New Job in a New City!!!

[topdog98]

How exciting!

Boxes for printer paper are great for moving. They are especially good for small heavy objects like books (such as old REA CLEP guides or MBA textbooks). So maybe check with a print shop or any office that might do a lot of printing.

Congratulations!

[LaterBloomer]

What wonderful news!!! On the few visits to Chicago, I've enjoyed the city. Family have lived north of Chicago, and it's lovely. Topdog98 is right on the money regarding use of printer paper boxes (sturdy and use for heavy items). In a big office, you'll be amazed at the number of boxes that come empty each day. Start asking co-workers and friends.

I'm so very happy for you. You've always been so supportive of forum members' attempts to advance themselves, and you give rock solid career advice. While I don't envy you the grueling interview process, I'm sure that you did it with style and grace. Your posts come accross as confident without being arrogant. It's so hard for women to do that and be successful. It's good to see it being done.

As for your husband, as Marcus Aurelius said, change is nature's delight. He'll have the pleasure of city life, and a few hours travel to life in the country.

[burbuja0512]

I'm so very happy for you. You've always been so supportive of forum members' attempts to advance themselves, and you give rock solid career advice. While I don't envy you the grueling interview process, I'm sure that you did it with style and grace. Your posts come accross as confident without being arrogant. It's so hard for women to do that and be successful. It's good to see it being done.

Awwwwww thank you so much.

[mrs.b]

Oh my! Congratulations! You definitely deserve such a fantastic opportunity.

On the moving question, for a long move, have you considered or priced a moving company? When my extended family (three households - father- and mother-in-law, sister-in-law and her family, and husband and our family) relocated from the Chicago area to our current neighborhood, we had movers come. They boxed everything up - so that solved the box dilemma! - and moved it out, loaded it up, and took care of driving that massive truck. All we did was pack up the items we definitely wanted to bring ourselves and a few days of clothes, drive our own cars down, and two days later our stuff showed up and was carried inside. I'd never spend the money for a short distance move, but for cross-country, it was the best way to go. Your new employer may offer relocation benefits that might cover a portion of that.

As far as living in the Chicago area, so happy for you on that front, too! I loved that town because there was so much to do. If it were not for unusual circumstances, we would still be there. Depending on where the office is located, pick your home neighborhood strategically to avoid extra long commutes (ours used to be 2 hours - left house at 5AM, caught 5:15 train that arrived at the station at about 6:15AM, then 1 and 1.5 mile walk or cab ride to our offices downtown to be at work at 7AM).

[burbuja0512]

Oh my! Congratulations! You definitely deserve such a fantastic opportunity.

On the moving question, for a long move, have you considered or priced a moving company? When my extended family (three households - father- and mother-in-law, sister-in-law and her family, and husband and our family) relocated from the Chicago area to our current neighborhood, we had movers come. They boxed everything up - so that solved the box dilemma! - and moved it out, loaded it up, and took care of driving that massive truck. All we did was pack up the items we definitely wanted to bring ourselves and a few days of clothes, drive our own cars down, and two days later our stuff showed up and was carried inside. I'd never spend the money for a short distance move, but for cross-country, it was the best way to go. Your new employer may offer relocation benefits that might cover a portion of that.

As far as living in the Chicago area, so happy for you on that front, too! I loved that town because there was so much to do. If it were not for unusual circumstances, we would still be there. Depending on where the office is located, pick your home neighborhood strategically to avoid extra long commutes (ours used to be 2 hours - left house at 5AM, caught 5:15 train that arrived at the station at about 6:15AM, then 1 and 1.5 mile walk or cab ride to our offices downtown to be at work at 7AM).

Well, I do get some relocation money, but it's not a significant amount compared to how much we'll need to spend. I think you make a good point... at the very least it wouldn't hurt to price out professional movers. I was planning on hiring someone to help us get the exercise equipment out of the basement and carry other really heavy stuff, but that was just going to be local. Hmmm.. will need to investigate.

Since you know the Chicagoland area, do you have any specific recommendations for suburbs? I've looked north and northwest, but am still not sure..

[dposborne]

So, any advice you guys have about either the Chicago area or moving tips would be great. For example, where the heck do I get affordable boxes? Holy cow! I had no idea that they were so expensive.. also I have no experience with moving furniture from state to state. HELP..

First off, congratulations.

Secondly, you may want to check with your new company concerning some sort of relocation package that came with your job offer. Usually companies offer a comprehensive relo package with management positions, at least this has been my experience in the past. With the relo package, you won't have to worry about packing your stuff up or moving anything. They do everything for you and even unbox and place everything in your new location... The tab is usually covered by the company. The relo package should also include some lump sum of funds for travel, living expenses and also options on what to do with your house (rent or mortgage/pay the rent up to termination or buy the house from you...)

