Relocating questions

[kacaju]

My brother just found out his company is moving to Boston. He has been told they really want him to come with them. Neither my brother or SIL are too happy right now. They were not expecting this and are in shock right now.

They have been talking and I was hoping to help them (through all of you) as to what is *normal* (if there is such a thing) for a company to offer to you when you are relocating?

As of right now their plan is to rent out their house here (in NJ) and rent a place up in MA. Their thinking is if they don't like it, they have a house to come back to. SIL wants a contract that they will keep him on for at least 5 years (she doesn't want to get there and then have him get laid off).

They want to ask for 6 months towards rent up there.

Moving costs.

Does this sound reasonable? I am not so sure, but then again, we have not been faced with this so I don't know what is normal in relocating.

Any other ideas that I can tell them? Thanks!!

 

[Nik's Mom]

We were relocated from California to Kansas last year. DH's job really bent over backwards to get us to move. Whatever he asked for, dh got. They paid our mortgage back in California, then finally bought our house at a fair market price. The real estate market had already crashed in California, so no one was buying houses. We were thrilled that they bought it from us, and for a very good price. They paid for all moving costs, of course. They also gave us a huge bonus, plus spending money to cover miscellaneous expenses (new furniture, food and hotel for a week until our moving truck arrived in Kansas). They even gave money to tip the truck drivers that moved our furniture and cars. Like I said, the company was trying to keep us happy so we would move.

How eager is the company to get the family to move? If they are very eager, then ask away. The worse they can say is no.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

DH has relocated twice just to keep a job within the company and we got nothing. So if you get anything, you are good.

Consider yourself lucky, most places cut people loose in this situation.

 

[kelleigh1]

It's going to depend on the company and on how badly they want him to move with them. I think he might want to ask what they'll offer as far as relocation assistance and then make a counteroffer, if what they're offering isn't enough to convince him.


At least NJ to MA, the cost of living is about the same, so he won't be in for a sticker shock when he gets here.

 

[lil mermaid]

My DH works for a major oil company and we have relocated twice -once from Southern NH to California, and one from CA to TX, where we live now.

-Both times, we had all of our moving and travel expenses paid for.
-We received a "miscellaneous expense allowance" of one months salary. -They paid all expenses related to buying/selling our houses on both ends. If we had a problem selling our house, they would have bought it eventually, and they would have covered part of the loss if we had to sell it for less than we paid. That didn't happen, since when we sold our house in CA, the market was still really hot.

For our first move, since we were moving to a "high cost area" (the SF Bay area) we also recieved a one-time $20k payment to help offset the high housing costs.

We received thirty days of rent and food expenses.

Six months rent sounds a bit unreasonable, IMO. The five year contract does too - especially since they want to be able to move back if they don't like it.

 

[golfgal]

Typically we have gotten a moving bonus, usually $10,000 or so, moving expenses paid, paid house hunting trips, DH's living expenses paid since he usually moved before we did, paid closing costs on old house and closing costs on new house.

 

[RadioNate]

We've relocated 4 times for DH's job.

Typically, all moving expenses including packers, movers (household items and cars) and transportation/expenses during the actual move have been covered. One house hunting trip has been covered. One month of temporary housing has been covered. In a one case that has extended up to 3 months but that was a rare situation. 6 months sounds high to me.

They have never offered any employment guarantees and that sounds unreasonable. I do know that many companies require you to repay moving expenses if you quit with in a year.

We've been satisfied with all of our relocation packages. House buyouts are very rare these days and in my experience only come with high level relocations (like CEOs) or jobs with high union involvement.

Good luck.

 

[DawnCt1]

I think most relocation packages are generous from the sounds of it. I would think twice about renting out the house 'back home'. If they decide to sell after a year from the date of hire, they will get no company help with the real estate commission, conveyance taxes, etc. He needs to think twice about being a long distance landlord and ultimately the tax implications if he decides to sell later.

 

[kacaju]

I think most relocation packages are generous from the sounds of it. I would think twice about renting out the house 'back home'. If they decide to sell after a year from the date of hire, they will get no company help with the real estate commission, conveyance taxes, etc. He needs to think twice about being a long distance landlord and ultimately the tax implications if he decides to sell later.

I am really trying to talk them out of that. I think it is just a horrible idea myself. (besides I don't want to become the person to look out for their home since I live close to them!!)

He actually is starting to look for another job, they really don't want to move. SIL told me he has until July to decide what to do. the company wants to know by then who is going with them and who is not.

 

[DebbieB]

Unless he is a top level executive, I doubt they will offer an employment contract. I have been asked to transfer with a major insurance company, they typically pay all moving costs including packing, help sell your current home, expenses for purchasing your new home. I never got deep enough into it to ask for a pay increase, but I would have expected a decent increase. It depends on how bad they want you to move.

 

[jenlynn0808]

DH took a new job last year. We had to relocate from MI to WA. They paid all our moving costs and plane tickets for us to come out. They didn't help us with the house in MI (it was a long journey...don't ask) and they put DH up in a 'corporate' apartment for 3 months until he found us a house here. No help with a house here either.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

We moved last year, but it was to a different job/company, so it may be different.

As others have said, there were generous benefits--one month's salary for misc. expenses, another lump payment for some specific stuff. DH's company hires a relocation company that walks you through everything. They packed us up and moved us--down to the dirty laundry! It was kind of funny, but they were really great. My relocation specialist even told me that she was also my sounding board/shoulder to cry on, as they know it can be emotionally challenging to relocate.

They wouldn't buy out our house, but they do pay the real estate commission, etc. Also, they only move you once--for example, if you were to rent while you had a house built, they would pay for storage, and to move you into the rental, but not to then move you into the house later, KWIM?

I can also tell you that it's a PITA to own a house 2 states away. Our NY home should hopefully be sold next week (inspection today, then the relocation company buys us out, and does the actual closing with the new buyers next week). We've had to make numerous trips back to handle various things--even with a handy friend nearby, DH was just out last night, seriously, because of an inspection issue, that he and his friend fixed until 2am.

I would also be worried about the image he projects, wanting to keep the house in NJ. That may signal the company that he's not serious about the move. Also, if he's looking for another job, maybe moving isn't the best choice for him. If his heart is in NJ, and Boston doesn't do it for him, he may regret the move and be trapped, at least for a while. They might want to consider going up to Boston, spending a few days feeling out the area, see if it's really a place they'd like to settle. I must tell you, our move was a great opportunity for my DH. We both grew up in New England, so it was kind of like coming home again. But, we'd lived in our NY town for 21 years, so saying good-bye was very tough. I'm not sorry we moved, but there are so many factors that go into it.