Washington Moving Companies - Moving Services in WA

Moving to Washington?

Tucked in the Pacific Northwest region of United States, Washington State with its rich, varied culture and climate is the only state that has been named after a U.S. president. Due to its huge tracts of forested lands that have contributed both to the timber industry and the ecosystem alike, the state has been nicknamed the “Evergreen State.”

Puget Sound - the seat of Washington's commercial and industrial development – is comprised of navigable bays over which cities such as Seattle, Tacoma, and Everett are situated. Seattle and Everett have two firsts to their credit - the former is famous for the first revolving restaurant while the latter is the site for the world's largest building, Boeing's final assembly plant.

Native Americans inhabited Washington State long before the arrival of the Europeans, whose livelihood consisted of hunting, salmon fishing, food gathering and some forms of agriculture. These indigenous tribes were famous for their totem poles, which are sculptures carved from large Red Cedar trees. Makah, another indigenous tribe is famous for their whaling skills in their canoes.

If you’re moving to Washington, there are a lot of things you’re going to need to know. Luckily, you’ve come to the right place.

Things to Know When Moving to Washington

Washington Climate

• Washington is characterized by an oceanic climate which varies considerably from the west to east. The low pressure system in the Pacific Ocean results in a wet season in Washington that has often been described by the term “Pineapple Express.” Sometimes western Washington experiences deep freeze winters where subzero temperatures prevail. The region east of the Cascade Mountains fall in the rain shadow region where they experience semi-arid conditions. The precipitation increases as you travel towards the regions near the Rockies. The geographical extant of Washington is quite varied with the Columbia Plateau, Columbia River and its tributaries in the east, while the Cascades form a north-south divide and to the west of these Cascades lie the lowlands, Puget Trough and Puget Sound. (Helpful Link: Washington Weather)

Moving Specifics

• Registering your Car: You have 30 days to register your car in Washington from the date of the beginning of your residency in the state of Washington. Registration is done at a local vehicle licensing office, by mail, or in person. If your vehicle is 2009 or newer it must meet California emission standards to get registered in the state of Washington. (Helpful Link: Washington DMV)

• Obtaining a Washington Driver’s License: A driver’s license should be obtained within 30 days of becoming a resident of the state of Washington. If you are in possession of a valid license from another state, then there is no need for you to take the knowledge or driving test unless you have a medical condition. An expired license from another state may require you to pass both the knowledge and the driving test. A person visiting Washington State from another country may use his/her valid out-of-country driver license for up to one year.

• Real Estate: The average listing price for homes in Washington is $327,152, while the median sales price is just over $305,950. The Washington Association of Realtors is the official real estate resource for the state of Washington.

• Moving and Storage: If you are looking for a moving company or storage facility to help you with anything, you should check to make sure the company is registered with the United States Department of Transportation or with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. (Helpful Link: Washington State Moving Resource Page)

Schools

• The Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction oversees the management of elementary and secondary schools. The state legislature has introduced the Running Start program, which allows students to get higher education at public expense, while earning school and college credit. Washington offers some of the finest higher education through its 60 public and private Universities, colleges and technical training schools. Some of the collegiate institutions located in Washington include the University of Washington, Washington State University, Gonzaga University, Western Washington University, and Eastern Washington University. (Helpful Link: Washington Schools)

Crime Rankings

As of 2011, Washington was ranked 24th out of 50 states in violent crime, with a total of less than 25 violent crimes for every 100,000 people in the state.

Economy of Washington

Industries

Washington boasts of a wide variety of industries such as aerospace, forest products, clean energy, information and communication technology, and marine technology. Washington is a leading producer of various agricultural products such as raspberries, strawberries, apples, concord grapes and cranberries. It is the second leading producer of wines, second only to California.

Employment Statistics

• The unemployment rate as of March 2012 in Washington was 8.3% after seasonally adjusting it, while nationally it was 8.2%. (Helpful Link: Washington Department of Labor)

Average Income

The median household income in the state of Washington is $55,500, while the average per capita income for the state is $43,564.

Important Locations in Washington

• State Capital: Olympia

• Largest Cities:
  1. Seattle
  2. Spokane
  3. Tacoma
  4. Olympia
  5. Bellevue
  6. Bellingham

• Major landmarks and attractions: Fort Worden; Seattle Space Needle; Grand Coulee Dam; Pike Place Market Side Street; Museum of Glass; Olympic National Park. (Helpful Link: Top Tourist Attractions in Washington)

• National Parks:
  1. Mount Rainier National Park
  2. North Cascades National Park
  3. Olympic National Park
  4. San Juan Island National Historical Park

• State park System: Washington State has a great number of national parks, national forests, federally protected wildernesses, and national wildlife refuges which offer numerous outdoor activities such as bird-watching, boating, mushing sled dogs, digging for clams and salmon fishing. Olympia National Park enjoys the distinction of being an UNESCO World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve. And provides many opportunities to appreciate the natural wonders of Washington by hiking, fishing, biking and hunting. (Helpful Link: Washington Department of Natural Resources)

• Major Airports:
  1. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
  2. Bellingham International Airport
  3. William R. Fairchild International Airport
  4. King County International Airport
  5. Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport

Helpful Links

• Washington Homebuyers Resource Page
• Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
• Washington Department of Transportation
• Washington Department of Education
• Washington Traffic Updates and Traffic Information