As an example, the company I work for now packed up and transported all my household goods (15k pounds) plus my '65 Impala from Washington State to Pennsylvania. They then unpacked everything and placed it all as per my direction in my new house. The company also gave me over 20k for travel expenses since I drove my family across country. Of course your package may be different and this can all be negotiated with your offer...

[burbuja0512]

First off, congratulations.

Secondly, you may want to check with your new company concerning some sort of relocation package that came with your job offer. Usually companies offer a comprehensive relo package with management positions, at least this has been my experience in the past. With the relo package, you won't have to worry about packing your stuff up or moving anything. They do everything for you and even unbox and place everything in your new location... The tab is usually covered by the company. The relo package should also include some lump sum of funds for travel, living expenses and also options on what to do with your house (rent or mortgage/pay the rent up to termination or buy the house from you...)

As an example, the company I work for now packed up and transported all my household goods (15k pounds) plus my '65 Impala from Washington State to Pennsylvania. They then unpacked everything and placed it all as per my direction in my new house. The company also gave me over 20k for travel expenses since I drove my family across country. Of course your package may be different and this can all be negotiated with your offer...

I'm jealous... unfortunately my relocation package is minimal. The problem is that they originally planned to hire someone from the Chicago area and when I applied for the job, they let me know that they already had a pool of local candidates and therefore would not be paying relocation. Luckily I beat out the local guys lol and they liked me enough to give a couple thousand to cover some basic expenses, but since I had to agree to relocate at my own cost before even going through the interview process, negotiating a bunch of $$$ was not an option. I'm actually surprised they gave me anything at all. On the plus side, they are paying me a higher salary than I had originally expected, so I guess it works out better in the long run.

[cookderosa]

WOW!!!!!!! Well first off, biggest and hugest congratulations!! Now if I ever get back home for a visit, lunch is on me.
Second off, any real mentor wants success for you; being his employee is in his best interest, but if he really cares about you, he wants success for you and will be happy for you.
Finally, having lived my whole life in IL, all I can say is get dh on Craigslist and see about getting a snow blower lol

Yeah!!!! I'm so proud of you!!

[cookderosa]

I do have one more thing to say about moving- we just moved from IL to NC. It was our first cross-country move too. I got an estimate for a moving company to do A-Z, and it was $15,000. I thought that was insanity so decided to do it ourselves. DH's job gave us $3k toward moving, so I figured I could do it for very little out of pocket. Did I mention it was our first cross-country move? lol
So, I rented 4 Uhaul storage boxes (like Pod - google them) and that got everything up and out so we could live and show our home like fake people...you know...staged. Then I sold ALMOST EVERYTHING. Seriously, my friends were asking if I was crazy- but my goal was to rent 1 big UHaul trucks and drive for the move. Hubby was gone, but teen son 1 drives, so I even sold one of our cars too- now hubby would be in NC with his car, I'd drive the Uhaul and son would drive our other car. Seemed perfect! So, day of packing the truck, we get to the end and I realize we are not even close to fitting in the truck. I had to go get a SECOND truck and pay my friend's son to drive with us. (and his plane ticket home).

After all was said and done, the grand total I spent moving was $15,000. THE EXACT SAME!!
NEVER AGAIN. (disclosure, a few hundred was spent on the hotel during our drive- we would have had that anyway, and my friend's ticket was about $400, but GAS alone was a fortune- in the thousands, UHauls only get about 8-9 miles per gallon)

I won't even go through all the drama leading up to that move and the drama of getting here and the drama of not having school or access to groceries (because you have to use it up or throw it out) and selling, sorting, etc. Having the delivery of our stuff arriving, being stored for months, etc. I'd also like to point out that besides 2 older sons, it was JUST ME doing the packing....oh yeah.....won't do that again. Ever try and convince your 8 year old to help you pack a truck?

So, before you believe that hiring movers is something just rich people do, I think you should give it some thought, especially on your super tight schedule.

[BIPolarGuy]

Congrats!! I can totally relate to this! I have been in my new role here in Dallas for 4 months and it is still exciting. My wife also never left the area around her parents for 40 years.Communication is key to make sure everyone is handling the move well!

As for the move, I got a pretty sizable sign on, but I am cheap, so I checked all over for movers rates. I found ABF freight had the best rates. They drop a 28' trailer at your place, you load it, they haul it. If you need more than 1 trailer, they bring it. If you don't fill it, they just put a barricade in front of you stuff. I had 1&1/2 trailers of junk to bring out. It was only $3200 from Cali to Dallas. All major movers wanted 7-10k. I had friends help pack in Cali and paid $400 for help in Dallas. We went to big lots and asked for boxes, they were happy to oblige! Remember to pack different sizes of boxes. It makes it easier to shove into the odd spaces that couches and furniture makes..

Again, congrats on the new job and your move! I can't wait to hear more about it..

Greg.