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Post by aljack on Apr 29, 2016 22:43:22 GMT
DH's company is moving out of state. They said we need to sit down and write up what we need/want to move.
I have never done anything like this. In the past, the company gave us a standard for moving costs, assistance with selling house, airline and hotel expenses, and new job salary. I am told to be comprehensive and include as much as possible because we get one shot and that the company needs him for this upper management position so we should be thorough with our request.
We are trying to think of everything but feel we have overlooked items. Hence my post here.
Here is what we have:
1. Airline, hotel, and car rental costs to fly there 5 times.
2. Realtor assistance in state.
3. Moving and packing costs.
4. Assistance to sell current house if it doesn't sell within 6 months. (I don't project this to be an issue and have a realtor ready.)
5. Temporary rental for husband if housing becomes issue.
6. Closing costs on new home.
7. Assistance to help me locate a new job.
8. Assistance with college since I have a scholarship currently and only have two classes left to finish my program. I may just stay behind, but not sure yet.
The remaining items are being written by husband for his position.
I know the last 3 will probably be declined.
I worry this may be too much and that we are not asking for the right things? Also, we were told that if we arrive before a said date, a bonus would be issued. What the bonus is was left for us to decide? What the? A million dollars? Ha ha. Okay no. But what is that?
I am not excited about this move. I am leaving my entire family behind, including my college daughter who I am so fortunate to see and hear perform on a monthly basis. I dread missing her performances. My job is great and I will miss it dearly. I have some amazing women I call my second family.
On a final note, it's not the climate I want to be in because it's colder and more snow! I dislike cold weather and I am dreading it.
If you have suggestions, please share!
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luvnlifelady
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,428 
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Post by luvnlifelady on Apr 29, 2016 22:50:56 GMT
Could you stay behind to finish your degree and make sure this is the right thing before uprooting everything? What if your DH gets there and hates it? I realize he's got a job in hand and sounds like they really want to do what's right, so it could all work out, but since you are close to finishing school, I would maybe do that.
Sorry I can't be more help with the other negotiations.
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Post by underwatermama on Apr 29, 2016 22:51:22 GMT
You should be more specific on how many tickets you want to fly. Five trips sounds a little much though, imo.
They should offer you the help of a relocation company. They would help with finding a realtor that specializes in relocation. We had one of those and the realtor was great. This same company was supposed to help find me a job and they sucked at that. They basically added a cover letter to my resume and sent it out to various companies. If you really want help with a job, be sure to ask for more than just that "service". LOL
Also, if your daughter is staying in the state you are leaving you might want to make sure she still qualifies for in-state tuition (assuming it's not private), otherwise that should be included on your list as well.
That's all I feel qualified to answer...
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Post by shanniebananie on Apr 29, 2016 22:55:30 GMT
Storage costs if your things have to be stored for an extended period of time.
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Post by cmpeter on Apr 29, 2016 23:11:24 GMT
New window coverings for your new home, if needed.
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zztop11
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Post by zztop11 on Apr 29, 2016 23:24:31 GMT
Be sure to include insurance coverage for the move.
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Deleted
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Sept 29, 2024 4:30:05 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2016 23:35:35 GMT
Be careful on taxes -- some moving expense reimbursements count as wages so ask for a tax advisor and that the company gross up some expenses. Hopefully if they are moving the whole company they've already gotten advice on this from a tax accountant/relocation company. Possibly ask for the person to do your taxes in the year that you move, sell one house and buy another.
Look for cost such as license plate fees, drivers license fees, etc. Those can add up quicker than you think. NC has a property tax on all cars (along with homes).
We got the lower of the interest part of the mortgages until our home in TX closed and the lower of the bills (which was the unoccupied house). It took close to 6 months to sell and we sold low, but we got lucky and bought low too. We bought at what we could afford while paying both mortgages, which now I am very happy about. We are doing okay with 2 kids in college and aren't house poor. Ask for closing costs on the home you are selling -- I think those will be more than the one you are buying. Our company did it so that they bought the home from us with no closing costs/RE fees for the total amount of the offer and then they immediately sold it to the buyers and ate the closing costs. I think that was close to $16k.
