Moving help

Perhaps someone - maybe at your new job, or even a friendly face here on the forum can mail you the for rent section of the Avis once or twice a week and you can make some appointments to see some places for when you arrive.
I doubt you are planning to rent somewhere sight unseen so plan ahead now for some accommodations for a week or two at a guest house or small hotel and you will be able to find something during that time.

Good evening to all.
I will be moving to St. Croix in August. I have figured out my method of travel, and arranged for my shipping. I will be traveling with my family, and one small Chihuahua. I am looking for a rental property. I would like to sign a one year lease, so I can have a year to find a more perminat housing solution. My new job is in Christiansted, so I would prefer to live close to work. My visits to the islands have been brief, so I could really use some help finding housing. If anyone has some good suggestions it would be greatly appreciated.
I have already contacted real estate agents, and the outcome has been less than positive.
Suggestions are greatly appreciated.

How many bedrooms do you need? How many people total? What price range? I have one available now and one in two months.

Thank you Exit Zero, that is some sound advice.
What is Avis? My new employer did send me some links to real estate agents, and I did leave messages for them. I hope that I will hear something on Monday.

Good evening CruzanIron.
There are 5 of us. 2 adults, 3 children, and a 5lb. Chihuahua.
We would like to get at least 3 bedrooms, because 2 of the children like to share a room. 2 bathrooms would be preferable, but not necessary. What do you have available?

The Avis is the STX daily paper. It is not available online as far as I know.

Thank you Exit Zero. That is good to know. I will grab a newspaper post haste when I get there. Hopefully I can get a place nailed down before I get there, but I know it might not work out that way. I will be teaching in the fall, so I would like to spend as little time as possible getting a place and more time preparing for school.
If you by chance happen to see something in the Avis, could you possibly send me a snippet about it? It would be greatly appreciated.

Hopefully I can get a place nailed down before I get there, but I know it might not work out that way.

Perhaps you didn't focus on ExitZero's comment but it is a VERY BAD idea to try and rent a place "before you get there". NEVER EVER rent a place sight unseen - and "seeing" a listing in a newspaper or photographs on the internet is NOT REALLY SEEING IT. You have to do it in person. I can't stress this enough. The simple truth is "things are not always what they seem".

When you come down be prepared to stay someplace temporarily while you search for a more permanent home. It may be a bit inconvenient and a little costly but believe me it will be a small price to pay and in the long run will be worth your time and effort.

Good luck.

True what Afriend says.
You'll need to find something that's close to kid's school and yours, in a safe, quiet location in your price range and you can only do that with feet on the ground there to ascertain your likes and needs.

When you get to STX, enlist the aid of a Realtor. Being actually on island and actively looking is far different than being stateside requesting listing for rentals that probably won't be available by the time you arrive. A Realtor can give you valuable information on various locations and improve the odds of you finding something you'll like, long-term.

Don't rent sight unseen, long-term.
Pictures and the reality can be quite different.

Rates for vacation rentals are lower during summer months. You can check on www.flipkey.com, airbnb, vrbo.com, etc. There are also reduced rates at guest houses and hotels at this time of year.
Good luck.

You might also consider doing what many do - one of you adults come down a week or two in advance and find a place to live, with the rest of the family and the dog following once you're in the new place. Far less expensive and much less stressful than trying to find a temporary place to stay for such a large family and a dog (which is not going to be easy at all).

If you need someplace no-frills super cheap to stay temporarily while looking try Villa Morales guest house.

Good evening everyone.
Thank you for all your advice, it is very helpful.
I would love to come down ahead of my family, but it is not an option for me. My husband is disabled, and I think it would be too much for him to make the drive from Colorado to Jacksonville alone with the kids. We will just have to hotel it in St. Croix, and hope for the best.
I have called a realtor and I hope she is looking for me, but we will just have to wait and see. No worries, things always have a way of working out in the end. 🙂

Probably want a vrbo, as it will probably be cheaper if you pay by the week. Just a thought.