Top 5 Tips for Relocating to Grand Rapids
When you relocate to Grand Rapids or any other community, it can take a while to find your bearings. Wouldn’t it be nice to have your own concierge to help you figure out what you want to know up front? The internet is certainly your friend if you want to learn things like the demographics of the area, major employers, median income, and crime statistics. If you’re the type to learn as much as you can before relocating, you’ll probably easily find these; if you’re not the type, you probably won’t be bothered with the details.
As a Grand Rapids real estate agent, I know relocation requires any number of small adjustments, so I try to provide anyone who asks with information about the Grand Rapids area. In fact, you’ll find a lot of information on our site about essential services for new home buyers. Beyond that, if you have some extra time to ramp up your comfort with Grand Rapids, here are a few ways to do it:
- Attend an event . Whether you’re in town exploring the area or you’ve already moved, try to make it a priority to find a local event that matches your interests. You’ll find listings in The Grand Rapids Press , or in the free On the Town magazine available in many public locations, or on websites like grkids.com or experiencegr.com.
- Find a favorite place . Try a local coffee place, brewery, restaurant, or ice cream shop. Grand Rapids area locals (including me!) will be happy to recommend a standout that might match your taste.
- Subscribe to a local publication . Even if you’re not yet in the area, you can get a feel for local events and interests by subscribing to publications like The Grand Rapids Press , Grand Rapids Magazine, Grand Rapids Business Journal , or West Michigan Woman.
- Volunteer . Volunteerism is big in Grand Rapids, so consider volunteering as a way to get involved in the community. You may find a branch of a group that already interests you, or search for an opportunity on Volunteermatch.org, even for a one-day event.
- Find a group . Whether you’re a writer or a hiker, you can meet a group of likeminded people through meetup.com. You can also find information about local groups in Grand Rapids area libraries – both the Grand Rapids Public Library and the Kent District Library system are shining gems providing a wealth of area information, as well as programming for many diverse interests.
If you need information about movers, utilities , financing , home inspections , local schools , and services from title search to car repair, please browse further in our site. These things are crucial when you’re moving into a new home! Wherever you are in the process of relocating to Grand Rapids, contact The Sprich Group for help with the next step towards your new home.
Photo: Steven Depolo ( some rights reserved )
