by comparison, buffalo winters are no great shakes!  

            Mention relocation and a lot of folks in this area begin to fantasize. Sure, they say, I’d love to relocate to someplace really great! One of those warm-climate regions that we can’t help but equate with paradise. We’re talking Florida’s Gulf or East Coast. Or maybe California. Arizona’s often high on the list, too.

            But wait! That was then, this is now.

And guess what? The allure of the sunny tropics and the balmy beaches and the comfy coastlines just isn’t quite as lustrous as it once was. For many, the bloom is off the rose in that love affair.

Instead – ready for some irony? – more and more people are thinking relocation all right…. relocating back to Western New York! Or perhaps setting down roots here for the first time.

If you think “snow” is a chilling four-letter word, the fact is it’s a walk in the park compared to some of Mother Nature’s recent examples of her ability to make life nasty when she wants to. Certainly everyone is aware of the incredible onslaught of hurricanes that not only recently damaged or destroyed billions of dollars worth of Florida property, but have also taken a destructive toll on people’s collective psyche.

Hurricanes Roaring Toward You Again?

People are beginning to re-think this whole “I’m going to retire to Florida” thing. What they may gain in sunshine, they now fear losing in fundamental things like the security and stability of their property and their most important investment. Plus, there’s the nagging worry that the next hurricane may be roaring toward them at any time.

Indeed, at Robitaille Real Estate, I have an agent whose husband may be transferred back to Florida. They’re not looking forward to it. They’re clearly not interested in buying a house there, they told me, but would rather rent instead. They just no longer want to make an investment there.

What a different tune people are singing today! The sunshine state hasn’t officially become the hurricane state, but the headlines in recent weeks have said it all. The weather is always a hot news item, of course, because it affects everyone, everywhere, every day. And the weather is a question of concern we never run away from at Robitaille Relocation.

We’re A Four-Season Climate

Newcomers to the Buffalo area query us about the weather, and we answer their questions in a matter of fact manner, supported with statistics. We tell them straight out – and proudly – that this is a four-season climate, offering diversity and beauty in at least four different ways.

Let’s face it: this is the northeast. Winter happens. And winter is a part of the year-long weather system. We give all our newcomers a special relocation kit packed with comprehensive information about their new community. Including, of course, the weather. We even make the distinction between a “lake effect snow storm” and a routine winter snowfall. The more people know and understand, the greater their comfort level.

Besides, you can shovel snow, but you can’t shovel a hurricane. And don’t forget the fun in making snow angels!

Best of all (not counting those who love Buffalo winters, and you know who you are), spring has followed winter in Buffalo every year that I can recall. Then comes summer. And get ready for another hot fact: Buffalo recently came in, statistically, as the top-ranking city among eight major metropolitan areas, in percentage of sunshine during summer daylight hours, average rainfall, and July afternoon temperatures.

Stellar Statistics

For example, Buffalo topped Boston, New York City, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Albany, and Pittsburgh in the percentage of daylight hours (67%) from June through August. Boston came in second, Pittsburgh last.

Ok, so this past summer here won’t win any awards. Not a lot of real hot days, too many rainy ones. Disappointing – but compared to what? Hurricanes? And Western New York was not alone in the unusually inclement climate this summer.

A local TV news channel contacted me at the time of the first hurricane, Francis, and they asked me if I’d noticed any movement back to this region from Florida. Of course, it’s still too early to effectively answer that question. It would only be speculation that people may second-guess their move from this region to Florida at this time.

Snow Storms Rarely Disrupt Much

I can tell you, though, that I have many friends and acquaintances that own property in Florida and are traveling there to access the damage from the recent spate of hurricanes. I can’t imagine not only the destruction, but also the utter inconvenience of not having power for weeks on end. Keep in mind that a snowstorm rarely disrupts the delivery of power and other utilities. For the most part, it goes like this: snow falls, you shovel it, you move on.

So, when the topic turns to relocation, Robitaille Relocation & Real Estate makes it clear: Western New York gets four distinct and usually pretty delightful seasons. Hurricanes? Sorry, you’ve got to go to Florida for those.