RICHMONDHOMEOWNER’S GUIDE TO

PRESENTED BY: PESTMASTERS

HOMEOWNER RESOURCES 2

MOVING TIPS AND TRICKS 4

LOCAL INFORMATION 6

LOCAL ATTRACTIONS 12

CONTENTSTABLE OF

MOVING TO RICHMOND?

Moving to a new place can be stressful and overwhelming for even the most seasoned traveler, so to welcome you to our neck of the woods, we’ve crafted this helpful Homeowner’s Guide to Moving to Richmond to help ease your transition. Below, you’ll find everything you need to know to make your move smooth and easy,

including everything from the best neighborhoods to live in, the best restaurants to dine at, the best places for the kids to go to school, and everything in between. Read on to get the inside scoop on what all the locals know to be true, so you can enjoy your move more and become a true local in no time.

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW.

So you have decided to make a move to Richmond huh? Congratulations, you’ve made a fantastic choice! Richmond is a gorgeous place and a wonderful city to call home. “Tree City USA,” as it has been called for the past 25 years, is a fantastic blend of beautiful scenery, kind people, rich history, and awesome

things to do. When you choose to live in Richmond, you’re choosing to live somewhere where you can never truly be bored.

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HOMEOWNER’S RESOURCESBuying a home in a new place seems pretty straightforward, but the truth

is, moving to a completely new place presents a unique set of challenges.

Please read below to find our recommendations for everything from the best

real estate agents to help you find your new home, to the best pest control

company to keep your new home pest-free!

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REAL ESTATE AGENTSBuying a home in a completely new place is no easy task, but having the right real estate agent on your side is a great way to bypass much of the stress and worry and find your dream home sooner than you ever thought possible. While there are many real estate agents who work in the Richmond area, not all are created equal. To find your special home, your friends here at PestMasters recommend Diane Long of Long and Foster or Emily Mercer of Virginia Properties.

UTILITY COMPANIESOnce you have bought your new home, you can’t move in until you have your utilities established. With so many companies in the Richmond area to choose from, how can you make sure you’re making the right choice? Check out our recommendations!

“While there are many real estate agents who work in the Richmond area, not all are created equal.”

Water:City of Richmond

Electric Company:Dominion Virginia

Power

Cable Company:Verizon Fios

Lawn and Pest:PestMasters

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MOVING RESOURCESSo you have your home and you have your basic utilities covered - the next

step is securing the companies that will make life in your new abode more

comfortable once you get all moved in. Here are our recommendations for

various home-related needs that you can count on to make your transition to

Richmond as painless as possible.

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MOVING TIPS AND TRICKSSo now your home is all set for your big move! But, there are some things that you should know as a new homeowner relocating to the Richmond area. Check out our homeowner tips and tricks below to ensure that your first few days in your new home are happy ones!

• The winters get a little tricky in Richmond. Before you head into a winter season, it is important to ensure that your home is winterized and that your heater is in great shape!

• Living in Virginia is fantastic, but unfortunately, we do have a lot of bugs and pests around here. At the first sign of a pest, you should call your neighborhood exterminators at PestMasters to do an inspection and help you get rid of those pests before they spread!

• Soon after you move in, check the insulation in your attic and around your home. You’ll want to make sure that your insulation is properly installed and still in good condition, as this can help regulate your home’s temperatures in the hot summers and frigid winters that Virginia is so famous for!

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LOCAL INFORMATIONYou can do all the research you want, but there are some things that you

simply can’t learn just from looking at the internet. Some things are best

learned from the locals themselves! Check out the following list of local

information that will help make your move to Richmond easier, and ease

your transition into your new home.

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LOCAL COMMUNITIESWhen you begin searching for a home in Richmond, you can use this cheat sheet to help give

you a nudge in the right direction! You’ll soon be a local yourself in no time.

Rosemont: If you’re looking for a home in the lap of luxury, this upscale neighborhood is definitely for you!

Monument Avenue: If you like your home to contain a good bit of history and intrigue, Monument Avenue may be the place for you to make your home.

Twin Hickory: Home to plenty of ranch and two-story style luxury homes, the Twin Hickory development is a perfect setting to raise a family.

Salisbury: If you want to try your hand at upscale country club living, Salisbury is the perfect place for you to fit in.

River Road: River Road is a great place for young or established professionals to call home, or to raise a family in a beautiful and safe setting.

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SCHOOLSDo you have a growing family, or hope to have one in the near future? If so, part of your decision on where to live rests on the location of the best schools in the area--and the Richmond area is full of wonderful schools for all of your children.

COLLEGESYour kids aren’t the only ones who can get a great education around the Richmond area. Whether you are hoping to continue your own education or looking forward to higher education for your own kids, Richmond has you covered.

