The Tampa Bay region is one of the fastest-growing areas of Florida. This region includes the cities of Tampa, Clearwater, and St. Petersburg. The city of Tampa is the largest of the three cities offering all the benefits of living in a metropolitan area surrounded by a permanent beach vacation vibe. Before making the move to the Tampa Bay region, find out more about this great area and learn how portable storage containers can simplify your move.
What to Know Before Moving to Tampa, FL
1. Job Market - Many families move to Tampa for the irresistible job market. The largest industries in the Tampa market are healthcare and social services, retail, finance, supply chain, and technology. There are many jobs in management, business and financial operations, and academic positions. With such a large Spanish-speaking population, bilingual job opportunities are easily found. Top employers include Progressive Insurance, BRP, KForce, Pinnacle Home Care, Jabil, Capital One Financial Corporation, The Port of Tampa, MetLife, BayCare Health System, Raymond James, Fisher Investments, CISCO, Publix, and ConnectWise.
2. Demographics - Many think of Florida as just a warm place to retire, but the strong job market in Tampa has greatly attracted those aged 25 - 45. While other areas in Florida attract more retirees, Tampa has developed more as a place for working families. There are many nationalities and cultures prevalent throughout the community.
3. Local Restaurants - The cultural diversity in Tampa Bay provides the perfect background for a wide range of local restaurants. Tampa eateries are best known for craft beer, Spanish food, Cuban sandwiches, and fantastic fish shacks.
4. Year-Round Sunshine - If sunshine and warm temperatures bring you joy, Tampa is where you will want to call home. Winter and spring are warm and sunny, and the temperature rarely drops below 60 degrees. Summer and fall bring more heat, humidity, and sometimes hurricanes, but you can always depend on the sunshine to reappear quickly. All that sunshine makes the occupants of the Tampa area friendlier; it’s true!
5. Outdoor Activities - Tampa has a deep list of beautiful outdoor destinations to explore. The Tampa Riverwalk is a popular spot to walk, jog, or bike while taking in breathtaking views. Tampa Bay is home to famous beaches, including Clearwater Beach, St Pete Beach, and the state park beaches of Caladesi Island and Fort DeSoto Park. Another popular way to experience the area's beauty is by stand-up paddle boarding or kayaking through the natural Florida mangroves to view native wild birds and abundant sea life.
6. Sports - Tampa has plenty of professional sports teams to cheer on year-round. Check out NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning, MLB’s Tampa Bay Rays, NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and USL’s Tampa Bay Rowdies.
7. The Arts - The Tampa Museum of Art is nestled in the center of Curtis Hixon Waterfront and the Straz Center for the Performing Arts, which offers performances every week, is located just steps away. The Dali Museum showcases beautiful paintings from the surrealist Salvador Dali and hosts different exhibitions to highlight other artists’ work. Located just over the bridge in St. Petersburg, Jannus Live is an intimate concert venue that hosts artists big and small. The Museum of Science and Industry is home to the only domed IMAX theater in Florida and an amazing planetarium.
8. Attractions - The attraction Tampa is best known for is Busch Gardens Tampa Bay which is the ultimate family adventure, combining world-class thrill rides, live entertainment, and more than 12,000 animals. Explore 56 acres of habitats at the award-winning Zoo Tampa and more than 20,000 aquatic animals and plants at the Florida Aquarium. Spend an afternoon learning and playing at Glazer Children’s Museum near the Tampa Riverwalk.
Checklist for Moving to Tampa, FL
● Create a budget. A budget can help guide you as you make big decisions about your move to Tampa. Moving to a new home can involve a down payment, closing costs, first and last month's rent deposit, packing and moving costs, and many other expenses. This will help you be prepared.
● Find a moving solution that will be a good fit for your situation. With so many options, choosing a company to partner with can be overwhelming, but researching all the possibilities before deciding can provide peace of mind. Be sure to compare companies to see who best fits your needs.
● Get rid of anything you won’t need before you begin packing. If you won’t have an immediate need for an item but are not ready to part with it just yet, consider storing it for a period of time.
● Make a detailed room-by-room inventory list of all your possessions and determine which items might require special packing and handling or extra insurance.
● Stock up on moving supplies like boxes, packing paper, and tape. 1-800-PACK-RAT now offers moving supplies that can be shipped directly to your door.
● Start by packing non-essential items such as home decor that you don’t need or use as often. Label each side of the box so the contents can be easily spotted from every angle, even if the boxes are stacked.
● Gather and organize all your important documents into one safe place. You will want to move these items personally.
● Make travel arrangements for you and your family. Book a hotel, rental car, or anything else you might need to arrive safely at your destination. If you are driving your car a long distance, take time to get it serviced beforehand.
● Contact your utility companies and other service providers to disconnect service at your old address and connect the service to your new place.
If you prefer to have a little more control over the moving process and moving timeline, consider using portable storage from 1-800-PACK-RAT. Your portable storage unit will arrive in your driveway or on your street, ready to be loaded. You can conveniently load everything right from your original destination. Of course, with portable storage, you can leave the driving to us, which means leaving the stress behind, no matter if you are making a local or long-distance move! If you have any questions about our services, feel free to contact us.