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Post by bartleby on Apr 1, 2014 11:12:59 GMT -5
You said. " but it is almost universally the company transferring the worker, not the worker asking for transfer that gets relocation costs." Trust me, new ALJ's are very,very seldom getting what they request. If they do, it usually means there are no relo costs as they are stating in their home city. This is, in effect, a "new" job offer for insiders and as such they are entitled to the relo. An unspoken little known fact is that very few insiders use the relo as they want to transfer back as soon as possible and therefore only use the temporary housing until they get located at their first office. Very few insiders in my class utilized their relo package to the full extent. Also, they only pay to ship a certain weight of household items. Considering Bartleby has lived in teh same house for 30 years and has several professional offices, the relo would have been a drop in the bucket if he wanted to permanently move. Having been an Air Force Brat and moved a zillion times growing up, Bartley hangs onto everything so he can't possible move ever again.. Plus the kitties enjoy their present premises.
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Post by moopigsdad on Apr 1, 2014 12:49:24 GMT -5
Yes it is a new job offer for a newbie Bart, but it is one they are choosing to accept. It is a whole new occupational position for the newbie, although in the same field. They don't have to take the job offer if they like their present location and job. They are choosing on their own to accept the new position, they aren't being forced to accept the position as an ALJ.
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Post by privateatty on Apr 1, 2014 16:35:21 GMT -5
What about the federal employee who takes 10-30K or more in relo expenses and then transfers in less than a year?
As a taxpayer I have a problem with that. If they stay then fine, you are entitled to it as yes, your pay is lower than the private sector.
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Post by JudgeRatty on Apr 1, 2014 16:49:47 GMT -5
What about the federal employee who takes 10-30K or more in relo expenses and then transfers in less than a year? As a taxpayer I have a problem with that. If they stay then fine, you are entitled to it as yes, your pay is lower than the private sector. I have wondered about this too. A lot is invested in getting the ALJ to the new office so is there any required payback at all if they leave within a time certain? I have not heard of anyone paying back anything.
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Post by funkyodar on Apr 1, 2014 16:54:16 GMT -5
I think there is, though I dunno the time frame. A friend took a group sup job and got relo. A while later a place he would rather be had an opening but he told me if he went he would have to pay back the relo.
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Post by hopefalj on Apr 1, 2014 18:20:23 GMT -5
Thanks, GG and beancounter, for the clarification.
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Post by Missundaztood on Apr 1, 2014 22:48:26 GMT -5
3. They pay for professional movers to pack you and deliver your possessions to your new place or to storage. Hope it isn't like military moves (they use allegedly "professional movers" too). Your important stuff gets broken or lost (so you end up taking most of that yourself). If you have a move over water (e.g., Hawaii), all your stuff can end up at the bottom of the ocean. Seriously. But rest assured, all junk that you never had time to clear out since the last move is totally safe and carefully bubble wrapped. And sometimes you end up with bonus stuff from other folks' moves. I got some "new" tennis rackets on my last move.
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Post by jd on Apr 3, 2014 11:42:47 GMT -5
Like taxes, if you don't want to claim all deductions because you enjoy income redistribution, then you don't have to declare them. If you have a probleme with relocation expenses being paid by the government, then you don't have to accept them.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 4, 2014 8:26:15 GMT -5
"4. you can sell your home yourself or go thru one of a couple different gov sponsored methods. If it doesn't sell within the time period you choose in the gov method, they will buy your home. What the time periods are and how they determine the market value they pay is not within my limited knowledge."
My relocation and move went well. The movers were fine, etc. I would warn people that the option to have the relocation company buy your home has a LOT of fine print. In my case, they brought in an independent appraiser who low-balled the heck out of our home. So, that was pretty much their offer. There was an appeal-type process but that went nowhere. It has been my experience in home sales that the appraisers and the realtors "work together" to get the appraisals the banks and everyone else needs to get homes bought and sold. The appraiser hired by the relocation company has no such incentive. In fact, you could argue that if he wants to continue to be hired...you see where I'm going with this.
Just exercise caution. In hindsight, rather than take a loss on my home, I think I should have left the wife and family in place and worked in my new office until transfer came around. Easy to say now, of course. (Not that I don't love love love the small town I'm in currently!)
