Relocation Package/New Job Question

[momoftwins]

For those of you that have relocated for a job, what are some of the typical items included in the relocation benefits. Do they just pay for the moving company, temporary housing, etc? Or should we expect/negotiate for more?

We certainly do not want to look like we are milking the situation, however, we do want to make sure we can get what is customary/reasonable.

Can you share what you have been given in your package? Thanks and have a great night.

 

[EthansMom]

Usually, larger companies will have a preset (not terribly negotiable) relocation package.

My experience with mine and DH's jobs has been that most offered moving of goods (including packing, but not unpacking), moving autos, transportation (airfare) to new job location, temporary storage of household goods, and temporary housing. If you already own a house, there may be some help selling the house (paying real estate commision), help buying a new house (points towards your new mortgage) and a house hunting trip.

If you can't negotiate relocation, you might consider negotiating a signing bonus.

 

[wdwpluto]

I recently relocated from NJ to FL and was given a fixed dollar amount. They offered X amount and, based on the research I'd done, I thought it was fair and accepted it.

It ended up covering our moving truck, gas (for the car & truck) and hotels for the ride down almost to the penny.

I'm not sure if it's customary for temporary housing to be paid for. We had found an apartment prior to moving, so that was a non-issue for us.

Don't know if this is the norm either, but my company paid the moving expense as a 1099 (no taxes taken out) so we'll have to claim it differently at the end of the year

 

[ceiligh1]

When my DH was relocated for work he recieved: a moving co to move/store his household, storage for 1 mo after the move, a house to live in free of rent for 1 mo after the move, transportation to the new job site, help finding a new house/rental house. He also recieved some sort of moving allowance but I dont remember how much. We had just started seeing each other and he was out of college so not much to move, it was overkill for him.

 

[golfgal]

We have gotten moving expenses, DH's temporary housing until we moved, closing costs on new home and closing costs on old home, including real estate fees, extra pay that equaled about 3 months salary to cover other "moving expenses". About the only thing we haven't gotten was the company to buy our house if we didn't sell, but, we never had a problem selling before so that hasn't been an issue.

 

[EthansMom]

Oh, and, if you're lucky, you might be offered "gross up", which means that the company will give you a sum of money toward the taxes on the taxable parts of the relocation package (any $ help with buying/selling houses is taxable as are a few other things).

 

[aynt79]

DH's company relocated us from Maine to Florida a couple of years ago.

They flew both of us down for a long weekend for a home finding trip (they paid airfare, car rental, hotel and a set amount each day for food) and set us up with a real estate agent to find a good apartment.

They paid a set amount per mile for driving DH's truck down, plus hotels, tolls and food. They only paid mileage for driving my car down. We could of had one vehicle shipped and the other paid mileage/etc but choose to drive them ourselves.

They also paid for the professional packers and movers to get all of out stuff down here.

We were also given money in advance to help with deposits/ 1st month's rent, but I think that was considered part of the sign on bonus.

I think that was their standard package, not really negotiable. I would have rather gotten the cash equivilant - I would have sold everything and used the money to start over here instead of dealing with moving everything.

 

[Aimeedyan]

We only moved 90 miles away but I was offered a full service move with a max amount of $5k. Didn't come near that, of course, but it sure was great to have someone else pack everything.

We would have been provided with housing and storage if the situation has come up but our new house was already closed on before the move.

 

[JenDaveBrendan]

We moved from MA to NC recently and this is what we got from DH's new company down here:
full cost of moving company (including them packing all our things into boxes)
move of 2 cars
one month's salary for misc. expenses
$6000 towards closing costs on a house
2 months temporary housing (we didn't use this)
travel expenses for the family ( 2 trips down here to find a house, plus the move down here) including hotel, meals, airfare, rental car
I know there was a bit more than this, but these are the biggest things I can think of off the top of my head.

Jen

 

[MouseWorshipin]

If THEY want you to move badly, you can get pretty much whatever you want. I expensed everything from gum for my airplane ride to packers to pack up my stuff to six weeks in the hotel (and all my living expenses during that time, including room service).


If you are the ones who wanted to move, you have to take what they give you.
Relocation for employment will also help on your taxes.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Don't know if this is the norm either, but my company paid the moving expense as a 1099 (no taxes taken out) so we'll have to claim it differently at the end of the year

Basically: You will claim it as income and then write off all of your actual expenses. If you have money left over, then you would pay tax on it. Keep all of your expenses. You can claim mileage on your vehicle but not the gas (if is alread figure into the number used for mileage).

 

[wdwpluto]

Basically: You will claim it as income and then write off all of your actual expenses. If you have money left over, then you would pay tax on it. Keep all of your expenses. You can claim mileage on your vehicle but not the gas (if is alread figure into the number used for mileage).

Sweet. We broke even (give or take $10)

 

[paperboy]

When I was relocated, I received:

-Full service moving
-Furnished apartment for 3 months, rent paid directly by company
-$200/week expense account for 3 months -- company reimbursed me for breakfasts, dinners, and groceries.
-Large tax bill the following year.

When I was laid off by that company, I received 3 months' severance pay

 

[lclark0621]

When DH's former company moved us half way across the country, they had a preset amount for the move. Out of that money, we could have used it for anything from the moving truck to closing costs on our house, to the fees to get new driver's licenesses.

They also paid for 2 house hunting trips (airfare, food, hotel) of 1 week each. They arranged for a relocation "specialist" out of a national realtor they used. They were willing to wait for us to find a new home before moving us & have DH work out of our place back in NY until we found something we were happy with. I think they said they would have paid for a total of 4 house hunting trips (for a total of 4 weeks), but we found a place we really wanted on the second trip. After the 4th trip, we would have had to pay for it ourselves, or take the money from our set dollar amount. The 4 house hunting trips were "freebies", meaning they were not out of the set moving package amount.

The also paid for a 3 day trip (airfare, food, hotel, etc) for us to close on our house.

The company had a moving company they used & they negotiated the rate. I didn't even have to pack or unpack anything! They did it all for me.

I thought the package was very fair & was happy with it.

I do know it is getting harder and harder to get a relocation package from a company anymore. It is not so much the "norm" anymore, especially for a new job. Companies now seem more willing to give relocations if THEY are moving you (no choice moves, company closing a facility, etc), not so much for promotions or new posistions.

 

[momoftwins]

for taking the time to reply. At least we have an idea of what things we can negotiate. Interview coming up - pixie dust please

 

[HaleyB]

Just wanted to add that whenever you relocate for a job you should have a garentee of employment for at least 4 years and a severance package. Sometimes those things are hard to get, but I wouldn't move without them.