Relocation starts, usually, with a better job offer at
another location. If you have a family, a period of cogitation will inevitably
follow as moving house is all about letting go - for your spouse, who may be
employed, for your children, who may be going to school or college, and for
other dependents as well.
Relocation policies differ from organisation to
organisation, but even the most considerate of employers may not look for a job
for your spouse, or school admission for your child.
"Soon after we decided to move from Bangalore to
Bhopal, my wife went over to look for schools for our four-year-old," says
Samanta. "The last time we'd moved, our son, Ayan, was only 18 months old.
So school was not an issue."
Meghnad Mitra, a finance professional who has made eight
intercity shifts during his career, seconds Samanta: "Getting your child
into a preferred school is the toughest bit."
For journalist Swati Mazumdar, three transfers over six
years for her husband, also a media professional, translated into her own
career taking a backseat. While her experience ensured she landed a job every
time, she says that not once did her husband's employer, a private TV channel,
offer to accommodate her or help find her a position suited to her talents.
Footing the bill. Apart from these domestic
issues, there is also the matter of interfacing with the (current or
prospective) employer to figure out how much of a financial hit you will take
personally. While most employers will house you and your family at the company
guesthouse, crosscheck if they will offer you escorts and vehicles when you go
house-hunting.
Find out, also, if they will extend you a loan for rental
deposits. In cities like
Mumbai and
Bangalore, where landlords regularly demand and
get deposits equivalent to 10 months' rent, it's a considerable sum. Even
in
Delhi, where a three-month deposit is the norm,
the assured availability of Rs 60,000 (on a monthly rent of Rs 20,000 for a
mid-sized apartment) can be a huge relief.
Some employers will also write off re-registering charges for
cars as part of moving expenses. The idea, HR experts say, is to make the
employee as comfortable as possible, as soon as possible, since any downtime is
lost time. So you have to take the call on how far to push the envelope with
your employers.
"Most employers will balance the employee's
value-to-the-company against costs," says Deepa Nailwal, Talent Manager,
Knowledge Group, for The Indian Express Group of Newspapers and a 15-year
veteran in human resource management. "That said, all companies will cover
the travel costs of the employee and his household belongings. Most companies
will also cover the train or air fares of the employee's immediate family,
meaning the spouse and children under the age of 18."
After that, depending on the indispensability of the
employee and the company's financial health, the sky is the limit. Top
management can expect to have 100 per cent of the costs taken care of. CEOs and
vice-presidents may even find seats reserved in top schools for their children,
and a club membership.
Before the move you need to take a call on moveable and
immovable property.
House. For any residential property you may own, either
outright or on finance, you have three options: selling it, keeping it vacant
or giving it out on rent.
Selling your property. If the property is in
your name and not financed, a sale may attract a capital gains tax, depending
on the year of purchase. However, if the sale proceeds are used to buy another
property for residential use, there is no tax. So, should you want to reside in
your own place in a new city, study property prices well and then decide on a
beneficial plan.
If the house you currently occupy is financed and you have
EMIs outstanding, you have to first find a buyer and then get the loan transferred
to him. Alternatively, you can pay off the balance on your own. Get a clearance
certificate from the bank after paying off the loan, but remember that early
closure allows the bank to impose a loan pre-payment penalty.
Keeping your property. If you plan to return to
live in the city in the near future, or if you are emotionally attached to your
residence, you may want to keep the house vacant. You will still be required to
foot maintenance bills. Also, should you want to buy a new home in the new
city, either outright or on a loan, bear in mind that taxmen will consider one
of your properties to be rented out, even if it is vacant, and thus liable for
tax.
Renting out. Renting out your house to reliable
tenants can give a steady income and take care of maintenance headaches.
Securing EMIs. An outstanding loan calls for a
few extra steps. If the EMIs will continue to be paid through your existing
bank account, provide for sufficient funds. Once you are settled into your new
home, inform the bank about your new account and direct deduction of future
EMIs from there after completing the formalities.
Cars. With a vehicle, the options are slightly
different. You can either sell it or take it with you. The decision could
depend on the state you are moving to. For instance, Karnataka demands that a
certain percentage of the value of the car, decided by the make and the age of
the vehicle, be paid as road tax on a transferred vehicle. Do you want to shell
out Rs 15,000 or so on a four-year-old Santro, over and above the
transportation costs? Will your employer make good the tab?
