6Â Tips for Relocating to Charlotte

Everything from navigating through the city to Queen City culture, use this article as your resource guide for relocating to Charlotte

Whether youÂ are packing up and relocating to Charlotte right awayÂ or you are just in the early stages of house shopping, this Charlotte-area Realtor Estate agent is here for you! My name isÂ Danielle EdwardsÂ and I am a Charlotte, NC Realtor withÂ RE/MAX Executive, the number one RE/MAX in the Carolinas. Â Preparing to relocate is stressful enough. Iâ€™ve done some research on relocating to the Queen Cityâ€¦ so you donâ€™t have to!

Know your school districts.

Oftentimes, the best neighborhoods are near the best public schools. Charlotte is a huge city, and if you plan on staying in the same home as your children grow up, be sure you’re looking at neighborhoods in school districts with a great reputation before relocating to Charlotte. Check out our list of the top rated high schools in Charlotte, and what neighborhoods surround them.

Test-drive your commute.

Charlotte is full of interstates. If youâ€™re heading North on I-77 on the way to work, your 15 mile commute may take an hour. If youâ€™re heading South at the same time, your ride will be smooth and traffic-free. The same is true for the inner and outer loops of I-485, I-85, and even smaller roads such as Highway 160. If youÂ already have a job lined up in the area, take a ride during rush hour from your prospective neighborhoods to your job site. If you willÂ be working in uptown Charlotte, make sure you’re comfortable with the commute before your first day. The random one-way roads uptown can be tricky if you’re not used to them.

Subscribe to the Charlotte Agenda.

This online publication is great for newcomers that are relocating to Charlotte.Â The writers highlight popular restaurants and neighborhoods, and keep readers up-to-date on whatâ€™s in the works for the Queen City. Once you get settled in, this will be a great resource in figuring out where to explore. You are sure to fall in love with the many beautiful sights and unique breweries, parks, boutiques, and other small businesses that Charlotte has to offer! They also list multiple job openings a day, for those of you who are still on the job hunt.

Are you a workout fanatic? Purchase Class Pass.

This smartphone app is $79 per month. But, if you love working out it will beÂ worth it. Charlotte is home to a large amount of local, family owned or private gyms. Maybe you are a yogi but donâ€™t know which studio is best for you. The app lets you choose from almost ANY gym in Charlotte, view their schedule, and reserve a class. The only fee you pay is for the app itself. This means you have access to every gym in Charlotte until you find the one thatâ€™s right for you. Some of these gyms cost over $200 a month for a membership, so $79 is a great deal.

Know your neighborhoods.

It seems like Charlotte is home to a handful of â€œmini-towns.â€ Youâ€™ll hear all kinds of names for different areasÂ here. The truth is, there are a ton of unique neighborhoods around the city and each one has itâ€™s own character. While one area may be home to many college students, another may be home to many young professionals or families, so it’s important to get a good idea of what you can expect from each of these communities so you’ll be an expert before relocating to Charlotte! Some of these areas include: Elizabeth, South End, Lower South End, NoDa, South Park, Steele Creek, and Dilworth. To learn more about each neighborhood, check out this helpful website.

Elizabeth neighborhood in Charlotte

Utilize the RE/MAX Relocation Guide.

You can request a Relocation Guide online, which is a great resource for information on the business environment, schools, homes, events, and attractions in and around Charlotte.

Contact RealtorÂ Danielle EdwardsÂ for your real estate needs in Charlotte, NC region.

Realtor NC/SC

704-604-2999

www.soldondanielle.com

email: drivendanielle@gmail.com

Follow me onÂ Facebook/soldondanielle

CONTACT DANIEL EDWARDS

Anyone can tell you what your home is worth. Contact me and I’ll show you how to make it worth MORE. As a RE/MAX Executive Realtor here in Charlotte NC, I use our global and local database to get your home SOLD. You need to know how to make your home worth more!

RESCUE DOG – Charlotte, NC

As a Realtor I would guess 80% of the homes I see have dogs, I was never one of them.
Most people are natural dog lovers. Born with dogs, grew up with dogs, or have four or five dogs as their kids. I wasn’t one of those people. Don’t judge me. I just didn’t
grow up with dogs. I knew they were a lot of work. Personally, I was never at a point in my life to
have a dog. This past year I got married, we bought a house with a fenced in yard, and I finally felt settled.

