Relocation Expenses UK to US
Nov 3rd 2006, 1:47 pm
#16
Re vera, potas bene.
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Cape Cod MA..Davenport FL
Posts: 2,405
Re: Relocation Expenses UK to US
The biggest thing when it comes to negotiations is getting four weeks holiday or more if you can...hubby had 8 weeks in the UK...he now has 6 weeks in the USA..plus 7 US bank holidays...and 3 anytime days....
Nov 3rd 2006, 2:31 pm
#17
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2006
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 72
Re: Relocation Expenses UK to US
Originally Posted by Jerseygirl
Sounds as if you're being short changed to me. I would never consider moving to another country unless I'd had the opportunity to visit and take a good look around first.
So yes if you're not already earning enough to be able to afford to pay for it all yourself anyway then you might get a crap deal but then isn't that always the way?
And besides I already moved to one country I'd never visited and it turned out OK. I've visited many North American cities and I trust my husband's judgement on Chicago's comparison to those places. It's not like we're going to some place nobody has ever heard of.
Nov 3rd 2006, 6:34 pm
#18
Just Joined
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2
Re: Relocation Expenses UK to US
Originally Posted by cybersecretary
So, what is it reasonable to expect in a relocation package when moving from UK to US - employer being US based?While it may seem on the high side to some people the costs soon mount up. Especially since anyone moving will need some reserve of cash when starting with no credit in the US.
Nov 3rd 2006, 7:08 pm
#19
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 12,865
Re: Relocation Expenses UK to US
Originally Posted by Jenster
We are in a way but basically we're stuck right now in a country we hate (Holland) and we need to get to an English speaking country before our daughter needs to start school (my husband just can't speak foreign languages).
Originally Posted by Jenster
And besides I already moved to one country I'd never visited and it turned out OK. I've visited many North American cities and I trust my husband's judgement on Chicago's comparison to those places. It's not like we're going to some place nobody has ever heard of.
Last edited by Giantaxe; Nov 3rd 2006 at 7:12 pm.
Nov 3rd 2006, 7:37 pm
#20
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Oz -> UK -> San Diego
Posts: 9,912
Re: Relocation Expenses UK to US
Originally Posted by krizzy
The biggest thing when it comes to negotiations is getting four weeks holiday or more if you can...hubby had 8 weeks in the UK...he now has 6 weeks in the USA..plus 7 US bank holidays...and 3 anytime days....
Or try negotiating 2 weeks "unpaid leave". This means that you are effectively being paid for 50.176 weeks in the year instead of 52.176. ie in the grand scheme it shouldn't make a dent in your pocket.
Nov 4th 2006, 12:09 pm
#21
Septic Sprout
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 7,993
Re: Relocation Expenses UK to US
Originally Posted by Jenster
We're getting a lump sum which we have to spend as we want. Flights for the final move are on top of that.
If we had wanted to ship our entire home contents we would have had to dig into our own pockets to pay for it as it's not enough to cover a container etc, but luckily we've only got cheap IKEA flatpack and stuff so it's no loss to sell it all and just bring our clothes etc with us.
If we had wanted to ship our entire home contents we would have had to dig into our own pockets to pay for it as it's not enough to cover a container etc, but luckily we've only got cheap IKEA flatpack and stuff so it's no loss to sell it all and just bring our clothes etc with us.
Nov 5th 2006, 4:54 pm
#22
Just Joined
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 6
Re: Relocation Expenses UK to US
My employer was pretty flexible once I clarified what the real costs were, all-in it cost in the region of $25k and included:-
Packing and unpacking - used Abels who were absolutely fantastic!! - didn't break ANYTHING and it was a more or less full 40ft container (4 bedroom house). I can't recommend them highly enough.
Flights & initial accomodation. (did a one-off assessment visit first which they also covered).
Car rental - until I bought a vehicle locally.
First 12 months UK rental agency fees (I let out my house back in blighty).
Suffered somewhat on holiday allowance but they have been pretty flexible.
Incidental "closing up shop" expenses (cancellation of utilities / phone contracts).
In short I simply summed up what the cost of moving was (i.e. how much was I out of pocket as a result of relocating for the first 12 months) and nogetiated from there. I did everything I could to reasonably minimise costs though rather than jumping on a gravy train for hotels, etc. etc.
Remeber to reclaim your U.K tax to-date. Takes a while but it's worth the paperwork.
Good luck!!