If you want to keep it, then the law needs you to change the
registration to that of your new residence within a certain period (it varies
from state to state).
For instance, if you are moving from Delhi to Visakhapatnam,
you will need to fill in RTO forms in quadruplicate, pencil-stencil the chassis
number, bring your insurance up to date and acquire the relevant certificates
from the insurance company. If your papers are in the clear, the RTO will
provide you an NOC valid for 90 days.
When you re-register your vehicle in Visakhapatnam, you will
need to present the NOC and your vehicle, along with the originals of the
registration certificate, the insurance papers, tax receipts and a pollution-under-control
certificate. You will also need to pay the road tax as it is applicable in
Andhra Pradesh. Technically, you can get a refund of this amount from the Delhi
RTO. But this is no easy task.
You also need to factor in the cost of transporting your
car, either by road, truck, rail or air. This is potentially a bill for your
employers to sponsor.
If your car is financed, there will be another ring of
formalities to tackle. The RTO in Delhi will demand a letter from the financing
bank, stating that they have no objection to the vehicle being moved out of
state limits.
As in the case of a home loan, if EMIs for the car are to be
paid through your existing bank account, you have to ensure the availability of
sufficient funds.
Once you and your finances are settled in the new city, you
may inform the bank and complete formalities to debit future EMIs from your new
account.
The paperwork is far less if you want to sell your car. If
you own the car, you need to find a buyer, fill up Forms 29 and 30 and ensure
the buyer transfers the registration to his own name. If it is financed, you
can either get the loan transferred to the new buyer or pay off the balance on
your own. Don't forget to get the clearance certificate from the bankers.
Whether you are keeping your car or selling it, "all
the paperwork should be done at least a month and at most 10 days prior to
moving," suggests Joshi. "Also, if the company packing and moving
your belongings is moving the car also, be sure to get a good bargain."
Before shopping for a moving company, you need to do a lot
of work - organising, brain-storming, paper-tracking and closet-cleaning.
Considering that these are also likely to be the last days at work, be prepared
for a pressure-cooker situation.
Plan a visit to the new city to finalise a residence,
keeping in mind proximity to work, school and conveniences.
Money memos. Identify the utilities on which you
have a deposit. For instance, cooking gas and landlines. Track down the
original papers: you'll need them to get a refund. If they are missing then do
the necessary paperwork to get the all-clear signal.
This could take some running around. Even if you decide to
write off the deposit, no PSU gas agency will issue a transfer voucher,
necessary for a fresh connection in the new city, without this statement.
As far as MTNL and BSNL phones are concerned, the process is
comparatively painless. But the refund will be dispatched only after due
process to your new address, so make sure you mention it clearly in your
request form.
Cellphones are a different story altogether. According to V
Venkatesh, chief operating officer of Airtel Mobility, Karnataka, "Our
customers can contact us through fax, email, our call centre or any of our
showrooms with a request for disconnection of services. On receipt of the
request, we try to get in touch with the customer. If he's relocating to a
state where we have Airtel services, we offer a new connection with the same
facilities to ensure a seamless service experience."
While the principle may be true across service-providers,
information on how to surrender connections is not easy to access. None of the
websites of the leading mobile phone companies, for instance, has a section on
voluntary disconnection of services. Customer care executives provide
notoriously contradictory information.
"Check that you cancel any standing instructions for
ECS or direct debit facility at least a week before moving. Otherwise, you may
end up with nasty surprises in terms of debits," advises Joshi.
Taking account. To close a savings bank account,
again, you need the passbook and related papers. Some private sector banks
altogether deny the option of closing your account, in which case you can
transfer or withdraw the entire amount from the account.
If you want to keep the account, inform the bank of the
change in address, and make sure it is added in their records.
Loose ends. Landlords, schools, doctors,
insurance, subscriptions, clubs - in short, everything that roots you to a city
have to be seen to. As soon as you know you are moving, inform your landlord.
Doctors, especially family doctors, should be kept in the
loop as well, and tapped for referrals in the city that will be your new home.