5 trips seems a bit much to me....I got one to visit NC because I had never been before and then one house hunting trip. DH was already travelling back and forth between the two offices and looked at homes two separate times other than our combined trip. We did ALOT of internet research to tell you the truth. DH saw our house before I did and he was on the fence until I saw it. There was something that just called to me, because it is a very uncommon floorplan. And many of those trips will count as taxable income especially for the spouse part.
They also paid for our hotel for about 8 days since our closing in NC got pushed back due to the appraiser, but that stopped the day our home closed. Which means we moved into an empty home with no furniture because all our stuff was on a truck in storage. But we were able to pick our doggie up at the kennel sooner.
Be prepared to sign a 1+ year relocation repayment if he doesn't continue in the job at least that # of years. I think ours was a 2 year commitment.
In all honesty, DH and I added it up it was close to $50K going from TX to NC.
It's a bit overwhelming, but it will work out.
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Post by aljack on Apr 30, 2016 0:20:45 GMT
Be careful on taxes -- some moving expense reimbursements count as wages so ask for a tax advisor and that the company gross up some expenses. Hopefully if they are moving the whole company they've already gotten advice on this from a tax accountant/relocation company. Possibly ask for the person to do your taxes in the year that you move, sell one house and buy another. Look for cost such as license plate fees, drivers license fees, etc. Those can add up quicker than you think. NC has a property tax on all cars (along with homes). We got the lower of the interest part of the mortgages until our home in TX closed and the lower of the bills (which was the unoccupied house). It took close to 6 months to sell and we sold low, but we got lucky and bought low too. We bought at what we could afford while paying both mortgages, which now I am very happy about. We are doing okay with 2 kids in college and aren't house poor. Ask for closing costs on the home you are selling -- I think those will be more than the one you are buying. Our company did it so that they bought the home from us with no closing costs/RE fees for the total amount of the offer and then they immediately sold it to the buyers and ate the closing costs. I think that was close to $16k. 5 trips seems a bit much to me....I got one to visit NC because I had never been before and then one house hunting trip. DH was already travelling back and forth between the two offices and looked at homes two separate times other than our combined trip. We did ALOT of internet research to tell you the truth. DH saw our house before I did and he was on the fence until I saw it. There was something that just called to me, because it is a very uncommon floorplan. And many of those trips will count as taxable income especially for the spouse part. They also paid for our hotel for about 8 days since our closing in NC got pushed back due to the appraiser, but that stopped the day our home closed. Which means we moved into an empty home with no furniture because all our stuff was on a truck in storage. But we were able to pick our doggie up at the kennel sooner. Be prepared to sign a 1+ year relocation repayment if he doesn't continue in the job at least that # of years. I think ours was a 2 year commitment. In all honesty, DH and I added it up it was close to $50K going from TX to NC. It's a bit overwhelming, but it will work out. Great information! I just passed this on to DH and he said, that's a lot to process. Ha ha. I can tell he doesn't want to create this proposal and is looking to be spoon fed the information. |
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Deleted
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Sept 29, 2024 4:30:05 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2016 0:53:53 GMT
Your state may or may not treat reimbursable moving expenses as wages.
If you are required to provide receipts back for the $$$ advanced, it's reimbursed expenses and not wages.
If they give you the $$$ and no accounting /receipts are required, it would most likely be considered wages.
Also consider boarding/transport for family pets.
Good luck!!!
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Deleted
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Sept 29, 2024 4:30:05 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2016 1:13:37 GMT
I know it is a lot and we were lucky to get a brochure from DH's company that outlined what was taxable and what was not...but here is one publication from the IRS (I know it is a lot but it might be beneficial to at least skim through)\https://www.irs.gov/publications/p521/ar02.html#en_US_2015_publink1000203511
One thing I remember is that if we let them choose and pay the moving company directly, it was not taxable. But if we chose and paid to be reimbursed, it was somehow taxable. There was some small difference but I don't remember exactly what it was. May have just been the accountability as suggested above?
