forgotten items that may be needed during the transition. Having an inventory list makes sure all of your belongings arrive at your new location just as when you left them. By beginning to pack early, you're taking one stressor away—so get packing! Label your boxes clearly so you can find what you need quickly once you've moved in Moving into a new home should be an exciting time, but unpacking every box can make it overwhelming. The best way to approach this situation is to plan ahead—label each box you pack with details of their contents. This will allow you to sort and store your items quickly and efficiently once you arrive. Not only will labeling your boxes save time in the unpacking process, it will also help keep your things organized once you have settled in. By taking the extra step to clearly identify which items are in each box you pack, accessing them whenever needed becomes just that much easier. Have a plan for all your belongings - will everything fit in your new place, or should some things be sold or donated? When moving to a new place, having a plan for all of your belongings is essential. Moving can be a stressful time and it can quickly become overwhelming if you are not organized. Consider whether everything will fit in your new space before beginning the move; if not, consider donating or selling any items that won’t work in the new residence. This strategy can help to simplify the process and make your transition easier. Additionally, donating specific items you no longer need may help out those less fortunate and bring good karma into your life. Developing an organized plan ahead of time can be a great way to ensure an easy move and clear headspace ready for starting fresh at the new address. Pack a box of essentials for the first few days after you move, including toiletries, bedding, and snacks Moving is always a daunting experience, but being prepared for the first few days in your home can greatly ease the transition. To that end, it's important to put together a box filled with all the essentials you will need during those first few days. Be sure to include toiletries like toothpaste and shampoo; packs of tissues and other basic bathroom items; comfortable, cozy bedding such as an extra set of sheets and blankets; and snacks like chips, granola bars, or pre-made sandwiches to keep you going until you can fully stock your pantry. Taking the time to pack a box of must-haves ahead of time will ensure you have everything to make those first days feel more like home. Make sure to notify everyone of your change of address, including creditors, the post office, and friends and family Moving can be stressful, but it's important to remember that you need to notify others of your change of address. This includes notifying creditors, the post office, and your friends and family so that any mail or bills sent continue to reach you. To make sure your transition is as smooth as possible, take the time to organize a plan for how you're going to get in touch with all the relevant stakeholders so that everyone has your new address. That way, nothing important falls through the cracks. Stay organized throughout the entire process; it'll make unpacking much easier! One of the most important aspects of a successful relocation is staying organized throughout the entire process. Packing an incredible amount of items in different boxes and bags is one thing, but when it comes time to unpack, having an idea of where everything was placed and what it looks like will expedite the process significantly. To make unpacking easier, take time during packing to write down a description of items that are going into certain boxes as well as labeling each box with its contents. Being organized now will save time and hassle down the line!   Moving doesn't have to be a headache - with a little bit of planning and effort, it can be surprisingly smooth! By following our simple tips, you can avoid some of the most common mistakes people make when relocating. And if you're still feeling stressed about the process, remember that we're here to help. Our team of experts will take care of everything for you so that you can focus on enjoying your new home. So don't hesitate to reach out - we'd love to hear from you!

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