Relocation Tools
In today’s job market, it is often necessary to relocate for a new career opportunity. Relocation provides an exciting opportunity for a fresh start, but can also be stressful for our candidates and their families. The team at Blue Signal is invested in providing you the resources you need to make a well-informed decision. A move will impact every member of your family, so there are many aspects to consider.
Compare the cost of living.
Every area of the country varies in costs for taxes, food, medical, and housing among other items. Bankrate.com and CNN Money both provide cost of living calculators.
Compare the environment.
Are you moving from a warm climate to cold, or dry to humid? This may sound like a minor adjustment, but it will affect you and your family every day. Information regarding local climates can be found on Bestplaces.net.
Consider travel.
Do you or your spouse travel frequently for work? Locating near a major airport will give you more time at home, higher flight flexibility, and fewer connecting flights. Travelmath.com provides resources to find the nearest airport to a given city so that you can see large and small flight options.
Research opportunities for your spouse.
Speak with your recruiter to find out about the job market for your spouse, we may have some resources to support his/her job search as well. A basic search on Indeed.com will give you an overview of the job market. Additionally, some states have resources which show the most in-demand jobs. Conduct a google search to find resources. Here is an example from California.
Evaluate schools.
If you have children, this is obvious; you will want to provide them a quality education. Even if you do not have children, review area schools because the school district can affect the resale value of your home over time. You can evaluate schools online at GreatSchools.org and BestPlaces.net.
See what’s happening.
Each individual looks for different community resources. Check out the area newspaper online, review the Chamber of Commerce website, and look at websites such as TripAdvisor. You will be able to see what businesses, events, and restaurants are in the area. You may also be able to request a welcome package from the Chamber of Commerce.
Review the housing market.
The recent housing market trends can help you to identify if this is a growing area and educate you on the quality of a real estate investment in this area. You can find information on major metro areas online at Trulia.com or find a local real estate agent to reach out to. If selling your home will be necessary, you should also speak with a realtor to hear about home sales in your current housing market.
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