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Post by peacemaker on Jan 14, 2015 13:55:23 GMT -5
I am sorry for the special interest nature of this question. Please let me know if it is not appropriate for this forum. I am struggling to understand all the implications of the Brookfield home-selling program. Robg suggests that it might make more sense to sell your house on your own? Did others have a similar experience? Any other lessons learned?
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Post by eyre44 on Jan 14, 2015 15:31:49 GMT -5
I am sorry for the special interest nature of this question. Please let me know if it is not appropriate for this forum. I am struggling to understand all the implications of the Brookfield home-selling program. Robg suggests that it might make more sense to sell your house on your own? Did others have a similar experience? Any other lessons learned? We started with Brookfield selling our home and eventually withdrew from their program and sold it on our own. In terms of the benefits, if you use Brookfield to sell your home, you may qualify for a cash bonus that is above and beyond the money you get from selling your home. I don't remember the amount exactly, I believe it varied, but it was 5K or so when we were planning to sell. The other big benefit is if you are in a market that is slowing or worse, they can conceivably buy the house from you after a couple months, even if you don't yet have a buyer. This helps people who need to get settled quickly or are having difficulty selling the home. The problem with using Brookfield is they have all these very tough inspections you have to go through. Once the inspections are done, you have to do any repairs they think are necessary. Even if you don't think they are necessary. For example, they wanted us to make several repairs, including a new roof. We were in a blazing hot housing market and didn't want to spend the time or money on any significant repairs. We figured we would just reduce the price and let the buyer deal with it. No go. We withdrew from the program and sold our house on our own. We still got the relo benefits, just no bonus. So I would say if you have a new home that is in mint condition, or are in a slow market, try Brookfield. Older home or hot market, stay away.
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Post by peacemaker on Jan 14, 2015 16:00:28 GMT -5
Eyre--Thanks so much! Very helpful indeed.
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Post by dudeabides on Jan 14, 2015 16:04:11 GMT -5
One Reason to Sell via Brookfield: As I understand it, if you sell to a 3rd party via Brookfield, then (in addition to getting your brokers fees reimbursed - something that every seller gets), you ALSO get the Fed Income Taxes on your brokers fees reimbursed. This (I think) is only available if you sell via Brookfield, and can be worth many thousands of dollars. Reimbursement on your reimbursement.
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Post by chessparent on Jan 14, 2015 21:20:32 GMT -5
Does anyone recall how long you have to market your home before being eligible for the home buying program, ie before Brookfield will consider your home?
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Post by jd on Jan 15, 2015 7:32:18 GMT -5
Just to follow on what Funky has said on page 1. You either get a house hunting trip or Temporary Quarters (TQ), not both. If you choose the TQ, there are 2 options: lump sum (which is 3/4 of per diem for a city) and you only get it for 30 days equivalent. You do not have to save receipts. If you choose to voucher (traditional method) you get a "lodging" and "meal" rate. You can't combine the two (meaning if lodging rate is $83 but you can only get lodging for $93.00 you pay the $10.00 out of pocket). Also, traditional allows 30 days. You can request and additional 30 and 30 again, but have to have a decent reason. Plus the additional 30 days is at a rate which is 3/4 of the original per diem. Per diem is for all family members (spouse and children have reduced rate). The relocation company and SSA Staff will provide all the information too when the time comes.
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Post by eyre44 on Jan 16, 2015 4:23:31 GMT -5
Does anyone recall how long you have to market your home before being eligible for the home buying program, ie before Brookfield will consider your home? I think it has to be on the market 60 days before they will buy it from you. And it is not optional, they have to buy the home if you are in the program and it doesn't sell. You just may not like the price they have come up with. That's what all the inspections, appraisals, and market analyses they make you go through are about.
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Post by chessparent on Jan 16, 2015 7:48:40 GMT -5
Thanks, that's shorter than I thoought.
