Moving is stressful in any scenario. Whether you are moving across town or across the country, there seems to be an insurmountable mountain of preparation. Tasks include finding a new home, finding new schools for your children, packing, moving all your belongings, turning off utilities at your old place at the right time, and turning on the utilities at your new apartment.
However, when you are moving for job relocation, the process is even more complicated. Now, on top of everything else, you have to adjust to a new work environment and fellow employees as well as learn your way around a new city. Fortunately, this is what ApartmentSearch specializes in: helping businesses and people in transition have a smooth and easy move to their new location.
Here are our top tips for helping the business relocation go easier:
1. Rent first, buy later. Living in an apartment for your first year allows you the ability to learn the neighborhood and things to do around you. There is a great risk in buying a home immediately when you are not familiar with the area. This first year should be all about adjustment and learning – not paying a mortgage.
2. Use an apartment locating service. On ApartmentSearch.com, individuals moving for a new job can search hundreds of listings in every major U.S. city to quickly find the apartment that is best for them. They can search by neighborhood, price range, closest to their job, closest to their children’s schools, and other factors. Once an apartment is locked in, it is smooth sailing from there.
3. Take advantage of your company’s relocation assistance. Many companies offer assistance in selling your old home, finding you a temporary apartment, and transitioning to a new area. If they don’t offer relocation assistance, don’t be afraid to ask for it. Explain the costs of moving and finding a new apartment, and the company may offer some funding for your expenses.
4. Try to spend some time in the city you will be moving to, getting a feel for the “lay of the land” and building a social network. Once you start your job, this will make your personal and professional transition so much easier. You can use your network of friends and co-workers to find friends in the new city or use online services such as MeetUp.
5. Get financial help to allay the costs of your move. In addition to assistance from your company, the IRS may provide some moving tax deductions (though you should consult with your tax advisor about this first). In order to qualify for deductions, the new home should be at least 50 miles from your old home and job, and you must work full-time for at least 39 weeks out of the most recent 52 weeks. The IRS requires that self-employed individuals work at least 78 weeks over the most recent two years to qualify for deductions.
Whatever your needs are as you are moving across the country for your new job, ApartmentSearch is here to help. Visit ApartmentSearch.com to find your new apartment and get tips on moving. You can even earn up to $200 in rewards when you tell your new apartment community that you found them thanks to ApartmentSearch.com.