MY RESCUE DOG STORY

Gator’s RESCUE DOG PROFILE

One day out of the blue I said to my husband, “lets get a rescue dog”. Ten minutes later we were looking online. We found a rescue dog that was adorable. His name was “Gator”. For those who don’t know me I am a die-hard Florida Gator fan. Two minutes later we were in the car driving to the Humane Society of Charlotte.
For years, I have seen my Facebook friends post humane society stories, volunteer opportunities, and pictures of neglected dogs. Now I was about to enter into that world. I will tell you the pictures you see don’t do the heart justice. Once you are there and see these dogs it literally transforms you to become a rescue dog owner and lover.

It was a bone chilling Saturday afternoon in Charlotte. Once Tim and I arrived at the Humane Society in Charlotte, we were quickly escorted to the back area where the dogs and cats were kept.
It was the saddest thing I have ever seen. All these adorable dogs in these cement cells looking for a place to call home. They were all barking to their own tune, vying for attention for people walking by. Some cells had signs on them that said “THANK YOU FOR ADOPTING ME!”. With each cell I prayed we would find Gator and he would still be there.
Once we got to Gators cell his picture and biography was there, but no Gator. Who could blame him. It was freezing out. So, we found Whittnie, she got him to come out for us.

Gators kennel appearance wasn’t so hot. It really wasn’t the hollywood movie scene I expected. He was viciously barking non stop. Whittnie asked if we wanted to see in him in the “play area.”

Humane Society’s daily Rescue DOG and Rescue CAT board.

Gator arrived and it wasn’t great at all. Running around in circles barking and barking. All the other dogs were barking. But, there was a split second where he came up to me and licked my face. I just knew. Whitney explained to us his previous situation and once we got him home he “could”Â be completely different. Gator was a dog of surrender and his previous situation wasn’t a good one. Â Tim and I trusted what she said and we decided to rescue Gator.
The paperwork was very easy and the people who work there were so kind and helpful.

Gator the Rescue Dog – Â Freedom Ride

GATOR in the car at Petsmart.

Gator, Tim and I made our way to Petsmart. Tim ran inside to get the basics we would need to make Gator comfortable.

The RESCUE DOG CHANGE

Gator loving his “Alligator” Squeak toy. Don’t recommend the squeak was out within hours.

They said at the humane society that it would take 1-3 weeks for him to adjust. By the time we got in the car he was different.
It was like he knew he was free. Once we were home he ran around the house like a track star in circles for hours. He demolished treats. Â Each minute that passed he became more calm, loving, and adjusted to his new home.
For the first day he didn’t want to eat. But, I think it was anxiety. Day 2 he ate a little bit, and Day 3 he was eating better.

We switched his food week 2, to IAMS and he LOVES it. Â He ate 3 cups! Â We also did a trial run at a doggy day care for days when we will be gone for extended periods of time. Â We loved the Camp Bow Wow site, so we gave it a try. Â We took Gator to Camp Bow Wow for a half day. Â He loved it! Â I love being able to watch him on the camp cam from my phone to see him playing and having a doggy fun time.

Gator the rescue dog, eating with his new Florida Gator food mat.

Dogs just want love.

Rescue Dog LOVE!

My friend said it best, “You may have rescued him, but he will rescue you back 100 times over.” It has only been 5 days and I can see that. I guess if you are a dog person you already know this. But, for me the excitement when I come home, or when he sees me in the morning is so amazing. His love is something I never knew could fill my heart and be reciprocated so quickly.

He does LOVE to JUMP but we are working on that 🙂 We spent countless hours watching Cesar Â Millan Dog Whisperer videos on YouTube. Highly Recommend it!

RESCUE DOG: MY TOP 5 REASONS

Gator in his Florida Gator Bed

Gator sleeps in his luxury foam dog bed. Thank you amazon!

1) Unconditional Love- This is NO joke. Â WOW. Â It melts your heart.
2) Walking your dog is great exercise (forced exercise)
3) Rescuing truly is making a difference and feels good
4) Studies show people with dogs live longer and are happier
5) Dogs teach kids responsibility and help prepare you for having kids (which ever category you fit in)

WANT A RESCUE DOG? Â Contact your local humane society.

I promise if you follow your gut you won’t regret it.

Danielle Edwards is a Charlotte, NC resident and Realtor with REMAX EXECUTIVE.

6 Tips for Relocating to Charlotte