Introduction
Relocating for a job is never easy, but it can be worth it if you’re relocating somewhere with better opportunities or more affordable housing.
Here are some tips and tricks that will help make your move go smoothly:
Is relocating for a job worth it?
Moving for a job can be stressful. You must ensure that the new location is right for you and your family. Think about what’s important in your life, like schools, family and friends, or a particular climate or lifestyle.
For example, if you’re moving with young children, you want to consider school districts and extracurricular activities like sports teams and music lessons.
If this is the first time you’ve relocated for work, there are many things to consider when making this decision. First, finding out as much information as possible about where you’re going will help ease some of those nerves.
This article will focus on job relocation tips for those who’ve already received a job offer at a new company or are relocating for a new position in their existing company.
How long does relocating for a job take?
The time it takes to move for a job will depend on a variety of factors, such as:
The distance you’ll be moving
How much stuff do you have to move
How much time do you have available for the move
Whether you are hiring movers or doing the move yourself (or using a rental truck, etc)
You can expect the process of moving to take at least three months—and sometimes more than six months—depending on where you’re moving from and where you’re moving to. This is because movers need time to pack up your belongings, move them and store them in storage units until they’re needed again.
How does relocating for a job work?
Before jumping into any major decisions, make sure you have a good understanding of your company’s relocation policy and benefits package so that when it comes time for your move, you don’t have any surprises waiting for you along the way.
Learn as much as possible about where they’re sending you so that when it comes time to pack up and get ready to go, everything will go smoothly.
What are the advantages of relocating for a job?
If you are moving for a job, you already have a good reason to be there. You can get a fresh start in a new place and make a name for yourself in the local community. You might also have an opportunity to learn about your New City’s culture and people as well as its geography.
What bonuses or benefits is your company offering?
Your company’s relocation package can be a big factor in where you decide to move. If they’re offering money toward your new home, this could offset any additional costs associated with living in that area.
It’s also important to keep an eye out for moving and transportation stipends, which can help alleviate some of the burden associated with uprooting your life and starting over elsewhere.
Do they offer tax breaks on moving expenses? Do they pay all relocation costs or offer relocation services? Are there other perks like free daycare, local transportation passes, or health benefits? These factors all add up when deciding where to live after relocating for work.
Once you’ve decided on an area and are ready to start house hunting, check out our guide on how much homes cost in different cities/areas around the country!
How much are moving costs?
Moving costs can be high, but they may be tax-deductible.
The amount of your moving cost will depend on the size of your home and the distance to move, as well as if you’re hiring a moving company to help you relocate.
Moving companies charge by the hour, so unless you have a massive house with lots of stuff, it’s cheaper to do it yourself. To ensure that packing goes smoothly and quickly, try using clear boxes so that all items are visible at once (and repacking is easier). You’ll also want to take advantage of bubble wrap and tissue paper for fragile items; this way, everything stays friendly and safe from point A to point B!
City or suburb?
Your decision to live in a big city or a suburb depends on your priorities. Suburbs are less expensive, but they’re quieter and have more schools and parks, shopping options, and plenty of restaurants.
City apartments tend to be smaller than those elsewhere—but if being close to everything is important to you (and it should be), this will not make much difference.
Cost of living
When considering moving to a new city, you want to make sure you can afford the cost of living. The cost of living is the amount of money you need to live comfortably. This includes housing, transportation, and other expenses.
The cost of living is higher in big cities compared to smaller ones
- The cost of living can be higher in some states than in others
School districts
When it comes to your children’s education, you want the best. You want a school district with a reputation for excellence and don’t have time to waste on lengthy research.
You’ll need to look at the data on the school district in which you’re interested: how many students are enrolled, what percentage of those students are meeting academic standards, and what teachers’ salaries look like. The best way to find this information is through an unbiased third party such as GreatSchools.org or SchoolDigger.com
Owning vs. renting
Owning a home is a big commitment. If you own your home, you’re responsible for all the upkeep and maintenance, including paying for utilities and repairs. If something goes wrong with the house or you want to make any significant changes, it’s up to you to take care of it—and that could mean spending thousands of dollars if things go awry.
Renting can be more flexible. On one hand, renting doesn’t require much commitment: pay rent monthly and don’t worry about anything else! You won’t have to worry about maintaining or fixing anything in the house either; that’s all handled by the landlord. However, there are limits since you’re not the owner.
