Moving an entire family and their belongings is no simple feat. For those relocating for work, the time constraints make the process all the more stressful if you don’t have a plan ready. If you do have a moving plan, your relocation is bound to go more smoothly, without losing valuable time and resources.
Corporate relocation occurs when an employer needs to move an employee to a new location for work-related reasons. Most employers opt to relocate select employees when they are expanding their workforce, opening up new branches or offices, moving their headquarters to a different location, or need specialized talent at a specific location.
In this post, we’ll guide you on how to go about a corporate relocation in a planned and systematic manner. It will be particularly useful for you if you’re moving to or from the Arlington area because North Dallas Moving and Storage (NDMS) are one of the oldest and most experienced packing and moving companies in Arlington, Texas.
What Is a Corporate Relocation?
Corporate relocation is simply when an employee moves to another state or country for work, and the employer pays all of the moving expenses.
These expenses may include:
- Transportation (airfare, ground transportation, and house-finding excursions)
- Housing (home sale, home buying services, temporary housing, and lease-break coverage)
- Family relocation (childcare, eldercare, and spousal support)
- Moving (full-service movers and storage units)
At times, employers need to move only a few employees. Other times, they must move their entire staff. In any case, employers usually have a separate budget for each employee, which covers the costs mentioned above.
Corporate Relocation: A Step-by-Step Guide
Small businesses should begin planning their move six to eight weeks before the planned moving date. Large corporations, on the other hand, should begin at least six to nine months beforehand.
In both cases, we recommend following these steps:
Step 1: Create a Checklist
The first step is to create a list of action items that need to be done to move the company and every employee. Ideally, there should be three different checklists, including:
- Things to do to close the current office space
- Things to do to open and run the new office space
- Things to do to transfer each employee’s current space and arrange new space
There are plenty of guides on the internet covering what each checklist should contain, and we highly recommend you check them out.
Step 2: Set a Budget and Payment Method
Once you have the checklists ready, it’s time to set up a budget. On average, corporate relocations cost around $2,000 to $100,000. The exact figure depends on several factors, including home ownership, distance, mode of transport, etc.
As an employer, it’s also a good idea to settle for a payment method as early as possible. Generally, employers pay for corporate relocation in one of three ways:
- Lump sum amount: Employers pay a flat fee that employees can use as they like. No support services or additional monies are provided.
- A fully-covered relocation: Employers pay for all services and bills related to the employees’ relocation. Employees can make their own choices or pick from a range of options offered by the employer. This type of package is usually offered to high-level executives.
- Managed budget package: This is a hybrid of the previous two plans. Employees receive a fixed amount of funds, along with support from relocation specialists and consultants.
Step 3: Find Competent Relocation Services
If you are the employer and opted for the second or third payment method, it’s time to find competent relocation services to handle the moves.
One option is to go for all-embracing relocation services that offer everything from helping to find a house to airfare and moving belongings. This is usually expensive and inconvenient for most people. Plus, the included services may or may not align with what you and your employee needs.
Alternatively, you can find top-notch services for each need and negotiate a bundled package. For example, if your company is expanding to Arlington, you can look for the best industrial movers in Arlington. Start your journey by researching reputable moving companies in the area, and check reviews and ratings on platforms like Yelp.
Once you have shortlisted a few potential movers, contact each company to request a quote and inquire about their services. Negotiate a deal with the chosen company and ensure that they can provide the necessary services for the relocation. Offer the relocation package to employees with the chosen moving company’s services included.
This approach will take some time, but it will ensure that you get the best possible return on investment and that your employee’s enjoy a smooth move. The rest of the process can be streamlined easily with same-day movers in Arlington, Texas.
Step 4: Relax and Focus on Business Activities
The last step is pretty simple. Once you’ve hired the best possible moving service and arranged your activities within the timeline, you don’t need to fret about how and when things will happen. Monitor the move from time to time, but feel free to give your 100% to what your business needs to operate and grow.
Moving On
It doesn’t matter how large or small your relocation is, reach out to NDMS for the professional service you need to make sure the process goes as smoothly as possible for all involved. It will be the best call you make!
