Do you have a job opportunity lined up that requires you to relocate? Even if you’ve secured a dream job, it can still be a massive challenge to uproot yourself and start anew in any potential destination.
Besides the logistics of loading and unloading your belongings from one house to another, there are multiple aspects of the move that you’ll also have to keep in mind.
From connecting and disconnecting utilities to saving up for the big move, there are a lot of considerations you have to make to ensure that the relocation process proceeds without a hitch.
On top of all that, you also have to consider the work agreement to ensure that communication regarding different responsibilities is made clear beforehand, from the relocation package to the burden of shouldering key visa processing duties.
If you want to ensure that the relocation goes smoothly, then this guide can serve you with some actionable tips to ensure you’re well-informed throughout the whole process.
Let’s jump right into it.
1. Evaluate the Job Opportunity Carefully
Before jumping the gun and signing your life away to this new, unfamiliar location, weigh the job offer carefully and thoughtfully. While the opportunity may feel like a great honour or an exciting step in your life, it’s important to be rational regarding your ultimate decision.
First, look beyond the salary attached to the role. Some places have a higher cost of living than others, and it’s important to look into your target city’s average rent and food costs to know for sure whether your salary can sustain the cost of living.
It’s also important to consider what the job entails as a whole. Are you expected to work beyond the 8-hour, 5 times a week standard for most jobs? Are there lots of overtime hours? Will the job give you more opportunities to advance in your future career?
Take these points into consideration and weigh them against your own desired lifestyle and career. Don’t hesitate to negotiate with the company if there are some aspects of the deal that you want to change.
Furthermore, take a look at the company and its reputation. You can read reviews on job platforms like Indeed and Glassdoor to see the general working culture of the company.
By being thorough with this incoming job opportunity, you’ll have more realistic expectations on the job and make a more evidence-based decision on this big life decision.
2. Open New Local Accounts
When moving to a new place, it’s important to open up essential accounts local to your new region.
This is especially true if you’re moving overseas, as entire processes from banking to paying taxes can differ from country to country. That said, even moving between regions within the same country can come with noticeable changes in processes and requirements.
If you’re moving to a new country, then one of the most crucial accounts you’ll have to set up initially is a bank account. Your bank account will serve as the central point where you’d receive salary, transfer funds, pay taxes and fees, and store your wealth.
It’s best to open a local bank account to ensure that you can go through these processes seamlessly. For instance, if you’re moving to Australia, opening an Australian bank account with Westpac and other major banking institutions should be high on your list of things to do once you’ve recently moved into the place.
Besides opening a new bank account, you should also set up or update other essential utilities that you’ll likely use on a daily basis. If you’re moving to a new region, check if your mobile and data plan, internet connection, and utility services need to be transferred or re-registered in your new place.
Furthermore, you should also update your government information, like your driver’s license, postal address, healthcare coverage, and insurance plans, to match your new address. This is to ensure a smooth adjustment to your new place.
3. Confirm the Details of Your Relocation Package
Relocating due to a work opportunity differs greatly from relocating on your own accord.
Your employer can lend you a helping hand with the move through a relocation package. They can sponsor your move-in in part or in full. If you choose to accept their assistance (which you should in an overwhelming majority of cases), get a detailed breakdown of what’s covered and what isn’t before proceeding with the move.
For starters, determine if your employer will help sponsor the major costs of the move: this includes the flights, relocating services, and any temporary accommodations that you may need to book to get yourself settled in more comfortably.
Besides that, look if other aspects of the move like visa processing, utility setup, and storage fees are also partially covered—they’re most likely going to be shouldered on your own, but it doesn’t hurt to ask and negotiate, especially if you’re looking at a potential long-distance or international move.
Knowing the level of support you’re receiving in writing through the relocation package can help clear the financial haze and give you a budget to shoot for before the big moving day. Having a concrete figure can be a big stress reliever as it makes it easier to plan and set goals for the upcoming expenses more readily.
4. Understand Cultural Nuances
Relocating to a new country or continent can be a totally unique experience. It’s a major upheaval to your usual lifestyle, and this new dynamic can influence your quality of life and daily routine significantly.
To ensure that you’re not completely out of your element as you move to your new space, take the time to research cultural norms and common communication modes in your target destination beforehand. Learn the values and etiquette of the population. Dress appropriately as much as possible as well.
These things may seem like minor or low-priority tasks, but putting your best foot forward on day one can set a good first impression on people you’ll likely see on a daily basis, like your neighbours and coworkers.
This, in turn, can make it easier for you to integrate and be accepted into the local community, making you a more respectable person in their eyes.
5. Prepare Your Budget for the Move
It’s no secret that moving is a costly endeavour. Besides the highest costs like moving your belongings and airfare, you’ll also deal with several lower-priority costs like utility setup fees and visa processing.
To ensure that you don’t shortchange yourself, you need to plan a budget and set a target goal for savings as early as possible. In your templatised budget, break down the projected expenses per category—like rent, moving costs, utility setup costs, visa processing, and so on.
Furthermore, it’s also essential to make the budget with as much allowance as you can afford to add. Account for things like emergency funds and set your expense category at about 10% higher than your initial assessment. This way, you can aggressively save and ensure that you have enough finances to cover anything that can go awry during the moving process.
When creating your savings plan, reverse engineer your target goal and set weekly milestones. Ensure that the figure goal is something realistic and achievable. Then—the hard part—stick to your savings goals by monitoring your lifestyle and avoiding unnecessary expenses.
By being disciplined with your saving habits, you can gather enough finances to ensure that the relocation plan goes smoothly. It may make a dent in your usual lifestyle, but sacrifices need to be made before your life starts going on an upswing.
6. Hire Removalists to Help You Move
Another thing you must know before relocating is that there are services that can assist you in relocating. Sure, relocating on your own is possible, but it’s extremely demanding and will require a lot of endurance and willpower to get done.
A much better solution is to hire a removalist business to help you out. These professionals can pack and transport everything in your current home to your new place, from bulky items to fragile goods. They can also provide additional services like cleaning up new buildings, shipping internationally, and offering a temporary space to store your belongings.
Hiring removalists takes a big physical toll off your hands and helps you focus on other logistical processes surrounding a move. They may not be the cheapest option, but they can help hasten the moving process safely and securely, guaranteeing expert-level service and peace of mind for you to transition at your desired pace.
We hope we’ve informed you with the best tips to know before relocating for work. Best of luck in your next work opportunity!
Guest writer