Luckily we were from a state that doesn't have state income tax (TX) even though we were moving to NC (which does). DH's pay at the time was still considered to be living in TX, so we didn't have to pay any state income tax, just federal.
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Post by Zee on Apr 30, 2016 1:18:45 GMT
We got 3 round trip tickets for each family member (4 people), moving costs, and a bonus. Now I feel we didn't really ask for much! But it was a totally new company and position for DH, large increase in salary.
I had to leave behind friends, family, and a job I'd had for 15 years, but I'm quite happy now. Took me a couple years to fully acclimate.
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Post by aljack on Apr 30, 2016 1:30:32 GMT
I know it is a lot and we were lucky to get a brochure from DH's company that outlined what was taxable and what was not...but here is one publication from the IRS (I know it is a lot but it might be beneficial to at least skim through)\https://www.irs.gov/publications/p521/ar02.html#en_US_2015_publink1000203511
One thing I remember is that if we let them choose and pay the moving company directly, it was not taxable. But if we chose and paid to be reimbursed, it was somehow taxable. There was some small difference but I don't remember exactly what it was. May have just been the accountability as suggested above?
Luckily we were from a state that doesn't have state income tax (TX) even though we were moving to NC (which does). DH's pay at the time was still considered to be living in TX, so we didn't have to pay any state income tax, just federal.
Thanks so much! This is incredibly useful! I really appreciate it. |
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Post by aljack on Apr 30, 2016 1:32:29 GMT
We got 3 round trip tickets for each family member (4 people), moving costs, and a bonus. Now I feel we didn't really ask for much! But it was a totally new company and position for DH, large increase in salary. I had to leave behind friends, family, and a job I'd had for 15 years, but I'm quite happy now. Took me a couple years to fully acclimate. I am glad you are adjusted now. I think you did pretty well. Our first offer out of state was similiar to yours. Muskegon, Mi was the potential new home, but we both are completely against that much snow. |
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smginaz Suzy
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Jun 26, 2014 17:27:30 GMT
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Post by smginaz Suzy on Apr 30, 2016 1:51:11 GMT
In moving household goods, specify pounds or costs, or whether there is no cap to what you move, and include one-way vehicle transport for your vehicles.
Bridge loan-to cover the bridge time between getting a new house and selling your old house.
A relocation specialist or coordinator to be the point person for all the companies/people in the move of household goods.
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Post by bc2ca on Apr 30, 2016 1:57:47 GMT
I think five trips is excessive. Two trips is common, three occassionally if a second house hunting trip is needed. That being said, if your DH does move ahead of you, I would include a monthly trip for either him to visit you or you to visit him until you move (airfare only).
We always included one month's salary to cover all incidentals (stopping/starting utitlies, window coverings, lock changes on new house, cleaning before moving into new house, etc.). If an employee had expenses greater than one month's salary they could itemize and claim, but I never saw a claim made. Generally the month's salary covered all incidentals easily and the extra was a little bonus.
Depending on how far the move was, we also only paid to transport one vehicle. Make sure you vehicles and any big space items (jet skis, boat, snowmobile) are included in "household goods".
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2016 2:09:11 GMT
Oh as other people post I remember more... and moving companies won't move things like propane containers for gas grills. We lost 2 because we couldn't move them. That sucked! Those aren't cheap to re-buy. So check to see what the moving company won't move (candles not in glass containers, etc)
I don't remember getting any extra bonus/cash, but we might have. It wasn't a whole month's salary--possibly closer to a single paycheck. Luckily our new home had all plantation shutters or blinds so no need for new window coverings.
