You got a promotion at work…but this new position involves moving to the other side of the country. Your excitement about your new job can quickly turn to dread about your relocation.
But it doesn’t have to be. Here are some things to consider about your job relocation for a smooth and simple transition:
What Should I Consider During Job Relocation?
- Housing
- Moving Expenses
- Start Date
- Cost Of Living
- New Hometown Resources
- Flying vs. Driving
- Driving vs. Car Shipping
- Selling Your Existing Home
- Hiring Movers
- Shipping Your Belongings
- Updating Your License
- Reading Up on New State Taxes
Whatever the reason for your job relocation, it’s important to remain informed and organized throughout the entire process.
As such, here are the details on the 12 things that you need to consider during job relocation:
1. Housing
When you're relocating, the first thing you need to consider is your housing situation. Will you buy a new house or rent an apartment? What are good neighborhoods to live in? What are housing prices in these areas? Will you need a storage unit if you’re downsizing? These are all important things to think about.
2. Moving Expenses
Most companies will cover your relocation expenses if they’re relocating you. Just make sure that you’re getting enough money to cover everything from boxes to bubble wrap and everything in between.
Feel free to negotiate with your employer if you feel like your job relocation package is inadequate.
3. Start Date
Ideally, you should have a few weeks to move and get settled before you have to start your new job. Again, it may be necessary to negotiate your start date with your employer for a smooth transition.
4. Cost of Living
Even if you’re getting a higher salary with your new position, higher costs of living could easily negate any extra money you bring home. As a result, it’s important to research the cost of living in your new state to ensure that your new salary can cover higher costs.
5. New Hometown Resources
Moving to a new town is stressful as it means finding a new doctor, dentist, gym, dry cleaner, grocery store, etc.
Your employer may have insight into some resources in your new town to make your relocation as pain-free as possible.
6. Flying vs. Driving
If you’re relocating to the other side of the country, you might be debating between flying and driving to your new home. There are pros and cons to each option. Flying is quicker and more convenient, but you can’t bring as much with you. Driving takes longer, but you have more freedom regarding your timeline and what you get with you.
7. Driving vs. Car Shipping
Before you hit the road, consider shipping your car instead of driving it yourself. Depending on the length of your trip, you could save money in travel costs by shipping your car instead of spending it on gas, hotels, and car maintenance.
Plus, you can avoid putting thousands of miles on your car.
8. Selling Your Existing Home
If you’re currently a homeowner, the idea of selling your home before you have to leave can be quite intimidating. However, with the right real estate agent, you can sell your home quickly and at a great price.
The real estate market is at an all-time high right now, so it’s a great time to sell.
9. Hiring Movers
If your company covers relocation costs to include professional movers as part of your relocation benefits, then going this route is a no-brainer.
Hiring professional movers means that you don’t have to pack the moving truck, drive the truck to your new home, and unpack the truck. Instead, all you have to do is pack the boxes.
10. Shipping Your Belongings
If you’ve chosen not to hire movers or get a truck rental due to insufficient coverage in your job relocation package, you could ship your belongings instead. This approach works best if you only have a few boxes to move instead of multiple boxes and furniture items.
Before you ship your items, check out the rates offered by different shipping companies like UPS, FedEx, and USPS so that you can get the best possible rate.
Depending on the size and weight of your boxes, shipping can be quite expensive, so it’s important to shop around to get the best rate.
11. Updating Your License
Once you have your new address and are getting settled into your new home, you need to update your license and registration with the proper authority.
Many states require that you do this within 10-30 days of your move. You need to come prepared with documentation, including your out-of-state driver’s license, license application, proof of identity, and proof of residence.
The specific documents accepted for proof of identity and residence vary by state, so make sure to check with the proper authority before you head to the DMV office.
12. Reading Up on New State Taxes
The final piece of your relocation comes in the form of state taxes. Different states have different tax policies that can impact your net pay.
For example, states with the highest income taxes include California, Hawaii, New Jersey, Oregon, and Minnesota. Conversely, states with no income taxes, including Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming.
What Is Job Relocation?
Job relocation occurs when an employee is asked or chooses to move to a new location. Many employers will provide you with perks like employee relocation packages to lower the burden of moving. These employee relocation packages might include reimbursement, direct payment, or even a lump sum of money for things like packing services, moving companies, home-selling assistance, temporary housing, and even a house-hunting trip.
However, not all employers offer these benefits. It’s important to ask your employer about the specifics of potential relocation assistance before you move forward with the relocation process.
For example, they might be offered to new employees but not current employees, or vice versa.
Why Does Job Relocation Happen?
Job relocation happens for a variety of different reasons. For example, your employer could ask you to move to a new area to open a new location. You could receive a promotion for an open position in another office. Or you could simply choose to move for better career development opportunities at a new employer.
Can I Ship My Car Across the Country?
If you have to relocate across the country for your job, you may feel overwhelmed by the idea of having to drive yourself, your car, and your belongings thousands of miles.
