How Long Does it Take to Relocate for a Job in San Francisco Bay Area?
Relocating for a new job can be exciting and stressful simultaneously. You need to sell your house, pack up, and secure a new place within the timeframe set by your new employer. It’s a demanding process that can really take a toll on you, both physically and financially.
In actuality, the job relocation process typically spans from two to eight weeks. Nevertheless, numerous employers grant their workers just two to four weeks for the move. Within this window, employees are tasked with finding a new residence, arranging for movers, packing, and much more.
Did your boss ask you to move overseas in just two weeks? Worry not because this blog details what you can expect when relocating!
What is a Job Relocation?
Job relocation or employee relocation typically occurs when a company asks its employees to move to another location to accept a new position. This is common for companies where there are overseas operations. They offer their employees certain benefits to make the move worthwhile.
New hires are also commonly asked to move when they accept a job offer. This is if they live far from the office and it affects the operation of the company.
How Long Does it Take to Relocate for a Job?
When shifting jobs, getting ready and moving can take anywhere from two to eight weeks. This relies heavily on quickly selling the previous home or receiving a cash offer in the local real estate market. Sometimes, it could even stretch to six months before the new job begins.
There’s no fixed schedule for job-related relocations because everyone’s circumstances vary. For instance, a minimalist worker with few belongings and no emotional ties to their old place may only require a fortnight to transition. Conversely, a family with children and pets may need over two months to organize and move everything.
How Long Do Companies Give You to Relocate to a New City?
In real estate, there are no set rules regarding the time your employer must offer you to move before your start date. It’s really about negotiating with them.
However, typically, you can expect to have two to four weeks to handle the moving process, following common practices in the industry. Yet, this timeframe can vary based on how eager they are to onboard you and their immediate business needs.
It’s important to distinguish between the relocation timeline and the decision-making timeline. If you’re considering a job offer in another state or far away, your employer should allow you time to ponder it—usually around one to two weeks. Once you’ve accepted the offer, that’s when the relocation clock starts ticking.
How to Negotiate Your Relocation Timeline for a New Job
You can leverage your importance to the company to negotiate your moving schedule. If they want you to relocate too quickly, propose a different timeline to give yourself more time. Here’s how:
- Tell your employer how grateful you are for the job offer and how much the relocation excites you.
- Specify the date when you can comfortably move.
- Provide them with a document detailing the time estimates for your relocation preparation such as selling your house, packing, finding a new home, etc.
There’s no assurance that your request for extra time will be approved, but you won’t know without trying, right?
Relocation Timeline
This relocation timeline can also serve as your to-do list in moving. Feel free to copy and print this to use as your checklist when you move to a new city or new country.
8 Weeks Before Your Move
Visit Your New Office and Connect with Employees
Your fresh real estate firm may offer airfare to inspect the prospective property eight weeks ahead of your relocation. This aims to ease your nerves on the initial day of moving. You could waive this if your prospective employer previously arranged your travel for the interview.
Should you have a chance to converse with your new colleagues, particularly those who also moved, feel free to seek advice on adjusting smoothly.
Ask Your Employer or Future Employer About Relocation Packages
Talk to the human resources department regarding the relocation package they offer. A majority of companies cover moving costs or part of them, so be sure to avail yourself of this benefit.
Research the Cost of Living
The cost of living in a new city may cause you stress if you haven’t done your research. Thus, before your move, find out the costs of gas and transportation, food, temporary housing or rentals, and other essential services so you can plan how to save.
6 Weeks Before
Search for New Housing
If you’re making a permanent move, begin your hunt for a new home. Keep in mind that not all property transactions wrap up quickly, and you’ll still need to bargain with the seller, so make an offer on a property as soon as possible.
When scouting for a place, make sure it’s located in a secure area, possibly close to your workplace.
Plan Your Budget and Track Your Relocation Costs
Inquire about the cheapest yet reliable movers before making a choice. Relocating incurs costs, so it’s wise to budget to cut expenses. Additionally, meticulously record all expenses and retain receipts for reimbursement by your employer post-move.
Set a Schedule with a Moving Company
Once you find a reputable moving company, set a schedule for a moving date. Ideally, you should move during weekdays or off seasons, so the moving costs are cheaper.
Book a Secure Storage Unit
If there isn’t a new home or rental waiting for your belongings in the new location, reserve a storage unit where the movers can unload your things.