It really did take me most of a full year to feel "at home" in my new place. I will admit to laying in bed one night and sobbing that I wanted to go home.... We had been in TX for 42 years, I lived within 10 miles of a specific highway most of that time even though it was up and down that highway and at our elementary school for 12 or 13 years and knew so many people.....when we moved, I'd go to the grocery store and not know anyone. That's actually where I experienced the most loneliness-- that and taking DS to his last year of elementary school at a brand new elementary and knowing nothing about the building and knowing no one. I actually started crying when meeting the busdrivers because the lady asked me what street we lived on (and we were still in the hotel) and while I knew that answer, she then asked the closest cross-street. I had absolutely no idea...that sucked. But I am an extrovert.... Now I am thrilled to see people I know at the grocery store and honestly have no care as to what I look like or what they look like!
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Post by ExpatBackHome on Apr 30, 2016 6:17:14 GMT
I would stay behind and finish my degree. I would ask for hotel costs for DH until he found a place to live. 5 trips is too much. You should get one trip to check out the place and house hunt and a one way trip there to live. I would expect to have extra expense on me for staying to finish my degree. When we moved, DH left in April our house closed in April and I (with DS) moved in with my inlaws until our stuff arrived (moving across the world). If the house didn't sell for a while, we would've stayed in the house until we rented or sold.
I would have the cost of packing (so I wouldn't have to put everything in boxes), the cost of transporting and the cost of unpacking included.
ETA - do you have a job now? How much notice would you give? If not, you have to look for a job anyway so I'm not sure if they'll provide assistance unless you plan to work for the company also and they can find you a position there.
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eleezybeth
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Jun 28, 2014 20:42:01 GMT
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Post by eleezybeth on Apr 30, 2016 12:10:35 GMT
We are military and move often. Some of the hidden costs you've already covered. But, there are so many!! I hate when people say "but the military moves you." They move our stuff... but the costs are always high.
Things like shipping your car or mileage, kenneling the pets or airfare and kenneling depending on where you are going, changing locks, closing costs, any costs associated with licenses - professional licenses as well (Mine is $600!), window coverings, storage costs if you can't get a door to door move. I'd demand they pay for "level 3" packing which includes all items crated vs. just boxed. Unpacking, box/paper removal, moving insurance. Any inspection fees for the new house, money to send documents (ever had to fax a contract 35 pages long??). Shipping any vehicles not cars (boats, motorcycles). But on shipping cars- make them pay for all of them not just one.
Good luck!!
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Post by vjlau on May 2, 2016 4:36:23 GMT
We've relocated twice with DH's job - both times with assistance from his new company. Once was an international move.
I think everything said here is very valid.
Definitely ask for a relocation agent in the new city. I didn't have that the first time, and did the second. It was very helpful to have someone local.
Definitely decide what you want/need as far as the moving company. Both times we were told we needed to move with a specific company. The first time, we had the level 3 packing move. It was a dream. They came and packed everything, loaded, unloaded, set everything up (ie, putting together bed frames etc), and unloaded boxes. They cleaned up all the packing stuff and took it all away. We also had a cleaning company come in and wipe out all the cabinets, clean the carpets etc. It was SO easy. We still did our own things like unpacking clothes, but the mess was so controllable.
The second time, we boxed most of it, and unpacked it all at the end. The dropped the boxes in the living room.
Keep in mind how long it might take to get your items. We did a cross country move, and an international. Both times it was 3 weeks before we saw our stuff. First time, we stayed in a hotel for 2.5 weeks. Second time we decided to rough it in the house. Both were fine, but know what you want.
Both company's paid for 2 visits. One to see the new city, and one to find housing. Both times we stayed about 4-5 days, and they covered airline and hotel, nothing else - including rental car.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2016 5:05:14 GMT
Make sure you cover for cost of living increases to where you are going - food/gas/housing/clothing/medical care - and make sure your DH's salary is adjusted accordingly. Make sure you hit a couple of grocery stores to check food prices to avoid potential sticker shock.
Will you need 4-wheel drive vehicles due to the different climate and road conditions?
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