Managing a Move During a Job Relocation
Are you moving for a job? Congratulations! A new job in a new city is exciting. However, it can also come with challenging timelines. Whether you’re single or moving with your family, you may be relocating in four to eight weeks (or even less), which means a long list of decisions and some complex logistics.
At Georgetown Moving and Storage, we’ve helped professionals and families relocate for more than 20 years, whether moving to the Washington, DC area for a new opportunity or leaving for one somewhere else. Here’s what we’ve learned that will make your move easier.
Check Your Relocation Package
Before you spend a dollar or make a decision, get the details of your relocation package (if there is one) in writing. This will help you set your budget and determine how much you may need to do yourself.
The most generous relocation packages might cover the cost of a professional moving company, temporary housing while you find a place to buy or a long-term rental, travel to your new area to check out housing options before you start, and even help sell your current property. If you have to break your lease or if your partner has to leave their job to relocate, your relocation package may include reimbursement or support to make those situations easier. Relocation is stressful, and some companies are willing to go the extra mile to make sure you arrive ready to focus on your job.
However, the most common relocation packages are either a lump-sum payment you manage yourself or a reimbursement capped at a set amount. These require more planning on your end. You choose the moving company, coordinate the timeline, and float the costs until you get reimbursed. It’s important to understand what is covered and what you’re responsible for so you don’t blow the budget you want to use for something else.
If your offer doesn’t include any relocation services, consider negotiating. Many employers will cover moving costs or give you a sum toward your expenses, even when they don’t initially offer them. The worst they can say is no.
Set a Realistic Timeline for Your Move
Under normal circumstances, many people spend months planning a move. However, job relocations often happen in four to eight weeks. Some might even demand that you start in two weeks of the offer date if the company needs someone immediately.
Assuming you have a month to move, the first two weeks should focus on research and booking. Contact professional movers for estimates immediately. Research neighborhoods in your new location, mapping commute times and school quality (if you have kids). If you’ll be staying in temporary housing while you find longer-term accommodations, now is the time to book that housing. Many people rent furnished corporate homes or Airbnbs to make the move easier, and put their stuff in storage until they find a place.
Once you’re at the two-week mark, dates should be locked in. You should have your travel plans arranged and your mover booked. It’s time to start decluttering and selling or giving away what you won’t take with you.
If you’re working at your old job during this transition, packing up a household and handling all of the logistics will mean getting very little sleep. Full-service packing takes this burden off your plate. You don’t have to order boxes and wrapping materials; our crew takes care of all of it. You’ll want to pack a travel bag with everything you’ll need for the first few days.
Storage Is Essential During a Tight Move
Most of the time, when the timeline is tight, you won’t move straight into your long-term place. If you’re moving to a totally new area and aren’t familiar with the neighborhoods or traffic, you don’t want to lock yourself into housing you may not be happy with. Storing your stuff for a few weeks or a couple of months while you start your job lets you dive into your work and get comfortable in your new location before moving in long-term.
Our moving and storage services bridge this gap with no extra effort on your part. You don’t have to pick a storage unit and hire movers twice. We pick everything up, keep it safely in our climate-controlled storage facilities in Arlington or Alexandria storage units, and deliver it all when your long-term housing is ready. Everything is carefully inventoried, and it makes your job relocation easier to manage.
Relocating To or From the Washington, DC Area
Whether you’re arriving or departing, moving in and out of the DMV means navigating busy neighborhoods and building regulations. Housing is expensive, inventory moves fast, and our commute times don’t always correlate with how far you’ll need to travel.
We know the DMV area and have lived and worked here for 20 years, and can help you move from or to anywhere in the country. For our long-distance moves, we guarantee delivery within one to three days of pickup and always use our own trucks and crews.
Make a Good Impression Your First 90 Days
The first three months at a new job shape how colleagues and supervisors perceive you. If you’re doing everything yourself and show up distracted or exhausted, you aren’t going to make the best first impression. Even if you’re really familiar with the work, starting a new job comes with additional stressors you want to have the bandwidth to manage.
Investing in professional movers who will pack for you and take care of all of the logistics without your hand-holding isn’t a luxury during a job relocation. They’re investments in your performance at a moment when performance matters most.
Your Job Relocation Partners
A job relocation is exciting, but it’s also demanding. You’re closing one chapter, opening another, and trying to keep yourself or your family steady through dramatic change. The best thing you can do for everyone is make the move as effortless as possible.
We’ve helped professionals relocate to and from the Washington, DC area for more than 20 years. We know how to make corporate relocations and last-minute timelines work. Call us at (703) 889-8899 or request a free estimate online. The new job deserves your attention.
