Moving to San Francisco eek - relocation package

[dboug13]

DH's work is moving to San Francisco so we are planning a move to the Bay Area - has anyone negotiated a relocation package who could offer advice?

Currently his company are offering 2 months rent plus a trip over for the two of us to scout schools, neighbourhoods etc. Company seems great but would like to find best possible deal as we recently spent a few months in NYC and mostly unassisted relocation was expensive to say the least.

We have two dds - twins aged 3 - so tips on preschool etc. also very welcome. Berkeley or Marin County are apparently best places to move for an easy commute to his office...

Any and all advice -- please!

[yetanotherchangename]

No advice but very jealous!!

[Only1scoop]

Marin county

Very jealous

[goodbyeyellowbrickroad]

We moved to the U.S. a couple of years ago and learnt a lot! We had a lump sum relocation allowance which covered our deposit on our rental home, deposit on a lease car and new electronics (don't underestimate how much it can cost to get everything from a kettle to a TV). On top of this DHs company covered the cost of shipping our possessions over.

Medical insurance is part of his employment contract but we still have a pretty hefty monthly premium to pay. If we hadn't had all of this agreed we wouldn't have moved. Oh and he has a generous holiday allowance - a lot of employees in the US get very little paid time off so check this especially if you plan on travelling across the States or even want to take a trip home once a year.

Find out what realtor fees are like. We're fortunate to live somewhere where they're covered by the landlord but as you may know in NYC they cost a fortune. If they're are realtor fees could they be negotiated?

I have other expat friends here who had/have an accomdation allowance and car paid for but I think those sorts of deals/relocation packages are no longer the norm!

[lljkk]

Bay area housing is very high, but you don't want to waste life commuting, either. I think that they have rent control in Berkeley, but can be hard to actually find a place.

I always recommend this website for BayArea family info, although that's probably too south for you.

Co-pays for your medical will the the norm but make sure it doesn't seem too high. Make sure the medical package covers standard dental care. Unlikely to cover orthodontics, too, but sometimes they cover some orthodontic work, worth checking on.

[dboug13]

Thanks SO much for the replies (including jealousy, sometimes I lose touch in all the admin with how lucky we are so good to be reminded )

Have to say I am most worried about where we would live and realtor fees (exactly goodbyeyellowbrickroad) as we slightly screwed that up in Nyc and lived next to two building sites, not fun.

DH opens negotiations on Monday so hopefully will have a proper list of questions put together by then...

[Laptopwieldingharpy]

Isn't Marin the most expensive place in the Area? It is very gorgeous! Crazy unpredictable weather though. Berkeley & further inland or towards nappa much better micro climate.

[coffeecups]

I'd rather live in SF itself, though Marin is gorgeous and I seem to recall is less affected by the sea mists than Bay Area. I have family that live in Lafayette which is an hour away by train, very easy commute. Seems a nice place too.

[AmericasTorturedBrow]

Def take up the house searching trip! Is he in tech? Housing is CRAZY expensive in the Bay Area so do your research before accepting salary as well. Put into context we moved 3yrs ago to LA with a young but very successful tech company and our package was a lump sum to cover our flights and possession shipments, 3 months in temporary housing while we looked for somewhere to live, 2 months hire car while we looked for one to buy/lease ourselves, 2 round trips home for the whole family in the first year (none thereafter), at the time 3 weeks annual leave but since then the company has introduced unlimited PTO, a very good medical and dental package, and the organization and payment of green cards for all four of us (which came through yesterday YAY!!!!). There always seems to be room to negotiate on and it's worth asking for what you want, not what you think they're prepared to give

[Providore]

Hi OP - I'm in a very similar position to you. My DH is being transferred from his company's London office to their SF HQ, and we move next month!!!!! We have a three year old DS and have also identified Berkeley as our likely new neighbourhood. Like you, the company is putting us up in paid accommodation for a couple of months, so while DH is getting into the swing of things in the office DS and I will be swanning round trying out new neighbourhoods. Would be great to be in touch and swap info. PM me if you like :)