Minnesota-Saint Paul is the most populous urban area in Minnesota.  The area is nicknamed the Twin Cities but is actually two very distinct cities.  There are many remarkable differences that someone relocating to this area would naturally take into account.  Minneapolis with its broad boulevards, easily navigable grid layout and modern downtown architecture has been referred to as the “first” or furthest east city of the American West.  Minneapolis is still affected by the early and still influential Scandinavian and Lutheran heritage.  Saint Paul, which sports narrower streets  laid out much more irregularly, clannish neighborhoods and a vast collection of well preserved late Victorian architecture, is considered to the “last” farthest west of the Eastern cities.  Stint Paul was touched by its early Irish and German Catholic roots.

Often the area is referred to as simply “The Cities, both within Minnesota but generally outside the metropolitan region and even the bordering states of Iowa, Wisconsin and the Dakotas.  Minneapolis/St. Paul is relatively isolated from other major North American cities but many people are drawn to relocate there by the perpetually health economy and flourishing cultural scene.  While the majority of state residents live in the Twin cities region the area is one of several distinct regions of Minnesota, 

The Bloomington area attracts many wishing to move to a very large suburb.  It is the home of Mall of America which draws visitors from all around the world. There are several other rings of suburbs extending outward from the core area and having two central cities can make it difficult for visitors or those relocating to learn the arrangement of cities and towns,.  There are 188 municipalities in the seven county region.  This makes the need for knowledgeable moving firms and real estate agents even greater.

Minneapolis and St. Paul have competed for attention ever since they were founded, sometimes resulting in a fair amount of duplication of effort.  The tow cities have sometimes tried to outdo one another by building bigger or more extravagantly.  Both cities have campuses of the University of Minnesota, for instance, and after St Paul completed its elaborate cathedral in 1915, Minneapolis quickly followed up with the equally ostentatious Basilica of St. Mary in 1926.  In the late 19th and early 20th centuries the rivalries became so intense that an architect practicing in one city was often refused business in the other.  The rivalry could occasionally erupt into inter city violence as happened at a 1923 game between the Minneapolis Millers and the St. Paul Saints, both of the American Association.

The Twin Cities area is considered the capital for the arts in the Upper Midwest.  There is a very high per capita attendance of theatrical, musical, and comedy events across the area, which some believe may be boosted by the cold winters but can more realistically be attributed to the large number of colleges universities and a generally strong economy, providing a strong supply and demand for arts,.

If you desire to be moving to an area where enjoyment of nature abounds, there are a number of lakes in the region and cities in the area have some very extensive park systems for recreation.  Some studies have shown that area resident take wonderful advantage of this and are among the most physically fit in the country. 

Medicine is a major industry in the region and the University of Minnesota in Rochester has joined other colleges and hospitals in doing significant research.  Many medical technicians are moving to the area to work for major medical device manufacturers.  Technical innovators have brought important advances in computing, including the Cray line of supercomputers.

It is common for residents of the Twin Cites area to own or share cabins or other real estate along lakes and forested area in the central and northern regions of the state and weekend trips “up north” happen through the warmer months.  Ice fishing is also a major pastime in the winter.  ATV riding an numerous other outdoor activities are also popular.  This connectedness with the outdoors also brings a strong sense of environmentalism to many Minnesotans.

Minneapolis/St. Paul is also a major center for religion in the state.  No matter what is your faith you need not worry in moving or relocating to the area as your faith with surely be represented.   The state headquarters of the missionary efforts of three churches are found here:  The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul, the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota and the Presbyterian Synod of Lakes and Parries find themselves in, Saint Paul and Minneapolis and Bloomington.  The headquarters of the former American Lutheran Church was located in Minneapolis and their successor, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Augsburg Fortress publishing house, still are.  The Minneapolis Area Synod and the St. Paul Area Synod are the first and third larges synods of the ELCA.

The Twin Cities have always had Jewish population and re home to several Jewish synagogues.  There is also a strong Indian community and in 2006, the first Hindu temple opened in the Twin Cities suburb of Maple Grove.  A recent influx of immigrants from Laos and Northern Africa has brought many more religions to the area.  There are several Islamic Masjids in the are however, the Twin Cites still lack a proper Mosque.  There is temple for the religion of Eckankar in the suburb of Chanhassen known as the Temple of Eck.  In addition, Hmong and Tibetan Buddhist communities exist in Saint Paul; a Hmong Buddhist temple opened in suburban Roseville in 1995.

There is a strong non religious community in the Twin Cities.  Since as early as 1984 it has been home to many different groups including the Minnesota Atheists, Humanists of Minnesota, Atheists for Human Rights, and the Campus Atheists and Secular Humanists t the University of Minnesota,  There are several very strong Unitarian Universalist communities such as the First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis, as well as several Pagan and Buddhist groups.  The Twin Cities continues to become more religiously diverse each year.  Many are relocating there.  They are moving to the freedom and diversity of religion

Along with the state of Minnesota, the Twin Cities area was shaped by water and ice over the course of millions of years.  The land of the area sits on top of thick layers of sandstone and limestone laid down as seas encroached upon and receded from the region.  Erosion caused the natural caves to develop, which were expanded into mines when white settlers came to the area.  In the time of Prohibition, at least one speak easy was built into these hidden spaces and was eventually refurbished as the Wabasha Street Caves in St.Paul.

Because it is fairly easy to dig through limestone and there are many natural and man made open spaces it has often been proposed that the area should examine the idea of building subways for public transportation. 

