Advice on Relocation for Job (CA)?

[RDU-JFK]

So my company wants me to spend around a year and a half at their office in Carpinteria, CA (south of Santa Barbara). They're a small company so they don't have the hook-up to corporate housing or anything but I have no idea on how to get started on a place to live.

I'd like to get a place that's furnished since my stay there is temporary as well as not have to worry about buying furniture. How do I go about finding a place? Is an apartment broker my best bet? When do I need to start looking for a place before a move-in date? I don't have the time or knowledge to look at craigslist or the classifieds but at the same time my price range isn't very large.

The other issue is that I need to get a car--living in the city for all my life I never owned one...should I lease or get a used car?

[T-Bird76]

First let me get this straight...Your Company is uprooting you to C.A and you have to do the leg work? Small or not that's BS. They should put you in contact with a relocation specialist who can make this move seamless for you. Finding a place is pretty simply, just go to a real-estate agency. Make sure you document and save every expense this costs you that the company doesn't pick up, it’s all tax deductible.

[Midnight Mike]

So my company wants me to spend around a year and a half at their office in Carpinteria, CA (south of Santa Barbara). They're a small company so they don't have the hook-up to corporate housing or anything but I have no idea on how to get started on a place to live.

I'd like to get a place that's furnished since my stay there is temporary as well as not have to worry about buying furniture. How do I go about finding a place? Is an apartment broker my best bet? When do I need to start looking for a place before a move-in date? I don't have the time or knowledge to look at craigslist or the classifieds but at the same time my price range isn't very large.

The other issue is that I need to get a car--living in the city for all my life I never owned one...should I lease or get a used car?

The Oakwood apartments has great furnished corporate apartments.

http://www.oakwood.com/

I would not buy a car for a 1.5 year stay, the Oakwood apartments may be able to assist ya, they have the necessary contacts.

Will see what else I can find for you.

[Midnight Mike]

RDU-JFK


Don't forget about your stuff? You are going to have to put your stuff in storage in New York or ship it to California & then ship it back to New York.

Of course, while you are in California, you find more stuff which will then need to be shipped back to New York.

Is there anybody in the Californian office that can help you a little bit?

A temporary job re-assignment, I am not sure if you can claim that on your taxes?

[MarkLawrence]

one thing I can say is if you are going to get a apartment, look at apartmentratings.com - it's very useful when trying to find the right place.

[RDU-JFK]

Tom,
I agree--they really should help me, but how should they help me? What does a company usually do when they recolate someone--do they find the apartment? Do they help pay for any expenses?

Mike--I currently live with my dad in Brooklyn so I don't have to worry about storage yet.

I'd like to avoid apartment hunting and buying furniture so a broker might be the best bet. Oakwood looks cool but expensive. I've put in a request for a call to get some info.

Thanks for your comments!

[Midnight Mike]

Tom,
I agree--they really should help me, but how should they help me? What does a company usually do when they recolate someone--do they find the apartment? Do they help pay for any expenses?

Mike--I currently live with my dad in Brooklyn so I don't have to worry about storage yet.

I'd like to avoid apartment hunting and buying furniture so a broker might be the best bet. Oakwood looks cool but expensive. I've put in a request for a call to get some info.

Thanks for your comments!

My company is going to relocate me from California to Seattle, these are just some highlights as to what they pay:

Rental car for 30 days
Hotel for 30 days (while in the hotel, receive per diem)
7 Day house-hunting trip (Includes ticket for employee & spouse, hotel, rental car & per diem)
Storage for 60 days
Ticket for family to new location
If you break a lease, company will pay up to three months of the lease penalty.
They pay for cars & household good to be moved......

These are just some of things, my relocation package was about 100 pages, it included a CD Rom & a website.....

Something else to consider is to stay at the Residence Inn until you find an apartment....

Would really suggest checking out the area before signing any kind of apartment lease......

[mirrodie]

Wow, now there is a nice worksheet to work from!

[RDU-JFK]

Wow, now there is a nice worksheet to work from!

Indeed! Is this the typical things a company would offer for a relocation? (Mine's only temporary though...)

[Midnight Mike]

Wow, now there is a nice worksheet to work from!

Indeed! Is this the typical things a company would offer for a relocation? (Mine's only temporary though...)

I forgot, my company had me work in the UK office for 3 months, while on the temporary assignment they paid for:

Rental Car
Furnished Apartment
Per Diem
Ticket to/from LAX-LHR-LAX, & ground transportation to the airports


Mike