Contact Jim and his team for all your Relocation Needs.  Relocation is an active part of their business.  

Whether moving in State, across the Country or Overseas, they can help you make the move.

Jim Ryan  616-355-3773  or jpryan@fivestarlakeshore.com

Kimberly Behrendt  616-355-3775  or kimberlyb@fivestarlakeshore.com

Relocation - It's Your Move Now!!

Relocation is manageable, really! You'll save time and money if you know about all the relocation benefits you're entitled to. Then, get organized and plan your move. Here are some tips:

Find a good agent (DONE! You've come to the right place)

Most successful relocations hinge on a good agent. The best choice is an agent who is patient, well organized, knowledgeable about the area, and has had some experience dealing with transferees. If your company moves you, ask for recommendations from the relocation department. Call each agent to request copies of their resumes to find out more about their background. When you decide, set up a schedule and method for your agent to transmit listings for you to review. You can also scroll through listings online. You may work with more than one agent if you look in more than one area. Let each agent know you're working with others in other areas.

Schedule your move immediately

You may not know whether you'll be moving to your own home or to a rental, but contact a moving company and get on their schedule as soon as possible. During heavy moving periods (spring and summer, in most parts of the country), it can be difficult to get the time slot you want, so don't wait.

Schedule more than one shopping trip, if possible

The more time you have to look, the less pressure you will feel to buy. Be clear with your agent about what you want, so he understands your priorities and won't waste your time showing you homes that don't fit. If you've been looking at listings online, give him the listing numbers of homes you want to see. Bring an instant camera and take pictures of homes you like, so you can attach the photo to your notes. Review notes and photos each night to pick out your favorites.

Take advantage of available resources

Relocation companies generally offer packages that include moving help, lining up real estate agents on either end of the move (if you have a home to sell) and help getting a loan. If you're a first-time buyer in the new location, this can be very reassuring. Even more valuable are buy-back or interest-paying programs for relocating homeowners who can't sell their homes in the previous location (see below). Be sure you know what relocation benefits you're entitled to, and don't hesitate to negotiate for more--just as if you were making a purchase offer.

Don't rely on the relocation company to do your thinking for you. When you're dealing with the relocation division of your new company, ask them what they can do to assist you with your sale (old home). Look into buy-back and interest-paying programs. A buy-back program offers the best relocation benefits. In a buy-back program, your employer buys your house, usually at market value. Some companies will pay you a bonus if you can sell the house yourself before they're scheduled to buy it. Under an interest-paying program, the employer agrees to cover the interest payments on your existing mortgage until you sell your house. A buy-back may not be as good as it sounds if current prices are lower than what you paid, and you'll take a loss when you sell the house. Some companies offer limited reimbursement for losses. You may also want to hold on to the house and rent it until it's a better time to sell. Make sure you understand these benefits and their implications before you sign up. Do the math on your move. Most employers will cover (or help cover) the costs of moving, but you may lose on the difference in housing prices between your new area and the old one. If you find that housing prices--and the cost of living in general--are high relative to where you live now, try to negotiate a better relocation package with your company. For example, ask for a relocation bonus to cover incidental moving expenses and closing costs in the new location. Request a more substantial raise to cover the disparity. And remember to ask your tax advisor if you can deduct some of your moving expenses. Ask your agent for other ideas too.

Talk to your new colleagues

Get recommendations about desirable neighborhoods, good schools, available child care and your other priorities. Ask about commute times, and if you have time, test drive the commute between your new workplace and the areas where you want to live.

Use online resources

Online property listings are a useful tool, because they're available to you no matter where you are. You can even search for properties by neighborhood. If you take advantage of online information to learn more about the areas that interest you, you can work more effectively with your agent.

Why Relocate??

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Brought to you by the

 West Coast Chamber of Commerce