Owing to its northerly latitude an inland location the Twin Cities experiences the coldest climate of any major metropolitan area in the United States.  The Twin Cities takes the brunt of many types of extreme weather including high velocity straight line winds, tornadoes, flash floods, drought, heat, cold and blizzards.  This severe weather does not deter those seeking employment, economic stability and “quality” lifestyle from moving to the area.

Relocation can be very stressful without a plan.  It may be cost effective and frustration effective to employ a firm to assist.  Moving is a stressful, exhausting, and sometimes overwhelming project for most people.  Moving or relocation firms assist with the entire process of moving a family, an individual, or a household. They are listed in conventional yellow page listing under the category of movers and on the Internet.  There are locator pages for these firms that find listings by zip code in the “from” and the “to” locations. It is possible to go online and search the sites that are listed as “move me”

Moving professionals will assist in packing and unpacking, but much more, putting you in touch with the right people to making sure your power and phones are working.

Professional moving firms bring patience and discernment to your relocation.  They even help separating items for the move, for donation, or even setting up a moving sale before you move.  Whether you are physically there for the move of whether they act as your representative, they have done it all.

Senior citizens downsizing and families moving into a larger space would be benefited by such service.  This can help to remove the emotional, traumatic and physical demand inherent in moving and most of all provide support during this otherwise stressful time.

Relocation firms will personalize the move in a most efficient manner that will make the transition much smoother without the problems often incurred in the moving process.  Many of these professionals offer flexibility, patience and most of all the great sense of humor to the relocation experience.

Simplifying your move to Minneapolis/St Paul can begin by sitting down with the relocation or moving professional.  Many offer a complimentary consultation and will strive to get to know the client and to understand the client’s needs.  The primary goal of this service would be to:

    Establish a well thought out plan for the move.
    Laying out a floor plan that makes the move logical and sequential.

Giving the client all the resources needed from realtor estate firms and appraiser, from new banks to handy men services.

4 to 6 months in advance contact a moving professional and start the assisted relocation process.  This is also a good time to start a “Moving” file to keep all of the records and receipts in one handy location.  Select a realtor to sell your home and purchase the one.  Then contact a mortgage lender and an attorney for closing. 

• 3 months before moving day is the time to get estimates from professional movers and select one.  The relocation specialist will help make a floor plan sketch of the new home and furniture placement for the movers.

• 2 months before moving day  If you have furniture that needs to be repaired of reupholstered, send it out now and have it delivered to you new home in Minneapolis/ St Paul

•  1 month before moving day the relocation service will contact the utility companies to transfer service, discontinue service, or initiate new service.  Transfer newspaper and magazines deliveries.  Arrange to discontinue all regular service such as lawn service and snow removal.  Begin to scale down by holding a garage or estate sale.  Donate unsold items to you favorite charity.  The moving firm will order boxes and materials.  They will do the packing of items you will not need until after your move.  They will also arrange to have the present home cleaned after you have vacated.

• 3 days before moving day defrost the refrigerator and freezer and leave the doors open Pack a suitcase to help you through the move.  Include 2 changes of clothing, nightwear, toiletry and medication.

Moving day the professionals will be at your house to greet movers and oversee the move.  The firms will direct the moving company to the new home and supervise the unloading directing the movers on furniture placement.  They will verify the moving company’s bill of lading so that you will know that everything was delivered.

In any move or relocation there may be a need to sell property in your old location and buy real estate in the new location.  The services of competent real estate agents and brokers are not only time savers but will insure that contracts and official documents are correctly prepared and filed with the proper government agency.  Real Estate companies often also have a rental property management service.  If you do not wish to sell property that you own just because you are relocating agents from these real estate firms can show and rent your real estate as well as employ maintenance crews for necessary repairs.  For a flat rate or percent of rental income you can be off and moving to your new location with the peace of mind that your real estate is being taken care of.

The same holds true for the location you are moving to.  Real estate firms there will have agents who will help you find rental property.  This can be time effective as they will have screened the property and can match the available rentals to your needs.  If you wish to purchase real estate there will also be agents who will act as the buyer’s representative.  Real estate agents normally act in the interests of the seller but a real estate buyer’s agent can save you time and costly mistakes by knowing the laws and property values.

Real estate professionals can guide you through the ins and outs of deed and title searches, inspections, and real estate closings

There may also be a need to place items in self storage.  Perhaps the new home is still being painted or the old tenants had to remain past your expectations. Some people would prefer to wait until they arrive in a city to start looking for a permanent home and stay in hotels or short term apartments while searching. There are thousands of self storage facilities in Minneapolis and St. Paul but not all of them are the most desirable.  It is very important to visit the facility and ask lots of questions about security, maintenance, pest control, snow removal, gate access hours and office hours.

Many nationwide self storage firms have a reservations hot line or a web site.  You are usually able to search the web site by zip code to find the facility nearest your location.  With the escalating price of gasoline and the time poverty epidemic nearly 90 % of self storage tenants who responded to exit surveys said that convenience of the location of the self storage facility was the most important consideration.

The self storage professionals on site or on the phones will assist you with picking a size and type that will best fill your needs.  Some questions that you should be prepared to answer are:  “When will you need to store with us”?  And” What are you storing”?

Self storage facility also has extensive selections in moving and storage supplies.  Many of them are paired with a truck rental company and in areas such as Minneapolis and St Paul where most people either have only passenger car or use public transportation the self storage facility will have a truck to use free with your move in.  Many of them also offered a driver.

Some self storage companies also offer special pricing for the first month. However, tenants who will not need storage for more than a month or two needs to make certain that there is no minimum stay requirements.  Many company’s offer a month to month agreement so there are no lease pay out fees.

A reputable and well maintained self storage facility can offer great peace of mind and security while the newcomer is in transition.