If you are one of the many professionals are considering job offers that would require relocation to another state in order to accept a position, don’t forget to negotiate to have the corporation recruiting you cover the often considerable costs that you could incur in making a quick move.

The costs associated with hiring a professional moving company to handle packing and shipping of your personal and household belongings is one of the more common expenses typically absorbed by an employer when a new employee has accepted a position that requires them to relocate.

In addition, many corporations have programs in place that could cover the various costs involved in cancelling rental contracts and in selling and buying a new home for a new employee who is relocating. These might include:

• Home Sales Assistance
• Down Payment Assistance
• Compensation for Selling at a Loss
• Guaranteed Buy-Out Programs
• Realtor and Closing Cost Assistance
• Temporary Housing
• Lease Cancellation Fees

Moreover, many recruiting employers could offer compensation for expenses you incur to look for new housing local to your new job, and almost all of them will cover the cost of your final travel expenses to reach your new home.

However, typically, most employment advisors will tell you that you should not assume that expenses like those listed above will be covered. Doing so could leave you stuck with the bill. Instead, be sure you have a clear agreement that is part of your employment agreement.

Here at Warners Moving & Storage, we recommend getting a no-obligation moving quote before you begin negotiating your relocation with a prospective employer. We are experienced and equipped to handle your packing, shipping and relocation when you are ready. Why not contact us to learn about your moving options and/or to schedule your move?

If you're actively house shopping, then it won't be long before you'll have the keys to your new home in hand and Moving Day will be upon you. Whether you will be moving out of state or within your local area, the time you’ll need for a move is much the same. While it might seem that you have a lot of time before moving day, if you put off tasks such as packing for too long, your moving experience will be a very stressful one in the end. The key to a stress-free move is to have a Moving Plan, organize all of your household items and belongings in advance and begin to pack weeks before moving day. Just be sure set aside clothing and any everyday items you’ll need right up to the day that you move so that you don't have to search through freshly packed boxes for items like the coffee pot, your everyday robe and slippers and the dog's water bowl. The items you use day to day should be packed just before Moving Day.

Be sure to have a system for packing.  As you pack your moving boxes, be sure to place all related items together so that they can go into the same room at your destination. Then label your boxes to show the contents and what room they should be moved to (Example: Books – Den). Organizing your belongings as you pack and labeling properly will save you from having to move items from room to room once everything has arrived at your new home.

Here at Warners Moving & Storage in York county, PA, we know what it takes to move smartly. We have been moving families and households like yours since 1943.  So whether your new home is across the country, down the street or somewhere in between, why not contact our experienced staff well before moving day to find out how we can help.

Perhaps you have wondered whether moving expenses are tax deductible. Indeed, they are – under some circumstances. If you have moved to a new principal place of work – either as a self-employed individual or an employee – then the moving expense deduction should apply for you if you relocate your residence and meet the time and distance tests. However, these tests don’t apply to you if you are a member of the armed forces making a permanent change of station as a result of a military order.

The Time Test is different for employees than for the self-employed. If you are self-employed, you must work for at least 39 weeks during the 12 months directly following your move and for a total of at least 78 weeks during the first 24 months to qualify. Whereas, if you are an employee, you must work full-time for at least 39 weeks during the first 12 months after your move to qualify for the deductions. Exceptions such as those related to disability, death and involuntary separation could also apply.

The Distance Test requires that the location of your new workplace must be at least 50 miles farther from your former residence than your new workplace.

Assuming that you do meet the above requirements, then you may typically be allowed to deduct a number of moving expenses such as the following:

• Transporting your property from the former residence to the new residence
• Packing, crating and unpacking costs
• Storage cost while in transit
• Shipping costs for transporting your vehicles
• Transporting costs for your pets
• Travel costs for your trip to your new residence

However, these tests and requirements established by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) could change from year to year. So you should check the IRS website to get the most current details regarding deducting moving expenses before you take the deductions on your tax return.

Moving Tip

Making a move for a new job typically involves additional timing and planning challenges beyond those experienced in a non-work-related move. Here at Warners Moving & Storage, our professional staff and moving crews are committed to meeting your moving needs. Our experience allows us to answer your questions and guide you through the moving process from start to finish. Why not contact our office to schedule your move or request a moving quote today?

Are you going to be relocating soon?  Whether your move will be across the country or just down the block, don’t forget to think ahead.  You’ll want to avoid the following top five moving mistakes.

Jumping in Without a Plan – Moving your household does not happen every day.  It’s a major life event.  Not having a plan is a prescription for chaos.   Two or more heads are better than one (yours), so spend a little time with each person in the household to get their help in listing everything to be done before moving day. In addition to packing all belongings, you’ll also need to think about notifying everyone of your new address, arranging time for cleaning your current home, scheduling the disconnection of your current utilities, among many other items.  Need a place to start with your plan?  Use these checklists on our website to get started.

Dragging Your Feet – The time you’ll need for a move is much the same whether you will be moving out of state or within your local area.  While it might seem that you have a lot of time before moving day, if you put off tasks such as packing for too long, your moving experience will be a very stressful one in the end.  Organize your belongings in advance and begin to pack weeks before moving day.  And be sure to leave out those everyday items you’ll need right up to the day that you move. 

Failing to Purge the Junk Before the Move – If you have lived in your current home for more than a year, then chances are you’ve collected clutter and junk that should be discarded, sold or donated instead of being packed and move to take up space in your new house.  A proven rule of thumb:  If you haven’t needed an item in a year, consider letting it go. The old adage, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” applies here.  Think about using social media to get rid of those unwanted  items. Waiting too long will likely result in these useless items being transferred to your new home where they will likely languish in the basement or attic – maybe even until your next move! 

Having no Method for Packing – As you pack your moving boxes, be sure to place all related items together so that they can go into the same room at your destination.  Then label your boxes to show the contents and what room they should be moved to (Example:  Books – Den).  Organizing your belongings as you pack and labeling properly will save you from having to move items from room to room once everything has arrived at your new home. 

Not Realizing How Much You’ll be Moving – If you are hiring a mover, your moving company will need to plan ahead to be sure to have the right size truck for your move.  That means you’ll need to know what you’ll be moving – especially if your moving company’s representative will not be visiting in advance to help you evaluate that.  Be ready to let your mover know about how many rooms of belongings as well as large appliances and large furniture pieces you’ll be moving as well as your best guess as to how many boxes will be moved.  Even if you’re not ready to discuss your move with a moving company, you might want to take a look at the quote form on our website for a list to prompt you in your planning.   If you have a good idea of what you have when you’re ready to schedule your move, you’ll get a closer estimate of how much the move will cost you.

Moving can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be.  Here at Warners Moving & Storage, we’re all about taking away your stress. We can help you plan your move. We can also provide the supplies you’ll need for packing and more.  Then, when moving day arrives, our experienced crew will handle your household belongings as if they were our very own – from loading to unloading.

If you know the date of your move, why not contact us to discuss your moving options and/or get an estimate of your moving costs as far in advance as possible?