Packing and unpacking - used Abels who were absolutely fantastic!! - didn't break ANYTHING and it was a more or less full 40ft container (4 bedroom house). I can't recommend them highly enough.
Flights & initial accomodation. (did a one-off assessment visit first which they also covered).
Car rental - until I bought a vehicle locally.
First 12 months UK rental agency fees (I let out my house back in blighty).
Suffered somewhat on holiday allowance but they have been pretty flexible.
Incidental "closing up shop" expenses (cancellation of utilities / phone contracts).
In short I simply summed up what the cost of moving was (i.e. how much was I out of pocket as a result of relocating for the first 12 months) and nogetiated from there. I did everything I could to reasonably minimise costs though rather than jumping on a gravy train for hotels, etc. etc.
Remeber to reclaim your U.K tax to-date. Takes a while but it's worth the paperwork.
Good luck!!
Nov 5th 2006, 5:05 pm
#23
Account Closed
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 15,455
Re: Relocation Expenses UK to US
Originally Posted by tonrob
I managed to get my employer to ditch their usual relocation company they normally use and give me a lump sum instead so I could do things my way. It was a little more work for me but it saved us loads! We only had mostly Ikea furniture in our small flat at home anyway, and the 'usual' relocation company would only supply some huge container that we'd have been lucky to fill a corner of. Getting a lump sum instead meant that we could ship what little we had with a cheaper service and spend the rest on new Ikea furniture over here!
Nov 5th 2006, 5:48 pm
#24
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: Relocation Expenses UK to US
Originally Posted by Sally
Wouldn't that have a tax implication?
Nov 5th 2006, 6:14 pm
#25
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Oz -> UK -> San Diego
Posts: 9,912
Re: Relocation Expenses UK to US
Originally Posted by Sally
Wouldn't that have a tax implication?
May do, but the company would normally pick up the bill.
Nov 5th 2006, 8:41 pm
#26
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2006
Location: Schaumburg, IL
Posts: 56
Re: Relocation Expenses UK to US
Originally Posted by Dondo
Remember to reclaim your U.K tax to-date. Takes a while but it's worth the paperwork.
Good luck!!
Good luck!!
Nov 5th 2006, 9:11 pm
#27
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: Relocation Expenses UK to US
Originally Posted by ScottMc
Not heard of this - how's that work then?
Nov 5th 2006, 9:19 pm
#28
Septic Sprout
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 7,993
Re: Relocation Expenses UK to US
Originally Posted by Ozzidoc
May do, but the company would normally pick up the bill.
Mar 22nd 2007, 1:45 pm
#29
In Orange County, CA.
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,210
Re: Relocation Expenses UK to US
Will be negotiating mine next week. Thanks to reading previous posts on here, I've got a good idea of what to push for depending on what they offer initially.
3 months until the move (first week Feb '07) and we think we've spotted the right house to buy so I'm looking to sort a mortgage out asap and try and wangle a larger lump sum out of the company to go towards the deposit.
I get a car here in the UK and the agreed to either stick on some extra cash tomy salary or give me a lump sum to buy one depending on what's more efficient for them at the time.
They will be providing a Tax accountant.
I'll let you know how the negotiations go and what they're offering for reference. It has been so useful for me reading people's actual experiences, so I'll try and do the same and post mine.
Was in the USA last week and was in Macy's asking about wedding lists. Turns out you can get a Macy's store card by using your passport number instead of an SS number so I applied straight away. I also applied for a UK Amex card this week using the tip from another thread so I can transfer it on their global scheme. Hopefully I'll have two cards for credit history purposes before I even arrive
3 months until the move (first week Feb '07) and we think we've spotted the right house to buy so I'm looking to sort a mortgage out asap and try and wangle a larger lump sum out of the company to go towards the deposit.
I get a car here in the UK and the agreed to either stick on some extra cash tomy salary or give me a lump sum to buy one depending on what's more efficient for them at the time.
They will be providing a Tax accountant.
I'll let you know how the negotiations go and what they're offering for reference. It has been so useful for me reading people's actual experiences, so I'll try and do the same and post mine.
Was in the USA last week and was in Macy's asking about wedding lists. Turns out you can get a Macy's store card by using your passport number instead of an SS number so I applied straight away. I also applied for a UK Amex card this week using the tip from another thread so I can transfer it on their global scheme. Hopefully I'll have two cards for credit history purposes before I even arrive
