Last Updated on May 23, 2023 by Kari-Ann Ryan
Your dream job can challenge you, help you form new professional and personal relationships and empower you to live your best lifestyle. However, sometimes your dream job requires you to uproot and move to a new city to take it.
Whether you’ve accepted a job offer, scheduled several interviews or simply started job hunting out of town, you must be prepared for the unique challenges inherent in the process of moving with job relocation in mind. In this blog, we’ll guide you through the fundamentals of this prospect.
1. Ask About Relocation Services Your Employer Offers
If your employer has multiple locations or recruits nationwide, the company may offer relocation services to ensure that the professionals they want have the incentive to join their team. If possible, schedule an in-person meeting with a knowledge company representative to discuss your needs and their options.
Even if your employer does not generally offer relocation services, you may be able to negotiate certain financial benefits to make the transition easier. Employer relocation services may include:
- Job placement services for your spouse
- Rental and home buying guidance
- Stipends for house hunting trips
The specific options will vary widely from company to company so check what’s available to you as soon as you know you’ll be relocating. Then you can begin to fill in any gaps between services your employer offers.
2. Calculate Your Relocation Costs and Possible Deductions
Around the same time that you start discussing relocation services with your employer, you should begin to calculate your potential moving costs. Not only will you need a budget that you can work with personally, but your research could affect the relocation benefits offered to you.
Consider presenting your company’s representative with an itemized moving cost estimate when you meet with them about relocation benefits.
As you do your math, determine which, if any, moving costs are going to be tax deductible for you. When you move specifically to take a new job, some of your expenses are likely to be deductible. Meet with a tax professional or accountant to discuss your specific circumstances.
3. Choose Short-Term Housing at First
When you move to take a job, you make a lot of new commitments one right after another. While some of these commitments can help you adjust and put down roots, others may negatively impact how you live in your new city.
For example, jumping into a home purchase with little or no knowledge of the area or condition of the home could trap you with a mortgage you can’t afford or a property you don’t love. Plan to rent instead for six months to a year when you arrive. If you’re in the market for a permanent home, consider renting to own a home that looks promising.
4. Partner With a Reputable Moving Company
Many job relocation moves involve traveling a large distance, otherwise you’d likely stay put when you took the job. When you move long-distance, your move becomes increasingly complex.
You must coordinate several different events, from signing your lease to shipping your items, and account for more moving-related challenges, like protecting fragile items over thousands of miles. When you partner with a reputable moving company, you get the advice and services you need to overcome these hurdles.
As you begin shopping for a mover, consider discussing your timeline with a representative. Many moving companies offer services to streamline job relocations. For example, if you’ll need to arrive in town before you get the keys to your new home, your mover may offer local storage to keep your items close.
5. Visit the Area in Advance If Possible
If possible, plan at least one trip to your new hometown before your actual move. These trips can be vitally important in the search for housing, the establishment of your new social network and the creation of your familiarity with the area.
Talk to your friends, family members and coworkers about your move. If you can find contacts in the area, you may be able to reduce your trip costs by staying at someone’s home instead of in a hotel. These contacts may also serve as the start of lasting relationships.
In addition to looking at housing and transportation options, you may want to prioritize other resources as well. For example, you may want to make it your goal to find:
- A new primary care physician
- Nearby grocery stores
- Your local library
You should also parse out the cost of living in your new city if possible during these trips. You can start to do this by making sure you fill up a car’s gas tank, have an essentials shopping trip and attend at least one event you commonly go to while in town.
6. Work with a Professional Moving Company
Use this guide to help you make confident and informed choices about your job relocation as moving day approaches. In addition to these tips, discuss your exact circumstances with your employer and mover to get personalized recommendations.
For expert relocation services from and experienced team, contact Mid-West Moving & Storage at 847.593.7201 or fill out a contact form to receive a free quote.
