Relocation Package Guide
Most companies offer more than they first present. Here's every line item you can reasonably negotiate, know your number before you sign.
What you can reasonably ask for
Start with the “must ask” items, HR teams approve them routinely. And get every yes in writing before you accept the offer.
Moving expenses
Full pack-and-move service (door to door)
$3,000 to $12,000
Temporary storage (up to 90 days)
$150 to $400/mo
Vehicle shipping (if driving isn't practical)
$800 to $1,500
Travel reimbursement (mileage, hotel, meals)
$500 to $2,000
Professional cleaning of prior residence
$200 to $500
Housing assistance
Temporary housing stipend (30 to 90 days)
$2,000 to $8,000
Closing cost reimbursement on home purchase
$3,000 to $10,000
Lease-break fee coverage at prior home
$500 to $3,000
Home-finding trip (flights, hotel, meals)
$500 to $2,000
Loss-on-sale protection if market is down
Varies
Mortgage rate buy-down assistance
$1,000 to $5,000
Family & lifestyle
Spouse career transition support or job placement
Service
School enrollment support and records transfer
Service
Child/dependent care stipend during transition
$500 to $2,000
Cultural / community integration support
Service
Financial & tax
Lump-sum relocation allowance (instead of managed move)
$5,000 to $25,000
Tax gross-up on relocation reimbursements
30 to 40% of benefits
Duplicate housing allowance (paying two rents/mortgages)
Varies
CPA / tax preparation for relocation year
$300 to $800
Three figures to keep in your head
$5k to $25k
Lump-sum allowance
The typical range when you take cash instead of a managed move
30 to 40%
Tax gross-up
Of benefit value, relocation reimbursements are taxable income, so ask your employer to cover the tax
2 to 5%
Closing costs
Of purchase price, $5,800 to $14,500 on a $290K Cincinnati home, and reimbursement is a routine ask
Negotiation tips from Chris
- 1
Get everything in writing before you accept the offer. Verbal promises disappear.
- 2
Ask for a lump-sum option. It gives you more flexibility than a managed move.
- 3
Always request the tax gross-up. Relocation benefits are taxable income; your employer can cover the extra tax.
- 4
Negotiate the home-finding trip as a separate line item. Most HR teams will approve it.
- 5
If your employer uses a third-party relo firm, ask Chris to work directly with them. He has experience with relocation transactions.
- 6
Closing costs are 2 to 5% of purchase price. On a $290K Cincinnati home that's $5,800 to $14,500. Worth asking for.
Relocation packages, answered
What does a typical corporate relocation package include?
Most packages cover some combination of moving expenses (packing, transport, storage), temporary housing for 30 to 90 days, and help with home-sale or home-purchase costs. Larger employers. And Cincinnati has several headquartered here, like P&G and Kroger. Often offer a choice between a managed move, where a relocation company handles the logistics, and a lump-sum allowance you spend however you want. The checklist on this page covers the full menu; few offers include all of it unless you ask.
Should I take the lump sum or the managed move?
A lump sum gives you flexibility. You can move yourself economically and put the difference toward closing costs or furniture. A managed move removes the logistics burden and shifts cost overruns to your employer, which matters with a large household. If you lean lump sum, price out the full move first so you know whether the number actually covers it.
Are relocation benefits taxable?
For most employees, yes. Since the 2018 tax law changes, employer-paid moving expenses and reimbursements count as taxable income. That is why the tax gross-up is a must-ask: your employer covers the extra tax so a $10,000 benefit is actually worth $10,000.
Can Chris work with my employer's relocation company?
Yes. Many corporate packages route the home purchase through a third-party relocation firm, and Chris has experience with those transactions. The referral paperwork, the firm's timelines, and the closing coordination. Tell your relo counselor you already have a Cincinnati agent and connect them with Chris early.
Tools that pair with this one
Bring your package to someone who's seen a few.
Chris works with corporate relocation transactions regularly and can coordinate directly with your employer's relo firm, and tell you what your allowance actually buys in Cincinnati.