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5 Important Steps to Take When Relocating for a Job

5 Important Steps to Take When Relocating for a Job

Moving for a new job can be both exciting and terrifying. After all, it might mean moving to a new neighborhood or state! On top of that, you might not have much time between when you move to when you start your new job. Understanding the steps required for your relocation can simplify the process, which can make it easier for you and your family to adjust. So if you’re planning to move for your job, below are some important steps you need to take.

Seriously Consider the Effects of a Move

Whether your company is asking you to transfer to a new location or you’re looking for new opportunities, it’s important to create a list of considerations before deciding to relocate. While an increase in salary or benefits may sound like a great opportunity, there’s a lot more to think about before you make the move such as:

  • Relocation expenses – do you have enough to actually purchase a new home and hire professional movers? 
  • Cost of living – a decent salary in a more affordable neighborhood might not go as far is you end up moving to a large city
  • Impact on your family – will your kids have to start in a new school?
  • Back up plan – what happens if the relocation doesn’t work out?

You should also write up a list of pros and cons of moving and then discuss the plan with your family. See how everyone feels and explain why you are considering a move.

Calculate Costs

While some companies offer relocation reimbursement, many do not. Before you sign the offer letter, always ask if the company can cover some relocation expenses. For example, some might pay for house-hunting trips before you move while others will provide a lump sum to encompass all moving related expenses. Not all companies offer help, but it never hurts to ask if there’s room for negotiation.

Your best bet is to research and calculate costs associated with your move and create a budget. That means reaching out to several different moving companies and getting a quote, complete with any add-on services you might need like storage, packing, unpacking, and so on. You can then present this amount to your company for help with reimbursement or, at the very least, as a starting point for your moving budget. Don’t forget to include other costs such as packing materials and new furniture.

Research Locations

Before deciding to move to a new neighborhood, take some time to actually check it out. What might seem good on paper might not be a great option in real life. Try to spend a few days if possible with your family and really get to know the area. Figure out how far away important places are such as your new job, your kid’s school, and the grocery store. You should also check for other amenities like parks, libraries, and museums.

If you can’t visit, do as much online research as possible. Check out the city government website or community forums to learn more about the nearby attractions. You can also check out the city’s social media page to see what happens daily. As well, check Google Maps and do a search for places of interest. 

While you’re doing research on the city, don’t forget to look up the cost of living of the area. After all, an average salary in the midwest might not get you very far in a larger city in the northeast. You can generally find average costs for almost every location in New Jersey to see if your salary will be enough for the area you want to live. If you’re being transferred to a more expensive location, make sure to see if you can get an adjustment to your salary to match the cost of living.

Create a Budget

Whether your company helps with your NJ relocation or not, a budget is always a good idea to ensure you don’t overspend. When creating your budget, make sure to include everything including the cost of your closing fees, any repairs to your old house to make it more attractive in the real estate market, repairs to your new house, packing materials, new furniture, and more. While seeing such a large number might be daunting, it’s best not to leave anything out. Drill down as much as possible so you’re not blindsided by surprise costs.

Once you have a relatively accurate budget, find ways to offset the costs. Maybe you can host a garage or yard sale to sell some of the items you don’t plan on bringing with you. Or you can also find ways to get boxes for free. The more you can reduce your costs, the better!

Get Organized

Organization is important if you want to keep the moving process on schedule. Of course, there are the main tasks like selling your current place, finding a new home, packing, and so on. However, there are dozens of smaller things you’ll need to do like forwarding your mail, transferring your child’s school records if you’re moving to a new district, getting your utilities turned on at your new home, and more. Make a list of every task you need to do and put them in your calendar so you don’t forget them!

Besides creating a to-do list, make sure you also go through everything you’re keeping and create a detailed inventory. That includes jotting down a general description, total quantity, and a picture showing their condition. Most moving companies will require an inventory, but even if they don’t it’s good for you to have. That way, if anything gets lost or damaged, you have proof.

Choose a Moving Date

Obviously, you’ll want to choose a date before you start at your new job. If you plan it out just right, you should hopefully have a window of time between leaving your old job and starting your new one. Give yourself at least a few days or maybe even a week so you have time to unwind, unpack, and get used to your new home. 

When choosing a moving date, consider the current season and how it might affect your schedule. Moving during the winter or early spring could mean you might have to deal with heavy snow, which can affect your move. This is especially important for long distance moves as inclement weather could add a day or two to the estimated delivery.

Move With NJ Great Movers

If you’re ready to relocate for a new job, let NJ Great Movers help you with all the moving related tasks. Besides loading and unloading the truck, we also offer other services like packing, unpacking, and storage. All you need to do is reach out to us and we’ll get in touch for more information. 

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How To Moving Tips

Moving for Work How to Manage a NJ Job Relocation

Moving for Work How to Manage a NJ Job Relocation

Moving for work can be both exciting and stressful. There are so many details you need to consider especially if you’re moving across state lines. But even if you’re making a local move, the point remains that you want to be as organized as possible. After all, moving for work is different from your standard move where you will likely have more time to pack and unpack. With a job lined up first, your timeline is a lot shorter since you’ll need to find a place before you start at your new job. Whether you have three months or three weeks for your NJ move, the guide below can help make your transition as easy as possible.

