What executives need to know before planning an international or interstate move

As an executive, the prospect of moving for work can be appealing, particularly if you’re following the money trail or taking a step up in your career. However, the reality of up and moving once you’ve been appointed to a new position can often feel daunting, and the to-do list endless. 

That’s where Annie Sandor and her team at Relocate Australia can help. As a relocation consultant, Annie takes the burden out of an international or interstate move. They do the hard yards and take care of the finer details, from securing housing to organising banking, utilities, nannies and more, anywhere in Australia. 

In this article, Executive Interview Coaching founder Richard Elstone chats with Annie about what executives need to know before planning an international or interstate move. 

It’s both exciting and daunting to move interstate and internationally, isn’t it? 

Absolutely. People need to think about schools, the impacts of the move on their children, family and friends.  It can be a hugely stressful time and with the current housing shortage, especially in Victoria, but actually right throughout Australia, you’ve got a lot fewer rentals. It's a really tough game at the moment. 

The days of paying six months in advance are no longer an option. Queensland has shut that down, and landlords and agents cannot accept a tenant’s offer to pay rent above the advertised price. In Victoria, all types of rental bidding will be banned from November 2025. 

The benefit of using our service is that we have excellent agency relationships, which often give us first options for off-market properties that we can line up for our clients. If a client has a job secured, they have a good rental history and savings, we shouldn’t have a problem securing a property.

How do you help executives who are relocating?  

First, we ask them to complete a questionnaire so that we can understand their needs. We aim to understand their housing needs, financial situation, and potential requirements, such as school and childcare, depending on their family situation. 

Next, we organise a call with them to discuss their requirements. We verify that they have their work contract, discuss their preferred living location and property type, and gather additional information that could impact the move, such as the need for movers (we can help to provide quotes) or pet relocation. 

From there, we offer a range of services to make relocating easier. These services range from unlimited home searches (we’ll keep searching until we find their ideal home) and in-going condition reports, to utilities setup, furnishing services, childcare, school searches, and other post-move support. 

Since COVID, we’ve been setting up a lot of homes before people arrive. When they fly in, we pick them up from the airport and drop them straight to their home. They have a welcome pack, a neighbourhood information pack, beds set up and can walk straight in and start to enjoy life in their new location. 

What if people have owned their home for 20 years and don’t have a rental history? 

In this kind of scenario, we would tell the agent that the client has just sold or rented their house. We’d request the sales or tenancy contract, and we might ask for their bank statements to verify savings. 

Having good references is important. If you have work references, personal references, or even a reference from your accountant, who handles all your financials, that will help reassure the owner that you are a responsible individual who pays their bills on time and has a good savings record.  

What if someone rents out their home, then relocates? 

In that instance, we have them contact their real estate agent to obtain a letter stating the property's rental value. Hopefully, it’s what they’ll pay in rent in the new location. 

What happens with off-market properties? 

If an agent has a property for which they haven’t taken photos yet and it hasn’t gone online, they’ll reach out to us first to see if we have a suitable candidate for the property. An off-market property is fantastic because you’re not in competition with anybody. 

As soon as it goes online, you might have up to 30 people looking at the property. 

Where are people moving from? 

This is our peak period. I’ve got 60 move-ins before Christmas. They’re coming in from South Africa, the UK, Singapore, the US, and New Zealand. We are placing executives for many renowned international corporations. 

Top tips for executives looking to move? 

1. Secure the job before reaching out to a relocation consultant for support with housing. 

2. Get your paperwork back promptly to avoid delays with rental applications. 

3. Allow enough time for the move to go smoothly – ideally 4 to 6 weeks. 

Looking to land your next executive role? 

Executive Interview Coaching offers a range of services to help executives land their next executive appointment. From help finetuning your resume to nailing your interview preparation, having an expert on your team makes all the difference. 

To find out more, get in touch today.