3 Benefits to Negotiate if You're Moving for a Job

If you're relocating for work, you may want to ask for these perks.

You may reach a point in your career where you're offered a great job opportunity -- but it's in another part of the country. Many people relocate for work, and if the role and salary are right for you, it may be worth doing. But if you're going to uproot your life and relocate, it pays to go after certain benefits. Here are a few worth asking for.

1. Reimbursement for moving expenses

Relocating from one city or state to another can be a very expensive prospect. Between packing supplies and renting a moving truck or hiring movers to haul your belongings for you, you could spend many thousands of dollars on moving. So if you're relocating to take a job, don't assume you'll need to dip into your savings to cover that expense. Rather, don't hesitate to ask your new employer to cover the cost of your move.

Keep in mind that you may need to be somewhat flexible. Your employer may, for example, be willing to pay for movers to transport your belongings across state lines and unload them in your new digs. But your employer may not be willing to spring for a packing service. Rather, you may have to either box up your items yourself or pay out of pocket for a moving company to do that work for you.

2. Paid time off to settle into your new home and city

It takes time to set up a home and learn your way around a new city. That's why it can be reasonable to ask your new employer for paid time off to get yourself unpacked, buy furniture, stock your fridge, set up utilities, and tackle the numerous tasks that come with moving.

Remember, if you're relocating to a city you're not familiar with, you may have no clue as to where you can purchase groceries, fill up gas, or buy other household essentials. And you shouldn't be expected to dive into work right away. At the same time, you shouldn't necessarily have to go without a paycheck for days while you figure that stuff out.

3. A storage unit

If you'll be moving to a smaller home than the one you currently live in, you may not have room to store all of your belongings. But you also may not want to sell or dump them right away. After all, what if your new job doesn't work out and you decide to return to your former city? It would be a shame to have to purchase furniture all over again.

For this reason, don't hesitate to ask your new employer to cover the cost of a storage unit if your new home leaves you with less square footage. This especially holds true if you're relocating somewhere like New York City, where apartments are notoriously tiny.

Relocating for a new job can be a smart career move. Just make sure to negotiate the right benefits so you can feel good about that decision.