When you’re relocating for a job, there are many variables to deal with in a short period of time. How your family will adjust to the new locale, how your budget will be impacted, and what your new home might look like all add some stress to the move. There are also small concerns that often slip by unnoticed, that can have significant consequences later, so it’s good to be prepared when moving for work.
Once you’ve decided that relocation is part of your lifetime plan, you can begin preparing for the relocation. Here are some fail-safe tips to ensure you relocate quickly and painlessly, and that you and your family are ready for a new life with a new career.
Contents
Moving For Work: What You Need to Know
Don’t Forget the Small Stuff
According to North American Van Lines, there are many small details that often slip under the radar, in addition to those big concerns.
For instance, change of address forms and requesting ownership of utilities on new properties typically have very short windows of time where you won’t be charged a full rate for services. Cancel any local memberships you might hold, and get your vehicles serviced to prepare for the long drive.
Remember, professional movers often come equipped with the boxes, packing materials and solutions needed to move fragile and bulky items. If you buy these yourself, you’re essentially wasting a portion of your budget on packing materials you’re not likely to use again.
Shopping for a Home
Shopping for a home to relocate to makes a lot of logical sense, but may not be the best choice for long-term happiness. What if you decide on a neighborhood you don’t like, or if the job doesn’t work out?
Long term commitments, like home ownership or leases, put you in a situation where failure or change is not really an option.
Renting a home or apartment gives you and your family some flexibility. You’re not locked into a costly lease so you’re not married to a job you may or may not like. Renting also gives you the time and space you need to give the city a closer a look, finding your ideal locale.
Adjusting to the New Locale
Try and take some time to travel to the new city and get to know some of the neighborhoods and districts. Try reading local news blogs and websites for a taste of what’s going on in the city.
You can find interesting restaurants, get a feel for the nightlife, and learn about important statistics like crime and cost of living just from reading local news.
The more opportunities you afford yourself to take in the culture of that local area, the better your experiences will be day to day. You’ll find it much easier to acclimate when you know where your local coffee shop is, you’ve found your local market, your favorite local restaurant and all of those other spots that add some color to your world.
Day to Day Costs
Upgrade or downgrade? The quickest way to find out is to calculate the cost of living in your city. If you’re in the rural part of the US, a low six-figure salary might sound really appealing. Coupled with the costs of living in San Francisco or NYC, that salary is quickly eaten up by life.
Gas prices, home prices, and food costs are all decent indicators of a city’s cost of living. If you’re in doubt, make some phone calls to local shops and just ask them about their prices. The idea is to form a picture of what kind of savings you can expect once you’ve relocated.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, you did not overestimate your strengths and your resume, and that you’re prepared for the new job in the new area.
The fact is relocation is stressful, and you should take the time to prepare yourself professionally as well. According to the Harvard Business Review, a failure to thoroughly research new opportunities is one of the most common missteps we make when we relocate for a job.
Moving for work is a big undertaking so be sure to take the time you need to properly plan.