PORTLAND &VANCOUVER

HOMEOWNER’S GUIDE TO

PRESENTED BY: INTERSTATE PEST

HOMEOWNER RESOURCES 2

MOVING TIPS AND TRICKS 5

LOCAL INFORMATION 7

LOCAL ATTRACTIONS 11

CONTENTSTABLE OF

MOVING TO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST?

Whatever your reason for relocating to this beautiful area, we’re glad you’ve decided to make it your home. We might be a little biased, but we think that this area is the best place in the world to live–but for new arrivals, this place can be a little overwhelming. With so many great places to live, things to see and do, and adventures to have it can be hard to decide where to start.

Not to worry! We’re locals, so your friends here at Interstate Pest Management have the inside scoop on everything about the area, from the very best neighborhoods to the best professional services, even down to the best restaurants in the area that you’ve never heard of. Use this Homeowner’s Guide to Portland and Vancouver to learn everything about making the Pacific Northwest your home.

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW.

Lots of people are making the move to the Pacific Northwest from all around the world, and many of them intend to settle in Portland or Vancouver. Many come for the adventure, others for the small-town feel, and still others for the excellent job opportunities and education that comes with being a Pacific Northwest resident.

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HOMEOWNER’S RESOURCESIf you’re planning a move to the Pacific Northwest, finding a place to live

can prove to be more than a little overwhelming. There are so many great

places to put down your roots that it can be hard to settle on just one.

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THE BEST NEIGHBORHOODSAs locals, we have insider knowledge of the very best neighborhoods to live in–and the best real estate agents to work with–to help make home happen for you sooner than you ever thought possible.

Vancouver-areaButler Acres: Butler Acres is a gorgeous neighborhood that welcomes both young professionals and families. Families with kids will enjoy a wonderful school system, and professionals will enjoy easy access to professional parks and many businesses for employment.

Cascade City-View: Cascade City-View is a great area for those who like a little fresh air and a little space to call your own. If you choose this neighborhood, you are choosing a great area that offers space for families to grow, plenty of shopping, work opportunities, and quality schools.

Mount Vista: One of the more upscale neighborhoods in the Vancouver area, Mount Vista is known for gorgeous homes, beautiful landscapes and great schools for growing families. This peaceful and quiet neighborhood features low crime rates and a safe atmosphere residents love.

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If you’re looking for a great real estate agent in the area, we recommend realtor Laura Yoder. QUICK TIP!

Portland-area North Portland: North Portland, or NoPo for short, has transformed itself from an industrial, working neighborhood into the hip, fun neighborhood that it is today. If you’re looking for a part of town that offers small business, entrepreneurship, hip restaurants and exciting nightlife, this neighborhood is the perfect place for you.

Alberta-Concordia: Long known for its quaint cottages and gorgeous bungalow-style homes, Alberta-Concordia has transformed into an exciting neighborhood for young couples and single professionals. This bicycle-friendly neighborhood blends the excitement of the city with a quaint feel that has young families flocking to it.

Hawthorne District: The Hawthorne District in Southeast Portland is a Gen-Xer’s haven. Home seekers can find beautiful Victorian-style homes as well as gorgeous condominiums to fit any style preference. This neighborhood is great for singles out on their own, or for young families looking for a change of scenery.

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REAL ESTATE AGENTSIf you’re looking for a home in the Vancouver and Portland areas, many qualified real estate agents can help you along the way. A good real estate agent can do much more than just show you your dream home–they can help you select the ideal neighborhood for your situation, find the best value for your home, and ensure that you’re situated in the best area to live in.

MOVING TIPS AND TRICKSOnce you’ve found the perfect home, it’s time to start packing up and

moving–and we can’t wait for you to arrive! But before you start moving,

check out this list of moving tips to help ensure that your move to the

Pacific Northwest is as stress-free as possible.

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• Hire a moving company. Although it can be tempting (and seemingly cheaper) to move without professional help, bringing in the pros can help ensure that your move goes smoothly. A great moving company, like Lile Moving and Storage, is worth the extra expense when it comes time to pack up your belongings, truck them across cities or states, and unpack them again.

• Lighten your load. Before you start packing, go through your items to see what you can part with. Fewer items now mean much less to pack up and move later!

• Label your boxes properly. When you pack up your items, pack similar things into boxes together to make the unpacking process simple. Once items are packed and marked, it will be easy to move them into their proper room in your new home and unpack quickly.

• Give yourself enough time to pack. One of the biggest moving mistakes is underestimating the time it will take to pack up your home. You never realize how much stuff you have until you have to pack it away into boxes, so be sure to leave yourself plenty of time to pack your home in an organized manner to save yourself a few headaches later.

• Pack an “essentials” box. Let’s face it: after a long day of travel, you likely won’t be up to unpacking every single box. That’s why it is important to pack an “essentials” box containing the main items to get you started during your first few days in your new home. Things like a few changes of clothes, toi-letries, some paper towels and toilet paper, bath towels, and pet food if you have a pet. Then, you can bring this box with you on your travels and unpack it first!

