Q: How far in advance of my moving date should I begin looking for a home?
A: If you are planning to purchase a home, it will usually take about 30-45 days from the time a property is identified to settlement. You may decide to find a home in one concentrated trip, or visit the area several times, depending on the amount of time you have before you need to be in the new location.
If you are planning to rent a home, it is preferable to schedule a home finding trip early in the month. Most landlords require a minimum of 30 days notice if a tenant is not renewing a lease. Since most leases begin on the first of the month, landlords usually know about vacancies by the first. Depending on availability and locations you are interested in, you may be able to locate a rental property within two or three days. Actual move-in date will be based on the date the unit is vacated by the previous tenant and will be stipulated in your lease.
Q: What communities have the best schools?
A: Most states do not 'rank' their schools systems. This is because every family has different ideas about what constitutes a 'good' school system. There are numerous resources for current school district information and statistics. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Relocation can provide you with a customized School Report, and most state Web sites provide a wealth of scholastic information. You should also plan to visit with school officials prior to making a final decision. Along with reviewing available data, a visit will help you determine which school system will best meet your children's needs.
Q: Should we wait until the school year ends to move?
A: Although most initial reactions are to allow children to finish the school year (if possible), there can be benefits to a mid-year move. Moving during the school year will help your child become involved in the new community right away, and give them instant access to new friends and activities. If your new neighborhood does not have children of similar ages or planned activities, your child may find it more difficult to connect during the summer months.
Q: How do I determine how much I can afford?
A: Generally, you should qualify for monthly housing expense (the monthly payment for mortgage principal, interest, property taxes and property insurance) equal to 33% of your gross monthly income. The best way to know with confidence is by getting pre-approved.
Q: How will the cost of living differ from where I presently live?
A: If we know where you currently live, we can provide detailed cost of living information. We have a Cost of Living Comparison program that calculates the differentials in housing, goods, and services. Contact us for a complimentary Cost of Living report.
Q: Do you work with only large companies and organizations?
A: Even though we work with hundreds of companies and organizations to help relocate their employees, more than 80% of our business comes from companies that transfer less than 25 employees a year, or individuals that receive no help from a company but still need the assistance of a professional.
Q: We are expanding our recruiting efforts abroad. What services do you provide that would help manage this process so the employee has as little disruption to his or her life as possible?
A: Moving an employee and their family to a new country is an exciting adventure for them, but also challenging for all involved. We have developed a two-phase program called World's Ahead SolutionsSM to help with the practical aspects of the move as well as the cultural adjustment. The practical phase includes helping the employee get a Social Security card, open bank accounts, and enroll children in school. The second phase deals with helping the employee and their family to understand the culture and customs of their new home. We find that this program is a tremendous help, as the employee and family have access to their International Counselor for the entire time they reside there.
Q: What is the best way to cover an employee's relocation expenses, Lump Sum Payment or Direct Reimbursement?
A: It depends on your company's culture. A Lump Sum Payment will reduce internal administrative functions and shift those responsibilities onto the employee. However, this can leave the employee feeling stranded and unable to effectively manage the relocation process. The employee may spend more time and energy on moving than on the new job.