When you’re looking for work, it can be restrictive to consider only those jobs that are located near your home. By setting yourself a strict geographical radius, you might be limiting yourself to jobs that aren’t quite the right fit. If you’re offered a job but the offices are based far away from your current home, you might be considering a relocation—but how can you know if it’s the right decision? Think about the pros and cons of moving and consider the following points to see if relocating is the best choice for you.

How Much Do You Want the Job?

Look, if you don’t truly want the job you’ve been offered, there shouldn’t actually be any question in your mind as to whether you should relocate. Moving across the state or country (or even to a whole new country) is a huge undertaking, and it should only be done if you think the job will be a good fit.

Ask your potential employer questions about your day-to-day work tasks, and try to find out about the office culture. Try to ascertain whether:

• The work will be satisfying
• You will be challenged enough
• The people in the office or workspace are friendly
• The company culture is a good fit for you

If you think the job sounds rewarding and fulfilling, it can certainly be worth considering a move.

Is Remote Work an Option?

In today’s world, working remotely is easier than ever. With that in mind, it makes sense to ask your prospective employer whether you could telecommute rather than uprooting your whole life to move. They may say no, but you may be able to come to a more flexible arrangement. Perhaps it would be possible for you to come into the office only when needed (such as for important meetings or in-person tasks). Maybe you could work from home three days a week, meaning you only have to commute once or twice. 

Ask about flexible options and see what they say—what’s the worst that can happen? 

Where Will You Live?

If flexible working isn’t a viable option, it’s important to consider where you’ll live if you do relocate. Before you accept the job, take a look at some real estate listings in the area. Whether you’re looking for houses for sale in Cheshunt or condos to rent in Baltimore, it’s worth taking a look at the new town or city to see if you can afford to buy or rent, and to see what type of housing is available.

As well as finding a property, you need to consider whether you want to live in the area. Is the city or town a nice place to live? Are there plenty of activities to get involved in? Will you be able to make new friends easily?

Do your research into the area around your potential new home, and think about whether you’d want to move there if there wasn’t a job at stake. If you like the company but hate the idea of living there, it’s probably not the best idea.

Try to consider the move from all angles to make sure you’ll be happy with the decision you make.