Starting a new job is stressful enough, without putting relocating on your plate. Between packing up your house and looking for a new one, it is difficult to know what to do first. Whether you hate your job or just want a change, moving for a job gives you a completely fresh start.
Top Tips on Moving for a Job
However, without proper planning, the long and complicated process can turn from being an exciting experience to a total nightmare moving for a job. Thankfully, regardless of your timeline, it is possible to make relocating easier for everyone. With that in mind, here are thirteen moving tips you must know.
1. Ask About Relocation Benefits
When moving to a specific company, it’s a good idea to ask about the benefits involved. Like negotiating your job offer, this task can be tricky. After all, many people are unwilling to ask about relocation benefits because they don’t want to appear demanding or greedy.
Many larger companies partner with relocation companies, which offer benefits, like covering moving costs. While many employers state these in transfer letters, it won’t hurt to ask for more information.
2. Research Your New Home
Once you know you’re moving, you should start learning about your new home. Look at the community profile and conduct research into the cost of living, housing, transportation, and more.
This knowledge is crucial in helping you plan and make decisions. Even if your salary is larger than before, the local economy might be more expensive.
This means, if you’re only moving for the cash, you might want to rethink. Make sure that relocating is the right choice.
3. Plan The Moving Budget
Moving costs will add up quite quickly. Even with financial assistance, there may be some expenses you have to cover yourself. It’ll be much better if you have a clear idea of what you’re going to spend before you do. You can start by requesting moving quotes from a few companies.
Starting a new job with piles of debt isn’t ideal, after all. Another reason to make a budget is that your new company will need a figure if they’re to offer you money upfront. It’s crucial that you consider every possible expense and add a cash cushion.
4. Become a List Person
A to-do list is crucial for moving, especially when relocating for work. Even if you pride yourself on your ability to keep mental lists, you shouldn’t rely too heavily on your memory now.
With stress and excitement overwhelming you, there is a chance that your brain power could fail, making you forget to carry out an important task. Whether you use your phone or a pen and paper, you must write all of your jobs down. This lets you cross them off as they’re completed.
5. Find Houses for Rent
Among the many vital tasks, you must carry out, finding a home is probably the most important. While it may be tempting to find a permanent residence, renting a house is best for now.
This means that, if you don’t love your home, you can easily move to a new one. Renting is a great way to settle into a new area without making a huge commitment. Only once you’re familiar with the city and happy with your job should you begin thinking about buying a home for the family.
6. Hire Your Movers Early
Booking a moving company is a much more complicated task than it seems. Depending on the time you relocate, it could be difficult to find a service that can help you. The cost of removalists also usually increases the closer to the moving date you book.
If you’re moving for a job across the country, you will have to find a long distance mover that is reliable and insured. You are entrusting those people with all your worldly possessions, so shop around for a company you know you can trust.
7. Start Building A Network
Being part of a community will make your transition much easier. For this reason, you must make an effort to be more social. Get in touch with people you know in your new home, as well as your new coworkers.
You might also want to join groups or classes in the local area. If you like sports, for example, you could join a recreational league. Once you arrive in your new city, take advantage of any work social gatherings and get to know the people you work with each day.
8. Clear Out Unwanted Things
Relocation is a brilliant opportunity to rid yourself of the things you no longer need. Unwanted items take up a lot of space, which will make moving for a job a more costly affair.
You’ll also have more packing and unpacking to do, which will make an already stressful situation that much more overwhelming. This is why you should purge your house of any clutter. There will be plenty of things to throw away, but you can sell certain belongings to offset the cost of relocating.
9. Arrange A Preview Trip
Most people look into a city before deciding to move there. By that time, they are already relatively familiar with the area and what it has to offer.
When moving for a job, however, you don’t always learn much about your new home until you’re there. This can make the transition more difficult for the entire family.
If possible, you should arrange a preview trip or two before the move. Giving yourself this opportunity to explore will help to get you excited about the move.
10. Ask Friends for Help
Even with professional help, having the support of your friends and family is crucial. You may not need anyone to drive your belongings across the country, but you might appreciate help with the cleaning, packing, or cooking.
If you have pets and children, you may need someone you trust to watch them too. When you’re relying on loved ones, you must ask for their help as soon as possible. Leaving it until the last minute means they might not be free to lend you a hand.
11. Sort the Travel Arrangements
As soon as the move date is confirmed, you should sort your travel arrangements. Depending on where you’re moving for a job, this might mean bookings trains or flights.
If pets are relocating with you, be sure that you make arrangements for them too. Look into the airline’s policy regarding animals and find out what travel containers are needed. You must also consider what items you’re taking with you, as everything else will be leaving with the moving company.
12. Make A Survival Box
There are many different things you might need to get to on moving day. While these would usually be packed together in a survival box, traveling by air means you’ll likely have to use a suitcase.
Nonetheless, it’s crucial that you have chargers, toiletries, a change of clothes, and more. If you’re heading into work the next day, it makes sense to keep your work clothes close to you too. This means that you won’t have to unpack every box just to find your favorite tie.
13. Prioritize Your New Job
After a successful move, the next stressful and time-consuming task is unpacking. However, you might have to put this off for a little while. First impressions matter, which is why you will probably want to get to work as soon as possible.
If you don’t show up because you’re busy unpacking, your new boss won’t be pleased. Unpacking doesn’t have to happen overnight. Instead, make it a gradual process, by unpacking a box or two every day after work.
Relocating for work is always stressful, but with the advice above, you can make it a smoother process.