Maybe you’ve been laid off or furloughed and are searching for a new opportunity… or maybe it’s time for a promotion and the next step of your career means making a move. If you get a job offer in a different location, how do you know if it’s worth moving? There’s a lot to consider. Here are some tips and considerations that may help you decide what’s best for you.

First of all, think about the move in a “big picture” kind of way, not just about the money or the title.  It may help to do a list of pros and cons, but a spreadsheet is only one piece of the puzzle.  You need to ask yourself about your potential happiness and your overall satisfaction as well as how the numbers stack up. When you’re looking at changing your whole life, you want to explore what your new lifestyle will be and what the new location offers for recreation or traveling.  Will you be comfortable in the new community and what’s best for the long-term?

If you’re single and just starting out in your career, you’ll have more flexibility to make your own choices. If you have a partner and children, you have to weigh what their needs are and how a move will affect them. Trailing spouses often bear the brunt of a move. It’s important to talk that through and be realistic. Moving is one of the most stressful life events, right up there with divorce, the loss of a job and death of a loved one. Make sure it’s the right option for you.

Also, take the time to visit the new location and stay more than a weekend. Meet with some of your future team members and your new boss, if possible. Test it out and see if it feels right. Pictures can help but it’s not the same as being there in person. If you can, depending on your new job, see if you can have a trial period in the new location as a temporary job swap. It’s a big decision and you want to get it right.

Ask yourself what your motivation is for your move. Are you in a rut and looking for a new adventure? Do you want to live in another area of the county, or overseas? Are the job prospects better in a resort town? What is the weather like and how does that affect your choice? Are you going from a small town to a big city and a new way of life? Are there opportunities for further education and career advancement?

Do your research on the cost of living in your new location. You may be getting a pay raise, but are the rents much higher? Is the commute costly? Be realistic and negotiate enough of a salary increase to maintain your standard of living. Your take-home pay may be higher, but does it mean your quality of life will improve?

What’s your next step after this? If you uproot your life for this move, is there a plan past this one position? Is the company stable enough to withstand any changes in the market… and what is the demand for your skills in the new area if the job doesn’t work out?

Know yourself. Are you the type of person who can see yourself thriving in a new location without your support system? If you have a hard time socializing and making friends, you may not enjoy starting over in a new area. Social networks are an important part of our lives and well-being. There is always a certain amount of unpredictability with factors you can’t always anticipate. It takes an emotional toll and can be a while until you settle in.

The more questions you ask yourself the more you will understand your priorities and what’s important to you. To avoid problems, ask yourself the tough questions…

• Will I love this job?
• Where will I live and can I afford it?
• Is there a career path for the future?
• Am I suited to the new location and culture?
• Is my significant other on board? And the children?
• Am I comfortable with a big change like this?
• Will I be happy in the new location?
• What’s my backup plan if this doesn’t work out?

There’s a lot to consider with relocation. Talk to people in your company who’ve already made a move and ask them about their experience. They’ll likely give you some good advice about what you can expect. When you visit, try to spend some time outside of work with your future colleagues.  Meet for a drink or dinner and talk about what it’s like to live and work there.

Take a hard look at why you’d make the move and what you hope to get from it. Get advice from people you trust and weigh the pros and cons of staying vs. going. These steps will help you make a carefully considered decision that you can feel good about.