Ask Your Company About Relocation Assistance

If you didn’t get a chance to negotiate relocation assistance during your job offer, it’s not too late to do so even after the fact. Simply reach out to the HR representative that you have been talking to and see if they can reimburse you for some moving expenses. While not all companies will offer you something, many will provide between $20,000 to $100,000 to help make your move easier. After all, they are the ones who want you to move to a new location! Even if they say no, you can simply thank them and move on. Your job is still yours!

If you’re still uncomfortable about broaching the topic, don’t worry. There are still plenty of ways you can reduce your moving costs. It all depends on how far you’re moving and how much elbow grease you want to put in yourself. While a completely DIY route might end up being cheaper, it will take you longer and could lead to damaged belongings or personal injury. For that reason, you should hire professional NJ movers. While it might cost you more, it will save you a lot of time and reduce your overall stress.

Make a Budget

Whether you get relocation assistance from your company or not, creating a budget for your move is imperative. There are a lot of little things you might need to purchase for a move and it’s all too easy to just put the charges on your credit card and forget it. However, this can lead to a huge sticker shock when you get your statement for the month. Creating a budget gives you the opportunity to really break down the costs and decide what you can afford to buy now or later. Make sure to create line items for every aspect of the move including:

And so on. Get as granular as possible and do your research by going online and finding prices on basic goods at nearby groceries and shops. Once you have your total, add an extra 15-20% on top of that for the first month as there are always things you’ll forget. If you’re moving from overseas, plan a larger bump, around 50 to 100% more than you would for a domestic move.

Make Lists for Everything

Lists are a great way to keep track of everything you need to get done for your move. There are so many large and small tasks you need to complete, you really don’t want to rely on your memory as you’ll definitely forget something. Much like your moving budget, get specific. Break down every task into smaller items. For example, instead of just listing out packing, you can separate it by room. Some other items to include are:

  • Declutter (by room)
  • Send out change of address for post office, financial institutions, health insurance, friends and family, etc.
  • Transfer utilities
  • Fill out transfer request information for kids 
  • Get all necessary health documents for everyone in your family
  • Research and book movers

And so on. A great complement to lists are spreadsheets. For example, an item on your moving checklist might be to turn off all of your utilities at your old house. That could link to a spreadsheet listing out every utility, the appropriate url or phone number to call, and even the billing cycle. On that same spreadsheet, include the same information for your new house to ensure you have everything working when you move into your new place. 

And speaking of spreadsheets, make sure to keep a well-maintained inventory of everything you plan on taking with you. This is especially important if you plan on hiring a NJ moving company as you want to ensure all of your boxes arrive safely. The inventory should include the type of item you are moving, quantity, a brief description including any current damage, and pictures especially of fragile and/or high value items. That way, should anything be damaged or go missing, you have documentation.

Locate the Essentials

The last thing you want to do on your first day of work is be late. So take some time to figure out the best driving route from your home to your new job location. Do a couple dry runs to see what the easiest and fastest options are. If you have public transportation nearby, see if that might be a better option than driving. Don’t depend on just one route to get to work! There might be heavy traffic due to an accident so you find alternative routes that might allow you to avoid potential traffic jams. While you’re driving around, keep your eyes peeled for other essentials like a grocery store, gas station, shopping centers, and so on. 

Speaking of essentials, make sure you can pack moving essentials into a separate box from the rest of your belongings. Pack your essentials bag or box like you would for a two to three day hotel stay. You want things like your toothbrush, clothes, toiletries, etc. easily accessible. If you’re going to work immediately after a move, make sure to have your work clothes in a garment bag to prevent wrinkling.

As well, stock up on staples before your first day in the office. Coffee, milk, eggs, cereal, and lunch items are a great option to have on hand to keep your costs down. And don’t forget to pick up a favorite bottle of wine or beer so you can relax after a long day.

Set Up Necessary Appointments as Early as Possible

Whether you need to go to the DMV to update your license or stop by your child’s school to make sure their enrollment is in order there are plenty of post-moving tasks that will require you to be away from your desk. As much as you can, arrange for these appointments to happen as early as possible and all at once to avoid being out too many days in a row. That way, you can avoid being off the clock too often during your first month. 

Of course, life doesn’t always go as planned and some things may end up getting delayed. As much as possible, give your manager and team a heads up so they know your whereabouts and availability as soon as possible. This will reduce stress on both sides!

Plan Your NJ Move

There’s a lot involved with job related relocation and you don’t always have as much time as you might like. With that said, there are plenty of ways to stay organized and, if you need more help, you can always reach out to NJ Great Movers. We can help you with almost every moving task such as packing, unpacking, and more. Reach out to us and we’ll go over how we can best suit your needs and budget.