Schools are a trickier proposition. Till middle-school,
leaving a school is more a matter of losing friends and familiar teachers than
losing out academically (especially if the move can be coordinated with the end
of the school year). But higher classes call for complete conviction before you
can request for a transfer certificate.
Some relocation experts, however, suggest that parents avoid
moving during school holidays. That way, children avoid joining school on the
chaotic first day.
The run-up to the move is also the time to cancel club and
magazine subscriptions (some require a lead time of up to three months) and to
ask your insurance agent if he would like to continue servicing your policy.
Closer to the date, inform your newsagent and cablewallah, and settle their
dues in advance.
Deciding on the movers. If it is a company transfer, the
choice of the firm usually rests with them. If the decision is up to you, seek
recommendations from colleagues and friends who have moved between the same
cities.
Not all packer-and-mover companies have full-fledged
services in all centres and you certainly don't want to be dealing with
sub-contractors who have nothing at stake for your move. "A lot of people
make the mistake of settling for a vendor who quotes a lower price," warns
Singh. "But experience will tell you that the Rs 5,000 or Rs 10,000 they
charge less usually translates into inferior service."
If it's a short-distance move, advises Joshi, get the
packers to
commit to free godown facility at either city. This gives you some breathing
space between sending off your goods, catching a train or plane, and unpacking.
For a long-distance move, sign up with a company that allows you to track the
consignment on the Internet. That way, you will know exactly where the truck
with your belongings is on any given day.
Calling in the company. Once you have finalised
the agency, an evaluation visit will follow and you will be asked to put a
figure to everything you own for insurance purposes. Professionals advise you
to err on the plus-side. Though this means a higher outlay (which will be
considered part of the total cost), it also gives you better coverage. Also,
bear in mind that for electronic items, only external damage will be considered
for compensation.
If you have chosen right, the packers will ease your
tensions, not add to them. Use this time (and the last of the Internet
connection) to list all the services you will need at your new home and collect
their contact numbers from your current network. This covers water purifiers,
inverters, white goods, satellite radios...everything that requires expert
installation.
This is also the time to consider the future of any potted
plants you may have. Will they survive a long-distance road journey? What if
the truck escorts forget to water them? Or would it be better to farm them out
to friends and relatives? Donate at least one to your local park.
Once the professionals take over, use the time to give the
new address to your landlord (so your mail can be forwarded), last-minute
meetings and a farewell bash. And, don't forget to congratulate yourself: the
tough part is over.
The good thing about moving to a new city is that, as a
fresh consumer, you can expect great service from everyone. The bad thing is that
you don't know anyone. So, start with your landlord. Once you have settled on a
house, keep in touch with him and figure out the local vendor and domestic help
network.
Back to basics. If it is a long distance
relocation, there will a gap of at least a few days between your arrival and
the arrival of your household goods. Use the time to apply for a gas
connection.
Neighbours or your landlord could give you the agency
details. Once you submit the transfer voucher, the new agency will seek
confirmation from your previous agency, by post. The process can take up to a
week.
Similarly contact the other service providers. Based on the
arrival of the trucks, schedule visits. If you will be living in a housing
complex, check out society rules regarding entry of trucks and movement of
workers.
Diana Ramsey, director business development of Going There,
a destination services company, recalls a top-level German executive who had
their consultant sift through 53 properties before settling on an apartment in
Bangalore. "She (ensured) the bottled water supply was in situ in their
apartment when they moved in, helped set up their bank accounts and standing
order/ payment for rent, verified a German-speaking local contract
driver-and-car and set up a supply of lactose-free milk for the wife's medical
condition."
Unpacking, reinstalling. You are unlikely to
recognise any of the faces who arrive with your goods, but they should bear the
same stamp of professionalism. Insist that furniture - each piece should be
easily identifiable - be placed in their identified spaces, and then unpacked.
Ensure they put together dismantled dining tables, beds and anything else they
may have taken apart for easy transportation.
At the end of the day, you'll be left with a huge amount of
packaging material. Check with the moving company whether they will collect it,
or if you should sell it for recycling. Once the domestic help is in place get
recommendations for an electrician and a carpenter for essential modifications.
Putting up pictures or photographs is the first step towards making a house a
home.
Pace yourself. Don't expect the flat to become
familiar overnight. Give it time - and yourself too - to let your new home grow
on you.