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LOCAL INFORMATIONSo you’ve successfully made the move to the Pacific Northwest area and are

safely moved into your new home… now what? Now you begin your new life in this

wonderful, gorgeous, delightful place that will soon become your new home. To get

you started, we’ve provided a list of necessary information you’ll need to know as a

new resident of the Portland/Vancouver area.

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EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIESWith the unemployment rate in this area sitting around 6 percent, there are plenty of employment opportunities of all kinds for folks moving to the Pacific Northwest. Future job growth is expected to continue to trend upward, with growth in Portland expected to increase more than 30 percent over the next ten years. Any way you look at it, Portland and Vancouver offer endless employment opportunities for new young professionals and established career people alike.

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“Job growth in Portland is expected to increase more than 30 percent over the next ten years.”

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIESAre you planning on starting or continuing your education after your move to the Vancouver or Portland areas? The Pacific Northwest is home to many quality educational institutions that can help you achieve your goals.

Everest College-PortlandClark CollegePortland Bible CollegeManning Academy of CosmetologyAveda InstitutePortland Community CollegeNorthwest Renewable Energy InstituteWarner Pacific CollegePortland State UniversityConcordia Universityand many more

PROFESSIONAL SERVICESWhen you move to a new place, it is easy to forget about finding new professional services for your family. This list of great professional services in the area can help take care of your family in your first few months calling the Pacific Northwest home.

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Dentist:Highlander Dental

Medical Services:Peace Health

Church:Columbia Heights Assembly of God

Car Dealership:Bud Clary Auto Group

CPA:Davis and Associates

Financial Advisers: Nick Lemiere (Edward

Jones)

Hearing Aids:Obemeyer & Schrepel

Insurance:Patti Thorstenson of American National

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HOME SERVICESYour house isn’t really a home until you have professional home services set up and ready to go. As natives of the area, we’ve compiled a list of these home services that can help you get up and running before you know it!

Landscaping: Maint Backyard Blitz

Printer: Minutemen Press

Property Management: Real Living Property Management

Coffee: Red Leaf Coffee Co.

Security Systems: Northstar Alarm

Wireless Communications: Coleman Cellular

Electric Company: Masters Electric

Cable Company: Cascade Networks

Plumbing and Heating: Sessions Plumbing & Heating

Auto Repair: Esty’s Auto Center

Banking: Fibre Federal Credit Union

Contractor: W.A. Grasseth Construction

Roofer: All Top Roofing

Disaster Restoration: ServiceMaster

Employment Services: American Workforce Group

Florist: The Flower Pot

Janitorial: A-Ok Cleaning

Landscape Design: Swanson Bark and Wood

LOCAL ATTRACTIONSNow that you’ve got all you need at your home, it’s time to start exploring

the Pacific Northwest and enjoying all of the wonderful things that the

area has to offer. From outdoor activities and adventures to museums and

attractions, Portland and Vancouver have something exciting to offer for

everyone who chooses to call them home.

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OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES• Visit the Heirloom Garden at Fort

Vancouver for an enjoyable outdoor outing. This spot is a great choice for a date or a trip with the whole family to get some fresh air!

• Head to the Renaissance Trail–located on the riverfront–for a walk with truly beautiful views. You can even try rollerblading with your loved ones to see the area in a whole new way!

• Visit the Water Resources Education Center in Vancouver for an interesting and educational trip.

• If you’re the hiking type, you can’t beat a stroll and picnic at Moulton Falls! Ideal for beginners and expert hikers alike, you’ll enjoy getting some time in the outdoors with your loved ones.

• If you’re a wine lover, spend the weekend taking in the North Clark County Winery Loop!

• Take in the breathtaking views at Cannon Beach, do some great shopping at the many shops that dot the area, and spend time getting to know this gorgeous spot.

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“Ideal for beginners and expert hikers alike, you’ll enjoy getting some time in the outdoors with your loved ones. ”

MUSEUMS, OTHER ATTRACTIONSIf you’re looking for some indoor activities to take part in around Vancouver and Portland, there are tons to choose from to cover all tastes! Check out this list of museums in the area to enjoy:

• Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

• Portland Art Museum

• Oregon Historical Society Museum

• Portland Children’s Museum

• Oregon Jewish Museum

• World Forestry Center

• Vancouver Maritime Museum

• Museum of Vancouver

• Museum of Anthropology

• Vancouver Police Museum

• North Vancouver Museum

THE BEST RESTAURANTSLiving in Portland and Vancouver puts you in the perfect position to sample some of the best and unique cuisines in the Pacific Northwest. Here are some of our favorites that you simply must try–these are the local favorites that you don’t want to miss!

• The Masthead Restaurant

• Guadalajara Grill and Cantina

• Ichi Teriyaki

• Chambar Restaurant

• Hudson’s Bar and Grill

• Thai Terrace

• Andina

• Higgins Restaurant and Bar

• Le Pigeon

• Toro Bravo

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TAMPACONCLUSION

As Portland and Vancouver locals ourselves, let us be the first to

welcome you to your new home in the Pacific Northwest! We know you

will love your new home, and we can’t wait to be your pest management

go-to guys! To learn more about Interstate Pest Management, visit

www.interstatepest.com.