4 replies to this topic

[uwfan]

So you decide that you no longer want to live where you are and you want to sell your house and move to another state...that also means getting another job...

What tips and tricks have you found help in the process of selling a house, packing up and moving, and finding that all important job?

[ScubaSis]

I'm no help at all, as I've been in Texas all my life! Platy's list sounds pretty good though. I did get a job once by going to the chamber and asking questions....so I do believe in going there!!

[WreckWench]

Decide your priorities...

Are you checking out the area you are moving too or do you only want to live there IF you get a job? If that is the case then getting a job first is next step as buying a house will be easier than getting a job. Need to sell your house first to pay for another house? If so then hopefully you know you will be in your new location no matter what...or you are planning to move someplace regardless. Don't need to sell right away...getting the house ready for sale is great on two fronts...it means you can sell it quicker when you are ready OR it will feel like a new home if you don't ultimately move away. Or you move away and return.

No matter what you choose you almost have to have several plans in place such as staying with a friend or renting while your home sells and you look for a new place. Buying is easy but selling is not. Getting jobs are not easy either so all of this could take 18-24 months or longer.

Platyman's comments are good!

In my case I often wish I had not sold my home...I took such a loss on it and I will never make that up. Plus its so expensive to build here that I can't parlay that money into building a new home.

[drifter]

• I'm conservative in my approach to this so I wouldn't plan the move until the job is located
• Don't sell yourself short on jobs you want to apply for. I work with a lot of computer science students going through this process and employers list all sorts of requirements for applicants and often it's impossible to meet all of them. Rarely will ANY of the applicants have all of those skills. The same was true with my sister as a wildlife biologist. If you find a job you WANT, then go get it! The letter you write will often make as much of an impression as your resume.
• Professional magazines often have job offers in them, so check there.
• When you get an offer, ask if you can have a few days to think about it. Then, call the place you REALLY want to work, tell them the situation "I REALLY want to work for you, but I have to make this decision by Friday. Is there any possibility of you offering me the job?" It can't hurt, and it might work. Of course, they might just say "we don't know yet, we'll let you know by next Tuesday." At least then, you know where things stand. (and no, this isn't how you treat dates, only potential employers! ) I say this because I've had students take the first offer then get the 'dream offer' and be in a really tough situation.
• If you're moving a lot of stuff but don't have a place to land yet, pods are pretty useful. The company I went with was able to store my stuff for a month (I went to Australia after selling my house but hadn't found an apt yet in the new location) at a fairly reasonable rate and then they dropped it of once I found a place. The new workplace even payed for the move, which was awesome! If not, it's still tax deductible.
• This one is weird, but I've used Dave Ramsey's "endorsed local providers" as a way to locate the three real estate agents I've used to buy or sell plus the two that helped sell my mom's houses. So far, all of them have been outstanding. Finding an agent in a new area can be difficult and just calling the office you will usually get the youngest agent because they don't have many clients yet. Here's a link: http://www.daveramse...te/ictid/rt.nav
  
• Have fun! It IS stressful, but there should be some adventure involved in the process!

Edited by drifter, 12 May 2012 - 12:22 PM.