Know the Costs of Relocation

Consider the Costs

• Weigh the pros and cons of relocating. Being willing to relocate can enhance your prospects for employment because you are casting a wider net.
• Moving to a new geographic location is not without its trade-offs, however, including differences in living costs and family resistance, especially if a “trailing spouse” needs to find a new job or school-age children don’t want to leave their friends and activities.
• To analyze the financial aspects of relocating, check out the free city-to-city comparisons of living costs at www.homestore.com and www.bestplaces.net. Their criteria factors in costs such as income and property taxes, housing prices, and also provides information about weather, crime rates, and community services.

State Your Terms

• Negotiate the terms of your relocation. Many employers provide benefits to relocating workers on a case-by-case basis. Financial benefits to request can include family counseling, vacation time after the move, a job or job-search assistance for a spouse, help with elder care (if an elderly relative depends upon the transplanted family), and assistance selecting a community and school district.
• Some workers decide to relocate while their family stays put. In this case, a worker can request payment for some of the cost of housing or travel between the two locations.

Say No When Necessary

• Know when to say no. Good reasons to turn down a job offer involving relocation are when you sense bad chemistry with a new boss, the expectations are unrealistic, or the job really won’t teach you anything new.
• Another thing to consider when relocating for a job is seniority. In many companies, the last hired are the first fired. Lack of seniority in a new job could be a serious drawback.
• There are also intangible financial costs to consider. For example, if you are moving away from family members who provide unpaid support services (such as child care, car maintenance, and home repairs), there will be a financial loss when these services must be purchased in a new location.