There are many things to consider when relocating - so make sure you do lots of research. The first thing to do is to determine WHY you are relocating. Do you need a change of pace? Do you desire a new position? Or is something, such as career or personal issues, just not working out?

Before jumping into any commitments, obtain valuable information about your new location, such as the cost of living, health care, the climate, job growth, housing, transportation, education, crime, state or provincial taxes, and recreation. You are making one of the most important decisions of your life.

Find out the answers to the following questions:

How does the new place fit your lifestyle? 

What is the new city like?

 How does it compare to where you live now? 

Where can you find out about housing prices, crime rates, or job growth rates? 

How much time can you afford to spend compiling the information required to make such an important decision? 

What is the school system like (if you have children of school age)?

Obtain current, reliable, and complete information about any factors that will contribute to your quality of life in the city you choose.

Choose the best city or cities to visit for interviews and research for employment opportunities. When you decide where you want to move, see what kinds of jobs are available, and what companies show prominence in that area.

Look on the Internet for a salary comparison calculator. Determine what salary is necessary to meet your needs - will you be able to earn this in the new location? In order to research the availability of jobs in the new area, look to the State or Provincial Employment offices and the Chamber of Commerce. Check the labour market reports to see if there is a need for your occupation in the new area.

Next, you will need to develop a timeline. Often this is easy, [0]as most people simply wait until they have achieved some milestone, such as university or college graduation, or the end of their children's school year. Once you have established a timeline, you can decide when to start looking for a job. It may take up to six months or longer to be offered a job you really want, so patience is important.

You may be required to travel back and forth for job interviews, to make contacts, etc. Ensure that you plan ahead to have the funds available for these expenses. Relocating can be a great opportunity, and people do it all the time. If you do it for the wrong reasons or without researching, however, it can be a miserable mistake.

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