Sand, heat, and fun in the Valley of the Sun! If you’re considering a move to Arizona here are some things you should know before you arrive! 

It’s hot!

This may come as no surprise… it’s hot in Arizona. Average Summer months are around 105 °F  and highs can climb as high as 121°F. Thankfully Arizona has nearly 8 months of awesome outdoor weather great for hiking, festivals and other outdoor sports. Arizona generally does not reach 100°F degree temperatures until June and temperatures start to cool back down in October.

Vehicle Maintenance

The elements cause additional wear on the structure of your car so routine care and maintenance is a must! Here are some things to know:

• Car batteries don’t last long- if you get 2 years on a battery, you are doing good!

• Belts and hoses dry-rot faster

• Change your air filter - frequent dust storms will clog systems faster

• Windshields crack easily.  Tip- Roll your windows down about an inch to allow heat to escape the vehicle

• Leather interiors dry and crack faster

• Tires melt, split and crack

If you are planning on staying in Arizona, you may want to consider spending the money on window car tint and windshield covers. This will assist in cooling the inside of your car down. The inside of your car can reach temperatures of 150 °F plus during the Summer and you should never leave the following in your vehicle:

• Children

• Pets

• Food

• Electronics

Dust Storms and Haboobs

In Arizona Haboobs and dust storms are generally seen June through September. Homes become very dusty inside in a matter of days. Changing your home air conditioner filter every 30 days is highly recommended! When the weather becomes cooler and you turn on your heater for the first time it is common to for dust to have settled on the heater coils and create mild smoke which will set off the smoke detectors.

Driving during dust storms can be difficult as vision becomes restricted. Here are some great tips from the Arizona department of public safety on driving during a dust storm.

When it rains it pours

With over 300 sunny days, there isn’t much left for a rainy season. When it does rain, get ready for a downpour! Arizona gets monsoons during the months of July, August and September. Monsoons will bring a rain downpour of an inch of rain in just a matter of minutes! Monsoons tends to bring flooding due to the washes/river beds and that is why it is a good idea to have flooding coverage on your renters insurance.  

Insects and Pests

There are over 450 common bugs and insects in Arizona.  For a complete listing of insects with identification pictures check out the Insect Identification website.

Commonly seen Arizona pests include:

• Ants

• Beetles

• Moths

• Spiders

• Scorpions

• Wasps

Pets

When relocating with your furry family it’s important to remember:

• If the ground is too hot for your feet, it’s too hot for you pets paws

• Do not leave pets in vehicles

• Do not leave pets outside for long periods of time

• Make sure they have plenty of water, food and shade if they are outside

Public Transportation

Arizona is not known for a well diverse form of public transportation but we’re working on it! Unless you are located in walking areas like downtown Phoenix and Tempe chances are you are going to need a vehicle to get you around town. Though we are limited, we do have:

• City Public Bus

• Light Rail

• Taxi’s

• Uber/Lyft

• Rentable bikes and scooters

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Check out the complete listing of public transportation at Valley Metro website.

Tax

We pay tax on apartment rental in Arizona. Depending on what city you reside in you will pay  a percentage of the rental tax.

Time Zones

No need to worry about changing yours clocks as Arizona doesn’t spring forward or fall back.

Ready to make your move and put your sandals on year round? Check out Camden’s Arizona properties for your new home!