HomeServices Relocation
Leveraging Expertise and Experience to Provide Exceptional Relocation Services

To secure key talent, companies often go beyond local boundaries, and upon discovering the ideal candidate, the subsequent step is often to facilitate their relocation. However, since the 1980s, the relocation industry has primarily generated revenue by way of rebates, commissions, or markups added to the suppliers they manage.

In 2018, HomeServices Relocation (HSR), a comprehensive relocation management company, introduced a fee-based pricing structure to act as a true partner for its clients, providing a better corporate mobility experience. The company’s services are designed to reduce the burden on the employee and their families, optimize employee productivity and involvement, and assist employers in achieving their recruitment, retention, and cost management objectives.

HSR plays a crucial role in streamlining the employee relocation process, ensuring compliance with tax regulations, and strengthening recruitment initiatives. One of the company’s primary objectives is to relieve HR and finance departments of the burden associated with managing an employee’s move. HSR helps new hires acclimate to the company culture, ensuring a positive relocation experience for the employee and their family. HSR effectively manages and limits all expenses associated with the transition, often operating within a client-specified budget and ensuring a smooth, cost-effective, and stress-free process.

Being a subsidiary of HomeServices of America and a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate gives HSR the distinct advantage of having access to resources such as IT support for data protection and cybersecurity. These resources enable HSR to provide industry-leading services to its clients.

“HSR stands at the intersection of technology and security. Our advanced IT support and steadfast commitment to cybersecurity ensures that our web portal is not just a tool, but a fortress. We provide a secure digital gateway for your relocation journey, safeguarding your data as we guide you to your new home,” says Gary Conerly, Director of Client Advisement at HomeServices Relocation.

HSR offers a secure portal called MoveTrack Web Access (MWA) a web-based technology where each user has a unique login with two-factor authentication, providing an efficient and safe transition process for all parties involved. Relocating employees can log in, view their activity, access documents, and enter personal banking information. HSR can then advance funds to these employees to assist with the relocation process. This is useful for new hires who need financial support but are not yet in their employer’s payroll system. Employees can also submit their expenses through the portal by uploading receipts. The company audits these expenses and reimburses any out-of-pocket costs within 48 hours.

The portal is a powerful tool for HR leaders, providing real-time insights into their company’s relocation activities. It allows them to monitor the number of active relocation cases, track ongoing relocations, and analyze expenses by division or type. This real-time data access ensures that HR leaders are always informed and can make timely decisions.

HSR has a team of industry veterans who understand that each company’s relocation needs are unique. They take into account the specific industry and organizational culture of each company, providing a tailored approach rather than a one-size-fits-all solution. This combination of technology and expertise enables HSR to provide a comprehensive and customized relocation service that meets the needs of each client.

An apt example is programs designed around temporary domestic assignments for booming industries like engineering and construction. These companies often need relocation assistance as they frequently send someone out to manage a project on a temporary basis.

HSR recommends a Managed Cap relocation program to companies looking for a middle ground between the inadequate relocation bonus or ‘Lump Sum’ approach versus a full-blown relocation package, typically reserved for senior executives. The client sets aside a relocation budget which is not directly given to the employee.

Instead, they specify benefits for which the funds should be used and HSR coordinates the services and spends the money on behalf of the company and the employee. This ensures that expenses stay within the predetermined cap and provides a structured, cost-effective solution to the relocation process.

Similarly, In line with IRS guidelines, HSR helps mitigate the tax burden on employees by managing tax-protected benefits, such as home-selling costs. It ensures that clients comply with IRS guidelines around employee relocation and the taxable nature of relocations expenses, which is important as the IRS may use relocation as a trigger for audits.

Although the IRS and Congress altered the tax classification for relocation expenses in 2018, they preserved a tax-protected homesale benefit for employees relocating for a position. For example, when a new-hire vice president needed to sell her home in Dallas in order to relocate to Denver, her employer agreed to cover the home sale expenses. However, a direct reimbursement of these expenses would have resulted in a $29,000 tax bill. To avoid this, the company hired HSR to administer a tax-protected home sale program, allowing them to cover the executive’s home sale costs in a tax-efficient manner.

Another example concerns a client’s challenge locating housing for a large number of interns participating in their summer intern program. Capitalizing on its expertise in housing and relocation, HSR secured vacant university dorms during the summer months. Through negotiations with universities, HSR accommodated a large group of interns who were being evaluated for employment. This method of managing intern programs has since emerged as a new trend in addressing temporary housing needs for interns.

Relocation can be a very stressful experience. To mitigate this, HSR dedicates significant time to direct communication with relocating employees and their families via virtual meeting platforms. Through these virtual face-to-face interactions, HSR provides personalized support throughout the relocation process, including a needs assessment, answering questions and alleviating concerns.

Over the years, HSR stands out in the relocation industry by prioritizing human interaction, leveraging advanced technology, and providing real-time insights. Whether you’re an employer planning a large-scale move or an employee embarking on a new journey, HSR is the ultimate choice for a successful and satisfying relocation experience.