Elementary School: Fairfield Court Elementary SchoolBroad Rock Elementary SchoolLinwood Holton Elementary School

Middle Schools: Hill Middle SchoolBoushall Middle SchoolBinford Middle School

High Schools: George Wythe High SchoolArmstrong High SchoolThomas Jefferson High School

Colleges: Virginia Commonwealth UniversityUniversity of RichmondVirginia Union University Union Presbyterian Seminary

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“Richmond area is full of wonderful schools for all of your children.”

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PROFESSIONAL COMPANIESWhen you move to a new place, part of getting settled is getting a new set of professional companies that can help you out when the time comes. Finding new financial planners and other professional companies that you may need can be a hassle, but lucky for you, we’ve come up with a list of helpful professionals that can ensure that you have what you need. Check out our list below for our suggestions:

Accountant: Briegler and Associates, WellsColeman, Pilc and Moseley

Attorneys: Todd B. Stone Law Office, Riley Wells, Vaughan C. Jones Attorney at Law

Financial Planner: Atlas Financial, Groom Financial Advisory, Morgan Stanley

THINGS TO KNOW • Richmond is steeped in history from the

Civil War, so you better brush up on your Civil War history if you want to fit in!

• Do you love donuts? Richmond residents do too...Dixie Donuts that is! If you’re craving some sugar on a Saturday, or any day of the week for that matter, Dixie Donuts should be on speed-dial!

• Richmond is situated right smack between mountains to the west and the beach to the east, making the city close for any day trips you may want to undertake!

“Dixie Donuts should be on speed-dial!”

HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALSOne of the most stressful parts of your move to Richmond may be establishing new health care professionals to take care of you and your family. Although you should choose the healthcare providers who are right for you and your family’s needs, here are our suggestions for professional healthcare providers right here in Richmond:

Hospital: Chippenham Hospital

Pediatrician: Commonwealth Pediatrics

Dentist: George Oley, DDS

General Practitioner: Reynolds Primary Care

EMERGENCY SERVICESHospital: Chippenham Hospital

Richmond Police Department: (804) 646-3602

Richmond Fire Department: (804) 646-6640

GROCERY STORESFarm FreshSouthern SeasonBig Apple SupermarketStrawberry Street Market

Richmond is known for its farmers markets - it is a typical family pastime to enjoy going through a market or two on weekends.QUICK TIP! 10

EMPLOYMENTAt a comfortable 5.3%, Richmond’s unemployment rate is actually lower than the national average! Job growth and projected job growth outpace the national average by a full two percentage points as well.

WEATHER AND CLIMATERichmond is unique in that it has typically cold and harsh winters, but also very warm summers. This makes it the perfect place for those who like a little snow and a little sun! Rain is a frequent occurrence, so be sure to keep an eye on the weather if you are planning any outdoor activities!

TRANSPORTATIONLike many large cities, Richmond has its own transit line to make commuting to and from the city easy and painless. The GRTC Transit System is easy to learn, easy to use, and a great way to get around the downtown area whether for work or for pleasure. If you plan to drive into the city, keep in mind that parking is at a premium!

GOVERNMENT INFORMATIONTo learn more information about our local government, click here.

Mayor: Dwight C. Jones

City Auditor: Umesh V. Dalal

City Clerk: Jean Capel

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LOCAL ATTRACTIONSLiving in Richmond is more than fun and games, but the fun and games

are the best part! Steeped in a rich cultural history, surrounded by great

attractions and full of fun things to do, Richmond is a place that truly has

something for everyone. Once you are settled into your new home, make

sure you check out our recommendations for local attractions so you can

get started enjoying all the best that our city has to offer!

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GREAT RESTAURANTSIf food is your thing, you’ve come to the right place. Richmond has a rich and varied culture of cuisine that can satisfy anyone’s taste buds. We encourage you to explore all the flavors that Richmond has to offer and find your favorites, too!

Best American RestaurantsBoathouse RestaurantThe ContinentalAlexander’s Barbecue

Best Mexican RestaurantsPlaza AztecaFiesta Chicken

Best Italian RestaurantsLa Grotta RistoranteEnoteca Sogno

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ACTIVITIES• Sycamore Creek Golf Course

• Byrd Theatre

• The Diamond Baseball Stadium

• The Richmond Coliseum

• Visit the Maymont Nature Center

• Check out the Hollywood Cemetery

• Take a private historical tour

ACTIVITIES• Virginia State Capitol

• Edgar Allan Poe Museum

• Science Museum of Virginia

• Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

• American Civil War Museum

TAMPACONCLUSION

Well, there you have it, all the local information you need - straight from the

locals themselves to help get you started in your new home in Richmond.

We truly hope that you enjoy all the perks of living in this wonderful city, and

that it soon starts to feel like home.

Let your friends at PestMasters be the first to welcome you home to

Richmond, we can’t wait to call you neighbors for many years to come. And

don’t forget, if you ever run into any pest control issues in your new home,

you can always call us to take care of it!

To learn more about PestMasters, visit www.pestmasters.com.