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Van Line Survey Notes Several Transferee Moving Challenges

man smiling while moving boxes into his new home
Portrait of a young man carrying a box while moving house

Allied Van Lines conducts a regular “On the Move” survey of employees who move for work to determine the transferee moving challenges from their viewpoint. Survey responses from over 1,000 people provide helpful insight into the impact of workforce relocation. The findings reveal specific points that companies should address in their relocation programs.

The Top 3 transferee moving challenges identified in the survey show points companies should address to improve employee retention and satisfaction. Companies should choose to work with a qualified Relocation Management Company (RMC). RMCs have knowledge and experience to help clients design robust relocation programs that provide the best relocation experience for transferees.

What are the Top 3 Transferee Moving Challenges?

1. Short Timeframes for Moves

The majority of survey respondents were given 0 to 30 days for their move, and the next largest group were given 31 to 60 days. Increasing market competition and evolving dynamics require corporate speed and flexibility. Companies often must act quickly to hire qualified staff and move them to where they can be the most productive.

RMCs have resources and solutions to help companies maintain responsiveness while providing a positive relocation experience for employees. Transferee moving challenges related to short timeframes can be addressed with a robust relocation policy that is designed to provide solutions that benefit both clients and relocating employees.

2. Finding a New Home

One of the most difficult and time-consuming transferee moving challenges is finding a home in the new location. Choices can vary, and may include some of the following:

  1. Short-term corporate housing
  2. Renting before buying
  3. City/suburb/neighborhood location
  4. Apartment
  5. Condominium
  6. House
  7. New construction loan for relocation

RMCs have a number of solutions for transferee moving challenges related to finding a new home. Many transferees are relocating to a new location they know very little about, and will then search for a new home to purchase. A Realtor® working with the RMC should ask a number of questions to help the transferee clarify and express their preferences and interests.

3. Making Friends in the New Location

Transferee moving challenges are often amplified by the effects of the move on spouses and family members. While the transferee may have a built-in network of work colleagues in the new location to help them with their transition at work, they and their family will need to settle into the new community and make new friends.

One of the first challenges a transferee faces is career support for their spouse. Successful relocations often hinge on the spouse or partner’s career needs also being addressed. Transferees expect career support for spouses and partners as part of their relocation experience. In our Case Study on Educational Institution Relocation Programs, GMS helped a client learn that their biggest challenge in retaining new hires was due to not having career support for spouses and partners moving to the new location.

Pre-Decision Services Help Transferees

Companies should provide Pre-Decision Services in their relocation policy for transferees to help them learn about their new location. Candidate assessments and family pre-decision evaluations help companies determine the employee’s expectations, skills, personal qualities, family situation, and their financial readiness for the relocation. Helpful information an RMC can provide to the employee and their family for their decision-making process includes:

  • Cost of living analysis for the new area
  • Market analysis for home sales
  • School reports and information about activities
  • Moving cost estimates
  • Community tours to help familiarize employees and their family members with the new location

Provide Support for Spouses, Partners, and Family Members

Family member support is as critical to a transferee’s relocation success as to career support for spouses and partners. RMCs should provide a number of resources to help families settle in to their new area and reduce transferee moving challenges, including:

  • Helpful online resources for families to learn about local amenities
  • Community networks in the new location
  • Assistance in obtaining a local driver’s license
  • Arrangements for child care
  • Utility connections and installations
  • Ensuring health insurance coverage during the interim period
  • Identifying nearby medical resources and primary care physicians

What Should Employers do to Address Transferee Moving Challenges?

Transferee moving challenges should be addressed with robust solutions. Companies should work with a qualified and experienced RMC that can help them design a relocation policy that promotes successful relocations. The career needs of spouses and partners should be included in the transferee’s relocation experience. Family support is also critical to reduce any disruption from the move and provide peace of mind for the transferee, their spouse or partner, and their family members.

Conclusion

GMS’ team of corporate relocation experts has helped thousands of our clients develop relocation policies and programs that address transferee moving challenges. Our team can help your company determine how to design a robust relocation program that provides the best relocation experience for your company’s transferees and their family members.

GMS was the first relocation company to register as a .com. The company also created the first online interactive tools and calculators, and revolutionized the entire relocation industry. GMS continues to set the industry pace as the pioneer in innovation and technology solutions with its proprietary MyRelocation™ technology platform.

Global Mobility Solutions is proud to be named and ranked #1 Overall, and #1 in Quality of Service by HRO Today’s 2019 Baker’s Dozen Customer Satisfaction Survey.

Contact our experts online to discuss your company’s relocation program and the need to reduce transferee moving challenges, or give us a call at 800.617.1904 or 480.922.0700 today.

Request your complimentary relocation policy review

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Buy a Home Home Purchase

Los Angeles Housing Options for Relocating Employees: Part 1, Condominiums

Many of Global Mobility Solutions’ clients want to know about the Los Angeles housing options for their relocating employees. Los Angeles is a top destination for relocations. The city is also large in size as well as population, so knowing Los Angeles housing options is a priority for transferees and their families.