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Post by Loopstok on Jan 16, 2015 9:30:24 GMT -5
Just to follow on what Funky has said on page 1. You either get a house hunting trip or Temporary Quarters (TQ), not both. If you choose the TQ, there are 2 options: lump sum (which is 3/4 of per diem for a city) and you only get it for 30 days equivalent. You do not have to save receipts. If you choose to voucher (traditional method) you get a "lodging" and "meal" rate. You can't combine the two (meaning if lodging rate is $83 but you can only get lodging for $93.00 you pay the $10.00 out of pocket). Also, traditional allows 30 days. You can request and additional 30 and 30 again, but have to have a decent reason. Plus the additional 30 days is at a rate which is 3/4 of the original per diem. Per diem is for all family members (spouse and children have reduced rate). The relocation company and SSA Staff will provide all the information too when the time comes. I haven't received any info on relocation expenses from Falls Church yet (I only just got my offer a week ago), so this is good information to have. Thank you! But, of course, I have questions. Like all the other new hires, I'm spending 3 weeks in my new city starting March 23, then reporting to FC for 4 weeks of training on April 13. I'd prefer to stay in a hotel for those first 3 weeks, and then find more permanent lodging to to move into starting on May 11 -- my first day back in the new city after training ends (rather than rent a place on March 23 and then have it sit empty for a full month while I'm in training). So it sounds like the TQ provision will accommodate my wish very nicely. However, what about short-term car rental, also to cover me for those first 3 weeks? The Loopstok family is a one-car family, and I'd very much prefer to leave that car with Mrs. Stok and Little Stok until such time as they join me in my new digs (which will not be until late summer, at the earliest). While I'll be getting my own car, I'd rather do it on May 11 rather than on March 23. I assume here is that any car rental is out of my pocket rather than ODAR's, even during those first 3 weeks in the new city?
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Post by foxbadger on Jan 16, 2015 9:57:58 GMT -5
Just to follow on what Funky has said on page 1. You either get a house hunting trip or Temporary Quarters (TQ), not both. If you choose the TQ, there are 2 options: lump sum (which is 3/4 of per diem for a city) and you only get it for 30 days equivalent. You do not have to save receipts. If you choose to voucher (traditional method) you get a "lodging" and "meal" rate. You can't combine the two (meaning if lodging rate is $83 but you can only get lodging for $93.00 you pay the $10.00 out of pocket). Also, traditional allows 30 days. You can request and additional 30 and 30 again, but have to have a decent reason. Plus the additional 30 days is at a rate which is 3/4 of the original per diem. Per diem is for all family members (spouse and children have reduced rate). The relocation company and SSA Staff will provide all the information too when the time comes. I haven't received any info on relocation expenses from Falls Church yet (I only just got my offer a week ago), so this is good information to have. Thank you! But, of course, I have questions. Like all the other new hires, I'm spending 3 weeks in my new city starting March 23, then reporting to FC for 4 weeks of training on April 13. I'd prefer to stay in a hotel for those first 3 weeks, and then find more permanent lodging to to move into starting on May 11 -- my first day back in the new city after training ends (rather than rent a place on March 23 and then have it sit empty for a full month while I'm in training). So it sounds like the TQ provision will accommodate my wish very nicely. However, what about short-term car rental, also to cover me for those first 3 weeks? The Loopstok family is a one-car family, and I'd very much prefer to leave that car with Mrs. Stok and Little Stok until such time as they join me in my new digs (which will not be until late summer, at the earliest). While I'll be getting my own car, I'd rather do it on May 11 rather than on March 23. I assume here is that any car rental is out of my pocket rather than ODAR's, even during those first 3 weeks in the new city? I asked this question, or something like it and the answer is no car rental. They will pay you to move your car to the new location, but they will not pay you for transportation at your new location, which is on you. Having said that, explain your situation and see what they say.
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Post by foxbadger on Jan 16, 2015 10:02:38 GMT -5
Does anyone recall how long you have to market your home before being eligible for the home buying program, ie before Brookfield will consider your home? I think it has to be on the market 60 days before they will buy it from you. And it is not optional, they have to buy the home if you are in the program and it doesn't sell. You just may not like the price they have come up with. That's what all the inspections, appraisals, and market analyses they make you go through are about. Brookfield will give you a lot of information on this. There are two options. If I remember, one allows you to take their offer 22 days after their appraisal, with an option for you to continue to market the property up to 60 days. The second option requires you to market the property for 81 days. This is the Cliff's Notes version. There's a lot more information. Also, Brookfield will buy the property. They appraise it and they will tell you there are things that may have to be done, but they will buy it.
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