Relocation Guide

How to Find a Destination Service Consultant

Finding a home and settling into a new place often calls for more than one kind of expertise. A destination service consultant (DSC) helps with home search, schools and the practical details of getting settled. A licensed real estate agent handles property representation and transactions. Some professionals bring both together.

An agent is not automatically a DSC

Real estate licensing and destination service experience are different qualifications. Not every agent offers destination services, and not every DSC is a licensed agent. There is a practical difference in how the work is paid for, too: an agent is typically compensated through commission on the property transaction, while destination services are paid for time and expertise. That payment is what allows a consultant to spend the time your transition actually needs, beyond the property paperwork. If you need both, look for someone qualified to provide both, or ask how the consultant works with a licensed agent.

Why they can be harder to find

Many DSCs work behind the scenes of employer relocation benefits. A relocation management company coordinates the move, and a destination service provider arranges local help through its consultants. That means you may encounter the company name rather than the person who will help you on the ground. It is a different route to finding help, not a closed door. [1]

More choice in how you get help

Since the pandemic, relocation benefits have continued to evolve toward more flexible choices. An employer may arrange services, give you a lump sum to organize your own move, or combine essential support with optional extras. Some destination service providers also offer self-pay options, so you do not always need an employer-assigned consultant to get local help. [2]

AI is changing how relocation information is delivered, while the 2024 National Association of REALTORS® practice changes affect buyer agreements and how compensation is discussed. These are separate changes, not established explanations for employers choosing lump sums. For you, the practical question is what your benefit covers, what help you can choose and what you will pay before you commit. [3] [4]

Where to start your search

If you would rather search on your own, start here:

• If your employer is supporting the move, ask whether destination services are included and whether you can request a local consultant.
• If you are using a lump sum or paying yourself, look for destination service consultants in your new city and ask about direct, self-pay support.
• Ask who will actually work with you, what experience they have with moves like yours, and which services require a licensed real estate agent.

What destination services can include

The work usually covers area tours, rental or home search support, lease and contract walkthroughs, school guidance, and help with driver's licenses, banking, utilities and registrations. Home search is often the biggest part, in both time and value.

• Area tours
• Rental or home search
• School guidance
• Lease and contract walkthroughs
• Licenses, banking and registrations
• Settling in

What does a destination service consultant do? →

Selling your home as part of a relocation

Relocation sales often require roughly three times the paperwork of a typical sale, because a relocation management company is involved alongside you, your agent and sometimes your employer. A broker market analysis (BMA), additional disclosures, time-sensitive status reports and strict deadlines are all part of the process. Many sellers feel stuck with whichever agent they were assigned, but you often have more say than you think. [5]

A relocation specialist already knows the administrative side that many traditional agents do not handle, including BMAs and the time-sensitive reporting a relocation sale requires. They also read a property condition report the way the relocation company will, so you can prepare the home and the price to net the most money possible.

Renting or buying in your new city

On the other end of the move, the focus shifts to where you will live. For renters, a relocation agent makes sure your documents are ready before you apply, and knows which management companies are likely to accept you based on your income and situation. For people arriving from abroad, they also act as your liaison and advocate for you with landlords and management companies. Then they walk you through the lease before you sign.

For buyers, it means narrowing the right areas, writing a strong offer and understanding financing options, including options for international buyers that many people do not know exist.

Renting in Arizona: Know Your Rights explains what Arizona law says about deposits, repairs, air conditioning failures and landlord access.

DSP vs RMC vs Real Estate Agents: who does what →

When it makes sense to hire one

• You are moving on a lump sum or paying for the move yourself.
• You are moving far away, to a new state or from another country.
• You need to find a rental or home quickly and cannot visit many times.
• You have children and school timing matters.
• You are new to the US and have little or no local credit history.

Questions to ask before you hire

Moving within Arizona or Washington? Work with Holly →

Moving somewhere else? Ask Holly for an introduction to a local specialist →

Choosing how much help you need

A half day can cover a focused area tour. A full day often covers touring homes and starting key registrations. Three days or more suits families who need home search, international support and settling in — often more if specialized needs are required. Remote help works well for planning before you arrive.

Moving somewhere far away

If you are moving to a city you have never visited, local knowledge matters most. A consultant who knows the area can tell you what listings and websites will not, and help you avoid applying for homes you are unlikely to get.

Moving to Phoenix? Read the guide →·Read the Lump Sum Guide →

Just looking for advice?

Not every move needs a plan right away. If you are weighing a move, or simply want a second opinion on timing, neighborhoods or selling first, Holly is always glad to talk it through.

Start a conversation →