As soon as you are certain of the move, schedule a thorough
clean-out. Involve the family members and sift through all belongings.
Segregate things into three piles: to keep, to discard, to donate. Call the
raddiwallah for the second lot and a charity for the third pile.
Once you have decided on the packers, ask for cartons for
things you would like to pack yourself. This would include woollens, clothes,
linen - anything you wouldn't like strangers to handle. Label every box.
The day before the packers are due, wangle a dinner
invitation with friends or family. It will be easier clearing out the fridge.
Pack things you will need on the first couple of days -
pillows, bedsheets, a set of curtains - separately in a carton, and label it
distinctly. Carry a couple of changes of clothes for each member and essential
papers, such as gas voucher and house lease, with you. Also keep handy dusters,
a pair of scissors and a stack of old newspapers for lining shelves.
Pack some tinned or packaged food for the first few days. In
your new house, find a local food home delivery joint and don't forget to stock
up on bottled water.
Empty out the fridge and clean it to prevent formation of
mildew. Call in a trusted electrician to disconnect and bring down
air-conditioners, geysers and all wired appliances.
Return LPG cylinder to the agency. Make sure you get the
refund of the deposit, as well as the all-important transfer voucher.
Mark the luggage that you will be carrying with you, and
keep them aside. It should include all jewellery and valuable documents. You
don't want to wake up one night between two homes, and panic about the heirloom
jadau necklace or the home-loan papers.
Pack your hand-baggage, including air or train tickets.
If you are moving your vehicle, crosscheck that it has valid
PUC certification. Get car registration papers photocopied; give the copies to
the transporters, along with the original of the PUC certificate. Ensure the
fuel tank is at least half-full.
Remove all detachables from the car, including the car
stereo. Make an inventory of the car accessories you are entrusting to the
transporters.
If you have children and/or pets, you might want to pack
them off to a neighbour's or relative's.
Organise lunch to be delivered, and plenty of drinking
water.
When the packers come in...
Be around. It's boring, but you never know when they may
need you.
If you have hung on to the original packaging of your
television/AC/stereo/water-purifier, now is the time to bring them out.
Keep an eye on the packers' work. A professional firm will
have designated people handling glassware, dis-assembling modular furniture,
packing books. Once you are satisfied with their approach, let go of the
temptation to direct and domineer.
Inform the supervisor about the pieces of luggage you will
be carrying so there is no danger of them being packed away.
Ensure every carton is labelled correctly and listed in the
master inventory.
After the packing and loading, make sure the men clear up
all plastic and packaging. Ask your domestic help to come by to sweep out the
debris and dust. It's the least you can do for your landlord.
Furnish the correct details of the destination to the
supervisor, including phone numbers and addresses.
Collect the phone numbers of the supervisor, and his
equivalent or superior at your destination.
If your finances or your employers allow you, sign up with a
relocation-support company. Though still in its infancy, this is a sector that
is becoming increasingly relevant these days, when employers want transferred
employees to hit the road running.
"We have several clients who are moving more and more
people to Bangalore. That is why it is the only city where we have operations
in India," says Diana Ramsey, director of business development for Going
There, a destination services company with a presence in cities from Amsterdam
to Warsaw.
Though most of their clients are westerners relocating to
India, a fair percentage are Indians returning to the country after years.
Their concerns are common: schools, housing, connectivity (electronic and
vehicular), medical care and spousal employment.
Ramsay says, "If you look for answers to these
questions by way of Google, the search engine would throw up over 3 million
pages. Who needs that? GT Online has the answers, and thousands more,
specifically aimed at the newcomer/expatriate. We find the answers, sift
through them, verify them, edit them, and organise them in an easy-to-use
format."
Mumbai-based Writer Corp, one of the handful of Indian
relocation-and-orientation companies, steps into the picture even before the
move. "The client often likes to visit the relocation destination early on
to check out local living conditions. Usually, no decisions are taken at this
stage," says Gavin de Souza, joint managing director of Writer Corp.
"Subsequently, we will look for residences according to
the client's specs (sea-facing or ground-floor), help with school admissions,
provide information on local utilities, shopping and entertainment options,
besides fitting out the family with local help, including domestic help and
drivers."
