Moving on its own can be stressful enough, but compound the stress of moving with the nerves of starting a new job, and you could be in for a very stressful experience. There is a lot of planning and organization that goes into creating a stress-free job relocation process. Following these tips below can take some of the anxiety out of your move and help make things go smoothly.
Ask About Employee Relocation Assistance
One of the first things you should do as you begin your job relocation process is to talk to your new employer and see if they offer some sort of relocation assistance. If a company sees that you are willing to move in order to work for them, there is a good chance that they’ll help you out in the moving process where they can.
When moving, covering the cost of things such as travel, moving companies, storage, and any potential housing that you may need can be overwhelming. But having these costs included in a relocation package can help alleviate some of the financial stress attached to moving.
There are many different ways that companies can pay out relocation packages as well. Some companies will give you a lump sum of money upfront to help with the costs, some may reimburse you after you complete the move, while other companies may just hire a third-party mover to help take care of the process. Once you know what your employer will offer you in a relocation package, it’s time to create a budget for your new home.
Create a Housing Budget
It is important to hold off on creating a housing budget until after you know what you’re getting as a relocation package, as that can influence how much you are able to pay for a new home. You can calculate how much house you can afford once you know all the financial assistance that you will receive during the relocation process.
Many factors come into play when creating a budget for a new home. Some things that you should consider are, how much money you already have saved up, the cost of living in your new area, the size of your family, and your credit score.
Take these things into consideration prior to searching for your new home. It is critical to figure out how much you can afford to spend on a house before beginning your search so you don’t fall in love with a home out of your price range.
Familiarize Yourself With the Area
Another way to limit the stress throughout the relocation process is to try and familiarize yourself with where you are moving to. The more research you do into where you’ll be moving, the smoother the transition will be. If you can, consider staying there for a few days before you move to really get to know the town.
If you live within reasonable driving distance of where you’re relocating to, it would be a good idea to take some time to visit. Also, if it’s a possibility, visiting your new place of work would be great to see before your official first day. Getting to physically see the town or city in which you will be moving to is a great way to get the lay of the land before your move.
If you live further away, researching the neighborhood online is a great option to help you familiarize yourself with the location. By doing this, it can help to limit any potential surprises you could find when you move to a new place, as well as alleviate some of the stress that comes with relocating.
Moving for a new job can be a stressful time, but there are many resources available that can help you smooth out the process. Getting a relocation package from your employer, creating and sticking to your house budget, and familiarizing yourself with the area before you move, are all great ways to limit any potential relocation anxiety.
