Okay, you’ve passed the interview ^[2] with flying colors (of course you’re one of the thousands of people who’ve used the tips in The Inner View of Your Interview ^[3]!) and now the company wants to make you an offer. The problem is you’ll have to move 450 miles away from where you currently live. Do you accept the offer?

^[4] There are a lot of things to consider when faced with a job move. Of course the most important consideration is whether you have a job where you live and, if you don’t, moving may be your only answer. But what if that isn’t the case? What factors should you consider?

Factors Affecting A Job Move

1. Family & Friends

How will your family, both immediate and extended, react? In many cases, your immediate family is aware of the situation, but extended family such as in-laws, cousins, and many friends ^[5] are not. You may think “they may not like that I’m moving but they aren’t paying my bills” but remember that money isn’t everything.

2. Cost of living

How much more or less will it cost to move to your new location? There is a VAST difference between somewhere like Anderson, South Carolina and Seattle, Washington. Many of the job boards have online calculators to help you figure this out, but I found a good one at CNNMoney ^[6]. Incidentally, a $75,000 salary in Anderson needs to be over $111,000 in LA just to break even.

3. Property Taxes

Moving from a state like New York to Arkansas will be a shocker – your property taxes will decrease by over 60 percent! But it cuts both ways. Make sure you know the differences between how your two locations assess property and how they tax it.

4. Heating and cooling costs

If you’re moving from a moderate climate such as San Francisco to a much colder climate such as Minneapolis or a much warmer climate like Miami, you’re going to be faced with much higher heating and cooling costs. Make sure you factor that into your decision. How will you like winter starting in October and running into May? On the flip side, moving from Orlando to Buffalo, you’ll have to buy a snow-blower and a whole different wardrobe.

5. State and local income taxes

Where you’re moving could be a bargain or a real shock when it comes to taxes. Some areas have zero income tax, but make it up in other ways, while other areas tax you like there’s no end to your ability to pay. Make sure you know what you’re getting into.

6. Keeping up with the Joneses

I don’t want to keep up with them either, but many people won’t use their self discipline ^[7] to ignore the Joneses. Moving into a $500,000 home in Richmond, Virginia nets you an average lifestyle in a relatively average city. Buy a home for that same price in Little Rock and you’re suddenly surrounded by people driving luxury cars, designer clothes, and living a country club life. It WILL affect how you think, so plan ahead.

Don’t let ANY of these factors stop you from looking for a better life in another city. Remember that all of them can be turned into a positive depending on which way you’re moving. And be sure you use these in your salary negotiations. You may come out farther ahead than you ever imagined!

Be on the lookout! I’ll have an eBook coming out soon that covers everything you need to know about MOVING. I’ve moved over 30 times in my life so use my experience. I’ll keep you posted on when this new eBook is ready.

About the author

Ron has written 1083 articles on The Wisdom Journal.

The founder and editor of The Wisdom Journal ^[8] in 2007, Ron has worked in banking, distribution, retail, and upper management for companies ranging in size from small startups to multi-billion dollar corporations. He graduated Suma Cum Laude from a top MBA program and currently is a partner in a national building materials company.

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