Relocation Advice?

[attain]

I am in the process of interviewing for a job in the Ormond Beach area. If I get it, we will relocate from the Memphis area. At this point we are trying to gather information. This would be a first for us, so we aren't even sure what to ask for in the relocation package! Any good websites to help with cost of living, schools, etc? Any personal opinions on the Ormond Beach area and cities/towns around it? Any advice is welcome. Thanks!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

No advice--but my DH began a job in Dec--due to the nature of how he obtained his job--he was the equivilant of a temporary employee. He went permanent April 1 (much early than the length of the temp contract which was to end in August--but we wanted the better insurance).

What he negotiated for relocation...

Higher pay beginning in August (pay was a smidge low due to the employer having to pay the agency)

Signing bonus that was about 8.5% of his salary and reimbursement of moving costs.

So I would suggest a signing bonus in addition to moving costs if those are appropriate for your industry. They are in hubby's industry. Typically the signing bonus helps with transition for down payments on a new home or setting up a new apartment.

In our situation--without the singing bonus, moving expenses and pay increase--we could not move our family up. We were able to share quite accurate proof as to why this was so. Including that we cannot sell our home (and didn't want to walk away from it), that getting a renter would be difficult and that maintaining our home down here and finding a rental for 6 people up there would be crazy difficult. Things will be tight--but now they are doable whereas in the original income...it was enough to be cost prohibitive for relocating the family. The good thing--they really really really wanted him to stay working for them and realized by the end of DH's first week there, that he was an important employee to keep.

Though I am presently in Florida, I am not familiar with Ormond Beach. Sorry that I cannot provide any information about that.

 

[abdmom]

Here's my favorite cost of living calculator: Bankrate calculator

 

[attain]

Thanks! I'll keep the signing bonus in mind. I would not have thought about that, but I did tell them that salary and availability depend on the relo package.

That calculator is pretty cool! Thanks!!

 

[ChristmasElf]

I am in the process of interviewing for a job in the Ormond Beach area. If I get it, we will relocate from the Memphis area. At this point we are trying to gather information. This would be a first for us, so we aren't even sure what to ask for in the relocation package! Any good websites to help with cost of living, schools, etc? Any personal opinions on the Ormond Beach area and cities/towns around it? Any advice is welcome. Thanks!

Usually after a job offer is made, you will get a phone call from that companies relocation dept. They will have information on everything you will need from the name of the moving company to information on a realtor in the city to which you are moving to.
If you want to get info on Ormond Beach ahead of time, you can call the chamber of commerce and they will be happy to mail you out information on the area.
Realtor.com is also very helpful in showing houses on the market to look at.

 

[attain]

ChristmasElf, thank you! Do most companies have a relocation dept? Since I work in healthcare, I have never heard of that. I have done some looking on realtor.com, which is helpful. A friend told me about greatschools.org, which helps narrow down possible locations as well.

 

[NHdisneylover]

The big thing many people neglect to ask for (which is often available IF you ask but not always offered up front) is a tax gross up. You will be taxed for all of the moving expenses the company covers (moving truck, Realtor commission on the sale of your home, etc)--this can REALLY add up. A tax gross up estimates the taxes you will pay on this amount and then covers them (including what you pay in taxes on the gross up amount!). Basics we have had covered several times (but which may be different now that the economy is not so strong):

2 house hunting trips trips for employ and spouse (2-5 nights long with airfare, rental car, hotel and meals)

all fees and commissions on sale of old house and fees to buy a new house (including paying for inspections and radon tests in some areas)

Moving: packing items and purchasing boxes, transport and storage of goods (up to three months) and up to one vehicle. Removal of boxes (or unpacking and removal of boxes) after the move. Insurance for all items during the move. "Specialists" if needed to move washer/dryer, etc and building of crates if needed for antiques (we have one antique clock which is always custom crated).

Transportation for family to new home.

Up to three months temporary housing if needed.

1 month's salary as a "signing bonus" to cover incidentals (licensing of cars, new drapes, etc.)

Tax Gross Up

It has been nearly 6 years since our last big normal move (moving to Germany was a whole different ball game!) so I may be forgetting something (but we did it 5 times in 8 years before that).

Good luck and have fun--we found any place can be fun and any move exciting if you go into it with the right attitude.

 

[attain]

Wow! Thanks for all the wonderful information! I knew this was a good place to ask. I will add the gross up to the list of requests, definitely. Of course, this all depends on getting a job offer. I have another phone interview on Wednesday! Just moving within the US seems overwhelming. I can't imagine the organization required for an overseas move! Thank you again for all the great advice. I appreciate it!

 

[FormrCastMbr]

We are in the final stages of relocating (I am still in NJ with the kids and my husband has been in PA since Sept - I am waiting for school to be out). I think what NHDisneylover stated is basically what our relocation package was like. A lot of companies will use an outside relocation company that will walk you through the process. Make sure the company you are interviewing with sends you all the relocation benefits prior to accepting the position.

As far as location and schools, I just did a lot of google searches and the realtor in PA was able to give us statistics and websites on the schools.

Good luck!

 

[attain]

Thanks for the advice! Good luck with the rest of your move!

 

[binny]

our company uses ETA sorry its https://www.wrri.com/ they have a lot of great resources on their site.


We relocated here and they grossed up, paid for the realtor or to buy us out of a lease if needed, paid closing costs, paid for packers and movers and gave us an allowance for the incidentals. There were a few more things but basically they took care of almost everything.