So you’ve decided to move to Chandler, Arizona. I don’t blame you – Chandler has experienced a considerable amount of growth ever since the 1990s when major master planned communities were beginning their construction. This is a coveted, high quality suburban city in Maricopa County. Hell, my family lives here. So allow me to help assist you with your move through this post.
A General Overview of Chandler, Arizona
Chandler is located in the southeast valley of the Phoenix metropolitan area. Here’s some basic info that you should know about this city:
Climate: Mild winters and very hot summers. Yes, six months out of the year this place is quite heavenly. Temperatures might dip into the 30s every now and then in the winter time, but for the most part you can expect pleasant 60 degree days without having to deal with snow. This is why snowbirds are a thing – for years, people from colder climates like the Midwest have bought second homes in Arizona to migrate during those otherwise harsh winter months. The summer, however, is a different story altogether. Typically, from about May to the end of October, you won’t experience a day under 100 degrees, with many of those days being over 110. Air conditioning is a big thing out here.
Cost of Living: I won’t lie, the cost of living has gone up ridiculously since I’ve been coming out here in 2013. The price of real estate has doubled since then, which means your overall cost of living will be on the higher side.
Job Opportunities: The tradeoff with the higher cost of living is the increased opportunities for residents to make a decent living. Chandler hosts a wide range of industries, including technology, healthcare, and manufacturing. Major employers like Intel, PayPal, and the multitude of healthcare providers present serve as job opportunities for people living in the area.
Schools: Chandler Unified School District is regarded as one of the best school districts in the state. This combined with private institutional options give residents a variety of solid choices when it comes to their children’s education.
Recreation: Chandler, and the Phoenix metropolitan area as a whole, is surrounded by nature, so there is no shortage of a decent hiking trail within a short drive away. Chandler Fashion Center has been the main shopping hub of the city, but if that isn’t enough then you can always go to SanTan Village in the neighboring town of Gilbert or even Scottdale’s Fashion Square which is a 30 minute drive up the 101 Freeway. Downtown Chandler is great for a night out and is host to several events that occur throughout the year.
How to Move to Chandler Successfully
Here are some keys to consider and plan out when preparing your move to Chandler:
Researching Neighborhoods: Are you looking to rent or buy? Are the stores you typical shop at close by? I know that we’re in more of a WFH world than ever, but how long is your potential commute? In general, traffic goes in the direction towards Phoenix in the mornings (west and north, in our case) and in the opposite direction in the evenings.
If you’re looking to buy a home, a few key considerations would be the location of the house within a particular community – is it on the outer edge of a community bordering a major street or is it nicely tucked in the middle – and the age of the home. Of course, get in touch with a local real estate agent to assist you with a home purchase (if you don’t know of anyone, you can always contact me as I have an active real estate license here and have assisted moves from out of state several times).
Prepare for the Move: Pack your bags, pack your stuff, throw away stuff, give stuff away, etc. Moving is never fun, but there is a way to do it well. I would go on YouTube and look up videos on how to pack the various items in your home.
For the actual move itself, especially if you’re moving here from another state, picking the right moving company can be a challenge. A lot of these moving companies will bundle multiple clients into one trip, so your stuff will be placed in a truck with several others, which increases the chance that some of your items may get misplaced during the move. I like the option of usings PODS, especially if your destination has a driveway or a place where the actual pod can sit once delivered. I have never heard about anyone complaining about them that’s used them for a move.
Prepare for the Heat: There’s really nothing you can do to prepare yourself for 180+ straight days of blistering dry heat. You just need to be sensible about things especially if you’re moving here during the summer months like I did four years ago. Hydrate, use sunblock, take ample breaks, that sort of thing. And no, I don’t know that you’ll ever get used to the heat in the summers, but at least it’s not humid to go along with it.
The Benefits of Living in Chandler, Arizona
Chandler is a great place to live. The property values continue to grow, businesses continue to expand here, and like any suburb that’s existed for a while, there are newer parts and older ones, but I don’t see this city decaying over time – it’s quite the opposite, in fact. The Phoenix area as a whole is growing rapidly. The traffic has clearly worsened in recent years, but coming from a person who lived in Los Angeles for many years, the traffic still isn’t bad, yet.
There’s really something for everyone here. The myriad of parks throughout all the local neighborhoods are great for families. You have plenty of shopping options locally, and also several nightlife options at your disposal,
Again, if you want more information for your relocation, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’ve done, I’ve helped others do it, and we’re all still here!