Renting can be cheaper than buying a home but not always convenient when making changes to suit your needs. In addition, renting does have some disadvantages compared with owning. The upfront costs will generally be lower, but over time owning can end up being more economical than renting.
Neighborhood vibe/amenities
When looking at neighborhoods, it’s important to know what amenities are available. Whether you’re interested in a bustling downtown or an upscale suburb, you should always ensure that the neighborhood has everything you need.
What does this mean? When considering neighborhoods, consider the following:
What kind of restaurants are nearby?
- How accessible public transportation is for getting around? (Or do you plan on owning a car?)
- Are there parks and other public spaces nearby allowing easy access to nature? Some jobs require us to spend more time inside than we’d like; therefore, it’s important that there be something green outside!
Transportation and commute
Bow-valley-autumn-1.jpg" alt="relocation transportation" class="wp-image-1139"/>Transportation options. The kind of transportation available can make a big difference in where you live and how long it takes to move there.
Commute time. If your employer allows telecommuting, this may be less important for you than if they don’t—but even if your employer does allow remote work, the time it takes to get from home to the office still matters.
Parking. Especially in cities with public transit systems and bike lanes, parking can be difficult to find or expensive (or both).
Job opportunities for your spouse or kids
If you are relocating for a job, then it’s important to consider opportunities for your spouse and kids. It will be easier to succeed in your new job if your partner has a good job opportunity as well. Your kids will also have an easier time fitting into the community if they are placed in schools that meet their needs and interests.
Go on a road trip.
Take a road trip to visit the area you’re considering moving to. Look for things like schools, parks, restaurants (and activities around these places), traffic and commute times, job opportunities, and housing options.
Get local recommendations. Ask friends and family in the area if they have any knowledge or recommendations about their neighborhood that might help inform your decision-making process.
Take a virtual tour of the area.
Take a virtual tour of the area. You can find out more about an area than by looking at pictures and Reading reviews.
Look at local blogs, forums, or newspapers; often, they will have tons of helpful information about what life is like where they live.
In addition, talking directly with residents is always helpful. If someone has lived somewhere long enough to feel comfortable sharing their experiences, then it probably means that person knows all the good spots!
Scout out the neighborhoods where you’d like to live using Google Street View.
It’s never easy to move to a new city, especially when it’s not your hometown. If you want to ensure you’re in the right place, one of the first things you should do is check out various neighborhoods using Google Street View.
Google Street View allows you to view an image of any location from all angles—and at times of day that are relevant to your needs. You can see if there are any construction sites nearby or schools close by for your kids.
Check out your prospective community’s quality-of-life standards.
Consider the quality-of-life standards. Here are some questions that can help you get started:
Is there a shortage of doctors or other professionals in this area?
What is the cost of living in this area?
Are there fun things to do in this area, like festivals and concerts?
Consider your commute times. (And don’t forget to include travel time!)
What’s the commute like?
Regarding your commute, you want to make sure you’re considering the whole picture.
While it may seem evident how long it takes to get from home to work is essential, people don’t often consider how long it takes to get out of their neighborhood, drive through town and reach their final destination.
It’s important not only because a longer commute can cause stress and frustration but also because this extra time spent commuting could also be spent doing something else that makes life more enjoyable—like spending time with friends or family, exercising, or relaxing at home.
The average commuter spends 24 hours per year stuck in traffic!
So while we all have our own opinion on what constitutes “too much” time in the car each day (it depends on where we live), one thing is sure: A commuter who lives in a small town will spend less time driving than someone living in an urban area like New York City with its busy streets and stoplights.
Understand what each neighborhood is known for.
It’s essential to understand what each neighborhood is known for. For example, if you’re looking to live in a city with a bustling downtown area, you’ll want to know the main attractions and if any specific neighborhoods cater to your interests.
If you’re moving into an apartment complex with a large community pool, you’ll need to ensure that your new neighbors will be okay with sharing space with children (and maybe even dogs).
Be sure that you thoroughly research each neighborhood before moving in. This research should include asking questions about the following:
What types of people live there?
What are the schools like?
How safe is it?
The right community helps make it easier to succeed in a new job.
If you’ve moved for work, you know how stressful it can be. You have to start a new job, get your kids into the right school, find somewhere to live and adjust yourself and your family to a different culture or climate.
That’s why choosing the right place when relocating for work is essential. The right community will help make it easier to succeed in your new job.
Conclusion
Moving for a job is stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. After reading this article, we hope you feel better prepared for your big move and can start planning accordingly.
Leave a Reply