Los Angeles Facts

  • City limits consist of 469 square miles
  • Population is approximately 4 million residents
  • Density of population is around 8,500 people per square mile
  • Los Angeles Metropolitan Area population is approximately 13 million residents
  • The city is part of the “Southland” region with an estimated population of 18 million residents

Highlights of Los Angeles

Economy

Los Angeles is one of the most substantial economic engines within the US, with a diverse economy in a broad range of professional and cultural fields. A global city, it has been ranked 6th in the Global Cities Index and 9th in the Global Economic Power Index. The Los Angeles combined statistical area also has a gross domestic product of $881 billion (as of 2017).

Film and Television Industry

Los Angeles is the center of the nation’s film and television industry. Near its iconic Hollywood sign, studios such as Paramount Pictures, Universal, and Warner Brothers offer behind-the-scenes tours. On Hollywood Boulevard, TCL Chinese Theatre displays the handprints and footprints of famous celebrities, the Walk of Fame honors thousands of luminaries, and vendors sell maps to the homes of movie stars.

Lifestyle

Santa Monica, located west of downtown, has beautiful beaches and a vibrant nightlife. The beach is fringed by Palisades Park, with views over the Pacific Ocean. Santa Monica Pier is home to the Pacific Park amusement park, historic Looff Hippodrome Carousel, and Santa Monica Pier Aquarium. Hollywood, the home of the film industry, has music venues like the Hollywood Bowl, and Dolby Theatre, home of the Oscars.

Downtown Los Angeles has a number of excellent restaurants, museums, concert venues, sports arenas, and five-star hotels. Local favorite destinations include the Getty Center, The Grove, Griffith Park, and Olvera Street. Los Angeles was home to the Olympic Games in 1932 and 1984. It will host the Olympic Games a third time in 2028.

What are the Los Angeles Housing Options?

With all that Los Angeles has to offer, demand for housing is high. The city and the surrounding area offer many choices for housing, depending on location, interests, and preferences. Because the city is so large and diverse, there are a number of Los Angeles housing options for transferees to consider. These options include condominiums, single family houses, and apartments.

GMS spoke with Erik R. Brown of Douglas Elliman Real Estate, Realtor®, TV host, speaker, and author of “One in a Million: Everything You Need to Know to Find the Best Realtor®.” Erik agreed to share his industry knowledge and market expertise on Los Angeles housing options for relocating employees.

In part 1 of a 3 part series, Erik shares his 10 tips for buying a condominium in Los Angeles. Erik has published “Essential Tips to Buying or Selling a Condo in LA,” a helpful guide for relocating employees to learn more about Los Angeles housing options for condominiums.

Los Angeles Housing Options: Condominiums

10 Tips for Buying a Condominium in Los Angeles

  1. Determine whether a condominium is the “right fit” since you will be close to neighbors, maintenance of shared amenities is done for you, and you must comply with association rules and regulations.
  2. Hire a real estate agent who has experience buying and selling condominiums. They will know how to guide relocating employees through the process and ensure important documents are included.
  3. Obtain financing for the purchase. For buyers using a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan, they need to confirm the community is on the approved list. FHA usually requires 80% of units in a building to be owner-occupied.
  4. Confirm what the condominium includes, such as reserved parking, storage, and guest parking.
  5. Know how much the association fees will cost each month.
  6. Determine what the association fees include, such as shared expenses for maintenance of amenities, landscaping, and insurance.
  7. Review the association’s rules and regulations, especially with respect to pets, rental restrictions, and quiet hours for the community.
  8. Inquire about any planned special assessments that might be required for projects such as a roof replacement.
  9. Research the maintenance and management company, and determine the appropriate contacts for any issues. The company should be responsive and actively engage in enforcing the rules and regulations.
  10. Think about your future plans, as condominiums typically do not appreciate in value as much as a single family home. If you plan to remain in the condominium for up to ten years, your experience will be different than if you plan to remain only a few years.

What Should Employers do About Los Angeles Housing Options?

Employers should share the Los Angeles housing options with their relocating employees. This will help transferees and their family members learn about the housing market in the city. As a result, relocating employees will have valuable information to help them find housing that works well for their own needs, as well as for family members.

Employers should also provide as much information about the new location as possible. They should work with a qualified and experienced Relocation Management Company (RMC) that can provide many useful resources to assist relocating employees and their family members. Destination spotlights that highlight many aspects of a location are helpful reference materials to share with transferees during their pre-decision process. Video destination spotlights are a great resource to visually show employees and their family members their new location.

Conclusion

Global Mobility Solutions’ team of corporate relocation experts has helped thousands of our clients understand how to identify and share valuable information with transferees. Our team can help your company share helpful information on Los Angeles housing options that will give transferees peace of mind as they go through their relocation process.

GMS was the first relocation company to register as a .com. The company also created the first online interactive tools and calculators, and revolutionized the entire relocation industry. GMS continues to set the industry pace as the pioneer in innovation and technology solutions with its proprietary MyRelocation™ technology platform.

Global Mobility Solutions is proud to be named and ranked #1 Overall, and #1 in Quality of Service by HRO Today’s 2019 Baker’s Dozen Customer Satisfaction Survey.

Learn best practices from Global Mobility Solutions, the relocation industry and technology experts who are dedicated to keeping you informed and connected. Contact our experts online to discuss your company’s need for Los Angeles housing options to share with your transferees, or give us a call at 800.617.1904 or 480.922.0700 today.

Request your complimentary relocation policy review

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