Scott Spinola \ Writer & Content Marketing Professional www.scottspinola.me • linkedin.com/in/scottspinola • scott@scottspinola.me • (512) 775-9289 • Austin, TX

5 Things I Wish I Knew When I Moved to Austin Client: National employee relocation software provider (client name withheld by request)

Requirement: Write a 750 word article for the company’s Austin content library on “5 Things I Wish I Knew When I Moved to Austin” to help relocating employees acclimate to their new city.

Publication Date: February 4, 2015 Published Location: For clients only behind the company’s paywall.

Relocating to Austin means finding a new place to live in a city you don’t know well. The things that make Austin unique—its neighborhoods, climate, traffic, and other everyday realities—can influence your housing choices. So, as you consider where you might want to live, consider these five things to help you find your new home with confidence and avoid those “I wish I’d known that” moments.

Everywhere is Farther Away Than You Think If you’re relocating from a densely packed city, you’ll quickly learn that the expanse of Austin will take some getting used to. That quick trip to the grocery store? Fifteen minutes. Planning a night on the town? Plan on a thirty-minute drive. In Austin, you can drive for 25 miles without leaving the city and for eight hours without leaving the state. Driving 25 miles from many other cities may take you through three or four separate towns. Respecting this geographical scope will help you get to those offsite lunches and client meetings on time.

Traffic is Everywhere All the Time The commute in many large cities tends to be predictably directional: into the city in the morning and out of the city at night. In Austin? Not so much. Due to the many large employers located around the periphery of the city, there is no such directionality. No matter where you live and in what direction you’re commuting—whether into or out of the city—expect to sit in at least some (often heavy) traffic both mornings and evenings, and shortcuts or alternate highways are few and far between. On the plus side, you’ll be able to joke about the traffic just like a local in no time and fit right in at your first work happy hour.

Homeowner Association Deed Restrictions Can Be Very Restrictive Buying a home in Austin usually means joining a homeowner association (HOA). These private organizations manage many neighborhoods in lieu of the comprehensive zoning laws found in other states, and joining is usually mandatory. The restrictions they place on homeowners vary widely and can bring a welcome order to a neighborhood, but they vary widely in how much they restrict what you can do with your home. Restrictions may include what plants you can grow, what flags you can fly, and what color you can paint your house. An experienced real estate agent can talk you through the restrictions for each neighborhood. These are legally enforceable contracts and non-compliance can bring fines and liens on your property. If you take a laissez-faire approach to lawn care or prefer your own shade of blue for your house, know what you’re getting into before selecting a neighborhood.

Scott Spinola \ Writer & Content Marketing Professional

An Irrigation System in Your Yard is Not a Luxury Another consideration for homeowners is Texas summers. It’s not uncommon to go several months with temperatures over 100 degrees and little or no rain, and the growing season is year-round. This can wreak havoc on a lawn. Don’t buy a house without an irrigation system or without budgeting to install one after you buy. If you don’t have one, you’ll be stuck dragging sprinklers around your yard all night, three nights a week, instead of enjoying time with family and friends, or else watch your lawn succumb to weeds and drought.

Air Conditioning in Your Car is Also Not a Luxury Just as your lawn won’t survive a Texas summer without irrigation, don’t expect to make it through a Texas summer by cooling yourself with the windows rolled down. The sweltering air rushing into your car offers little help and the noise of the highway will make conversation and listening to the radio a challenge. Get your A/C checked before May rolls around and maintain it regularly. You really don’t want to show up for your first day on the new job in a soaking wet shirt.

Austin is a fun and vibrant place to live that most people quickly grow to love. If you keep the preceding five things in mind, you can avoid some of the pitfalls of relocation and get right to the excitement of exploring your new city.