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Moving Tips

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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Moving Tips

The Best Up and Coming NJ Places to Move to in 2025

While mortgage rates might have leveled off, housing prices are still going up in New Jersey, especially in locations where people can easily commute to NYC or Philadelphia. Since 2012, New Jersey’s overall population has increased by 4 percent with some locations growing by more than 20 percent! Of course, the cost of houses in these popular areas are also going up significantly. Before the prices get too out of control, you might want to consider looking at these New Jersey towns.

Westwood

Known as the Hub of the Pascack Valley, Westwood offers easy commutes to New York City. In fact, you have multiple forms of public transportation to choose from. Hop on the NJ Transit line at Westwood station to get you to Penn Station or transfer at the Hoboken Terminal for access to other transportation options including the PATH, New York Waterways, or the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail. You can also catch a NJ Transit bus that will take you to Port Authority Bus Terminal. 

But you don’t need to leave Westwood to enjoy some amenities. The Downtown area is a regional hub that offers plenty of shopping and dining options. Go to Westwood Cinema and enjoy a movie or check out Fritz Deitl Ice Rink to brush up on your ice skating. Otherwise, go to the community center to check out the many events happening throughout the year. 

While Westwood is by no means cheap, it is more affordable in comparison to its neighbors. Median home prices are around $650,000 and expected to go up in the next few years.

Barnegat Township

Located along the Southern shore of New Jersey, Barnegat Township population has steadily grown since 2000. This is due in part to the town’s focus on building 55-plus housing. In fact, two of the largest builders in this field – Lennar and D.R. Horton – have constructed nearly 600 age-restricted luxury homes, adding to the already 3,000 homes available. Besides 55-plus housing, the town is also building certain areas along the waterfront to encourage more professionals and young families to move in.

This is a great town if you love the outdoors. Even with all the new construction, the area still has a fairly rural feel with the majority of the township being taken up by the Manahawkin Wildlife Management Area to the east and Greenwood Forest Wildlife to the west. Both locations offer extensive hiking trails, making it perfect for those who want to enjoy some nature. Manahawkin is one of the few remaining salt marsh and transitional woodland coastal habitats in New Jersey. On the other hand, Greenwood Forest is the largest tract of land preserved by the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife with over 95,000 acres.

So long as you don’t try to get a home close to the water, you can easily find a nice home here for under $400,000.

Griggstown

At just under 50 miles away from NYC, Griggstown is in that sweet spot where it’s a bit too far away to be considered an easy daily commute to NYC but just close enough to still have access on the weekends. As such, it’s not seen as an attractive option for people who want to work in NYC, but it’s definitely a great place for young professionals and families as the town is very safe and, for those with kids, great schools!

When it comes to activities, Griggstown is perfect for the outdoor enthusiasts. Enjoy a scenic walk along the Princeton Highlands/Griggstown Native Grassland Preserve Trail. It’s a lovely trail during all seasons and you get to enjoy a shallow wading brook if you head south or a wide open meadow if you head north! If you prefer a more structured outdoor activity, Griggstown is home to the Bunker Hill Golf Course where you can practice your swing. After a game, head over to Griggstown Farm to buy some seasonal produce.

Griggstown is a great area and as such has a pretty high price with homes selling for almost $500,000. But, if you want to live in a quiet area but still be close enough to a big city, it’s a great option.

Hackensack

While it might not be the most populated city in New Jersey, Hackensack is the most populous municipality in Bergen County with a population of over 45,000. As such, it’s a great place for people who want to have ‘city’ amenities without paying city costs. And, at just under 15 miles away from New York City, it’s the perfect place for young professionals to move to if they want to save some money.

Hackensack is served by three train stations on the NJ Transit Pascack Line with two of them going to Hoboken Terminal. There are also multiple buses that take you to Port Authority Bus Terminal and still more that take you to other major hubs such as Newark and Jersey City. Downtown Hackensack has plenty to offer from delicious restaurants to bars and clubs. If you want to relax a bit, you can enjoy views of the Hackensack River at Foschini Park.

Despite all of these perks, Hackensack is pretty affordable with home prices averaging under $350,000, that is if you can find it. Hackensack has more renters than homeowners, and average rents are high with one bedroom apartments going for around $2,200.

Bayonne

Bayonne has become more popular as Jersey City continues to grow and expand. With more affordable housing and rent, Bayonne is attracting young professionals who don’t mind commuting a little longer for work. As such, the area has seen a huge growth in restaurants, bars, cafes, retail shops and more! It’s a perfect place for young professionals who want to stretch their dollar.

Despite its proximity to NYC, Bayonne was not on many people’s radar until around the early to mid 2000s due to it being designated as an Urban Enterprise Zone. This allowed businesses to hire locally while also encouraging shopping thanks to the reduced sales tax. Thanks to this, more businesses started moving to the area and now there are over 200 businesses that make up the Bayonne Town Center. The revitalization of the downtown area, Bayonne has brought back popular attractions including the Bayonne Hometown Fair which was revived in 2015.

Home prices and rents are expected to increase, especially once a ferry terminal gets built, but for now you can find houses for under $450,000 and one-bedroom apartments renting out for under $2,000. Prices won’t stay this low though as more people realize how convenient the area is!

Prepare for Your NJ Move

Whether you choose the locations listed above or find a place that suits your needs better, NJ Great Movers is here to help with your transition. Our trained team can walk you through the process so you get a better understanding of what we offer and what you need. From there, we’ll make the move as easy and stress-free as possible. So reach out to us for your free estimate!