Starting a new job and relocating your entire family to an unfamiliar place make an exciting adventure, but it can also be stressful and financially burdensome. If you are thinking about accepting a relocation offer, you need to plan it thoroughly. This checklist will help you keep your move organized and your spending frugal so that you can focus on the excitement rather than the stress.
1. Get Information From Your Benefits Coordinator
Your greatest opportunity to save money during a career relocation is to negotiate your relocation benefits. Many companies offer excellent packages that include relocation services, such as paying for a moving company, covering the closing costs if you sell your home, and providing compensation during the transitional period of your move. Some companies will offer a buyout option for your home if it does not sell before you move. They often offer more than they say upfront, so ask plenty of questions and push for more information.
2. Search for Your New Home
Value and location are priorities when looking for your new home. You want to find a place you can afford in a good neighborhood with a great school system. For example, if you're relocating to Naples, FL, consider these neighborhoods:
• Moorings offers a condo-living environment. The median house value is $761,000, but listings may be higher.
• Indigo Lakes and Indigo Preserve have great school systems and the average house is between $300,000 and $600,000.
• Coquina Sands has high-end amenities and white-sand beaches, which is why the average home is more than $900,000.
If you plan to buy, the listing prices may be a little higher than the average value, which is why you should hire - Carla, an experienced realtor in the Naples area.
3. Start the Packing Process
The most tedious part of the moving process is packing and unpacking, which is why you should give yourself at least one month to get it done. Pack each room one by one and downsize as you go to make the unpacking process easier. If you are moving internationally, only take what is most precious to you and consider selling or giving away what you can buy in your new country.
4. Research Moving Companies
If your relocation package covers a moving company, take the opportunity, and consider hiring a full-service moving company that will do all of the work for you. They offer packing, loading, unloading, and unpacking. Read online reviews and call for quotes. A full-service usually requires a walk-through of your home, so prepare any questions you may have before they arrive.
5. Prepare Your New Home
Research shows that relocating can cause a condition called transfer trauma. You may not be able to avoid all of the fears of moving to a new place, but you can relieve some stress by preparing. If you are moving your business to a new state, register your LLC before you get there. All states have different regulations for forming an LLC or corporation, but you can find everything online and get started before you even get there. Focus and self-care should be your key concerns throughout this process. If you forget to take care of yourself, you may start to miss deadlines or neglect important aspects of the move. Avoid this by delegating tasks to other members of your family rather than taking on everything alone. Give yourself plenty of time to get everything done so that you can take breaks when you get overwhelmed, and prioritize your health over saving a few dollars here and there.
BY:
Amy Collett