The good news is that you don’t have to with car shipping. With the right car shipping company, it’s totally possible and even economical for you to ship your car from the East Coast to the West Coast or vice versa.
How Does Car Shipping Work?
Car shipping works in a few different ways depending on the shipping method you choose. For example, door-to-door car shipping lets you choose the pick-up and drop-off locations for your vehicle.
The Company Can Pick Your Car Up
The driver comes to your pick-up location and hits the road after picking up the other vehicles in the shipment. Then the driver brings your car to your designated drop-off location, such as your new home.
Terminal-to-Terminal Shipping
There’s also terminal-to-terminal car shipping wherein you’re responsible for transporting your vehicle to and from auto transport terminals. Once at the auto transport terminal, a driver comes to pick up your vehicle and the other vehicles in the shipment.
Then the driver heads toward the closest auto transport terminal to your new home, at which point you can pick your vehicle back up.
Open or Closed Transport
When shipping your car, you also need to decide between open and enclosed transport. Open transport involves placing your vehicle on an open trailer, usually with multiple other vehicles.
While this method of shipment is cheaper, it leaves your car more vulnerable to damage from road debris and adverse weather. Enclosed transport involves placing your vehicle on an enclosed trailer that’s completely boxed in and insulated. You can ship your car by itself or with a few other vehicles to lower costs. This method of shipment is more expensive and is best-suited for high-value vehicles, including luxury vehicles and antique vehicles.
Can I Ship Multiple Cars at the Same Time?
Since cars are usually shipped in groups anyway, you can ship multiple cars simultaneously. In fact, you may even be able to get a discount from your auto transport company for shipping multiple vehicles with them.
Not only is shipping multiple cars simultaneously the most cost-effective option, but it’s also the most convenient option. With door-to-door service, your cars will be picked up and dropped off at the same time. You can drop off and pick up your cars together with terminal-to-terminal service.
Shipping multiple cars together is one way to make the job relocation process easier.
Can I Ship Belongings With My Car?
You might be able to ship belongings with your car. However, this might not be a good idea. Many companies will not ship your belongings with your vehicle due to the risk of theft or damage. Furthermore, extra belongings in your vehicle add weight to the trailer and can make it more difficult and more expensive to ship.
If you’re still interested in shipping your household goods with your car, you should ask your auto transport company about their policies and fees. Some companies will allow you to have one box or container of items in the trunk of your vehicle so long as it’s less than 100 pounds.
What Factors Affect the Cost of Car Shipping?
- Method of Transport
- Car Size
- Time of Year
- Distance
- Belongings
Here’s what you need to know about each of these different factors so that you can calculate the cost of shipping your car:
1. Method of Transport
The first factor that affects the cost of car shipping is the method of transport. Door-to-door service costs more than terminal-to-terminal service. Enclosed transport costs are between 30% and 40% more than open transport with average costs of $1,500 and $1,080, respectively.
2. Car Size
The second factor that affects the cost of car shipping is the size of your vehicle. Larger vehicles cost more to ship than smaller vehicles since they take up more room on the trailer.
For example, it costs $1,150 on average to ship a car, $1,280 on average to ship an SUV and $1,450 to ship a truck.
3. Time of Year
The third factor affecting car shipping costs is the time of year. In the summer, which is the peak moving season, shipping will cost you more due to increased demand.
Generally speaking, you can expect to pay $200 to $300 more to ship your car during the summer instead of during the spring, fall, or even winter.
4. Distance
The fourth and perhaps most important factor that affects the cost of car shipping is the shipping distance. Most auto transport companies charge per mile; however, there are usually different rates based on the distance traveled.
For example, you can expect to pay about $1 per mile for distances less than 500 miles. From there, you might pay $0.75 per mile for distances between 1,000 and 2,000 miles. Over 2,000 miles, you can expect to pay about $0.50 per mile.
5. Belongings
The fifth and final factor that affects the cost of car shipping relates to any extra belongings that you’re shipping along with your car. Some companies include a certain weight of personal belongings, whereas others do not. Generally speaking, you can expect to pay $100 to $200 more for shipping any extra personal belongings that aren’t included with your basic rate.
The smaller and lighter your car, the less you will be charged for personal belongings. Keep in mind that these items must be contained in a suitcase or other container and placed “below the window” of the vehicle to prevent theft.
The cost of car shipping varies based on a whole host of different factors, including the method of transport, the size of the car, the time of year, the shipping distance, and any extra personal belongings.
The Bottom Line on Job Relocation
Relocating is overwhelming. But, you can alleviate some of the stress by transporting your car with a car shipping company. Carvaygo can help with the car aspect thanks to our car transportation services.
Visit our website for a quick and easy quote.
Sources:
What Should a Relocation Package Include? | Indeed.com
How to Update Your License and Registration When You Move | MYMOVE
How Much Does It Cost to Ship A Car? | Move.org