4 Weeks Before
Look for Temporary Housing
One month after starting your new job, explore available rental properties close to your company’s location. This will provide you with temporary accommodation while you search for or negotiate a permanent residence.
You can do this online 4 weeks out; just be sure that the landlord of the new apartment you’ll choose is professional.
Contact Car Shipping Services
If the company isn’t providing you with a new car after your relocation, you can check out car shipping services to help you bring your old car to the state you’re moving into.
Shop for a New Wardrobe
If your previous job was in a region with different climate extremes compared to your new location, you may need to update your wardrobe.
For example, if you’re relocating to Texas, lightweight clothing could be essential. Meanwhile, if you are moving to New England, packing warmer outer layers will be more useful.
2 Weeks Before
Transfer Utilities
Notify your utility providers of your relocation and arrange for the transfer of services to your new property if you’re moving locally. If your move is long-distance and your current home has been sold, initiate the setup or transfer of utilities under your name at the new location.
Identify Your Route to the Office
You don’t want to be late for your first day of work, so as early as now, identify the routes going to your office. Determine which has less traffic or which goes through cafes or restaurants where you can pick up some food before work.
Day Before
Pack Essentials
When relocating long-distance, you may experience a delay in receiving your belongings. Generally, it takes about a week for your other items to arrive.
Therefore, it’s useful to pack a bag with your essential items. This should include clothes, personal care products, electronic devices, chargers, footwear, medications, and so on.
After Moving
Research State Laws
The worst scenario when you take on a new job and relocate is getting caught for accidentally violating the law. Before making any moves, make sure to check out the local laws, including tax laws, that may be different from where you were before.
Rent a Car
If the route to your office is a bit far from public transport, consider renting a car. This is if you haven’t received the car you shipped through the car shipping service. Once your car arrives, don’t forget to update your driver’s license.
Speed Up the Relocation Timeline: Sell Your House to a Cash Buyer
Many people who are relocating depend on selling their old home to have enough money for the down payment on a new one in a different city and to start fresh. So, if their old home doesn’t sell, their move across the country gets delayed.
If this is your issue, you may want to think about selling your house to someone who can pay cash. A cash buyer can buy your house in as little as seven days, so you’ll stick to the moving schedule set by your employer.
Selling your house to a cash buyer is usually faster than a regular sale because there’s no involvement from lenders. Cash buyers don’t need a mortgage company to help them buy the house. With traditional sales, waiting for lender approval can take weeks, which slows down the process.
Another reason why getting a cash offer can speed up your move is that you won’t have to fix anything or hold open houses. Cash buyers buy houses as is, which means sellers don’t have to spend money on repairs or promoting the property.
Cash Offer Process
In real estate, there are no set rules regarding the time your employer must offer you to move before your start date. It’s really about negotiating with them.
However, typically, you can expect to have two to four weeks to handle the moving process, following common practices in the industry. Yet, this timeframe can vary based on how eager they are to onboard you and their immediate business needs.
It’s important to distinguish between the relocation timeline and the decision-making timeline. If you’re considering a job offer in another state or far away, your employer should allow you time to ponder it—usually around one to two weeks. Once you’ve accepted the offer, that’s when the relocation clock starts ticking.
Final Thoughts:
How Much Time Does it Take to Relocate for a Job?
Now that we’ve confirmed that relocating across the country typically takes between two to eight weeks, it’s time to begin your preparations. If you feel the timeline provided by your employer isn’t sufficient, consider discussing it with them respectfully. Remember, they wouldn’t request your move unless they considered you a valuable asset.
To speed up your relocation, connect to us at We Buy Houses in San Francisco Bay Area! We’ll give you a fair cash offer for your old home and pay you fast, so you have enough money to make a down payment on a new home.
Give us a call at (408) 557-7554 or fill out our form below to explore all of your options for your relocation!
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Author: Saini
My name is Saini, and I founded the We Buy Houses in San Francisco Bay Area team with years of experience in the real estate industry. I have assisted numerous sellers in selling their homes quickly, “AS-IS”, and for a fair price.
He’s been featured in multiple publications including Yahoo Finance, GoBankingRates, LegalZoom, The Mortgage Report, Apartment Therapy, US News and World Report, and SuperMoney among others.