A blog for all those trying to find their way to expatriation. Professionals, financial immigrants, this road is absolutely not easy in many aspects.
Let's share our stories, experience and ideas.
For those having moved to another country, please share your experience, i.e. moving costs, what's better ? selling your furniture and buy new ones in the new country or paying the moving cost ?
All your goods are in the truck. Are you sure all the shipping expenses are covered too... ?
Here you are with all your household loaded in a truck ready to leave for your new country. Are you sure that you have checked about all the costs ? Sometimes, it happens, hidden costs and expenses to pop-up startling us and contribute to our already tensed feelings. So, let's make it easier. The simplest way to avoid an awkward situation is the easiest one : RESEARCH-RESEARCH-RESEARCH and then ASK-ASK-ASK. Never hesitate to ask as many questions as possible -it would be even better to write them down in calm before your interviews with the forwarders so not to forget anything-. Remember : there is nothing self-evident and the simplest things should be dully confirmed. Ask about customs (is it 100% sure that your things will freely pass the customs ?), about possible fees, storage costs or any other extra expenses that you should calculate in advance. Learn as many things as possible about their company : experience, insurances, damages policy, compensations, etc. It's their responsibility to move your things but it is your responsibility to make your "homework". So, just do it ! Surprises are great for birthday parties, not for hidden costs ! Be prepared !
Finding a place to live in a new country, could be a complex riddle. It is already one when you just want to change a neighborhood, imagine changing a country ! Ok, let's get rid a little bit of the drama. Things are not so awful. There is a difficulty level, but again there are a lot of solutions. Let's get started. First of all, the God of Technology is by our side ! Since you know the place you will work, the tangle unfolds. A significant factor to be taken into consideration is whether you have children going to school or not. In this case, the ideal scenario would be to find a house close to both the office and the school. Especially in the first period, you should be able to forestall the maximum of the unforeseen cases. For instance, you finished later at the office or you receive a call from school and you have to run to pick up your kid. If you are close to the school, no problem, if you have to travel a distance of more than 30 minutes by car or transportation means for example, you can easily understand the point here. In case now that you don't have children, things are much simpler. You just have to decide which is the place you prefer to live in a radius that would suit your transportation. For example, in case you prefer to live in the suburbs and your office is in the city's center, you could decide a daily travel by car or by train. Furthermore, this decision should be also based in financial factors. Check out the cost of living in the zone you are about to move so to decide wisely and to avoid any unexpected (and unpleasant surprises). Remember that each country has different rules for tenants. For example, there are countries that you should pay a really big deposit (approx. 6 months rent) if you are a foreigner (when the locals pay approx. one and a half rent) and provide letters of recommendation or even more receipts of your bank accounts. In some other countries you will be asked to pay in advance a whole year ! Additionally, there may be extra fees (community fees, real estate agent's fees, or others). In any case, you should always search in advance. Some people checking in the internet, they estimate just the rental cost and the transportation of their goods. In case you are interested in a property, you should always require further details. The optimum would be to make a short trip before your final relocation and spend some days in the area you have chosen. If you know very well what you need from the place and what you need from the house you want to rent, the procedure will be easier for you. Arrange some visits with real estate agents prior to your travel. In this way, you will save valuable time and the agents will know in advance the characteristics of the property you are looking for. In this way the searching will be more focused. Walk in the neighborhood, see if you like it, get the feeling. As mentioned in the article about "Old and New Country - An Unfair Comparison", everything was there before you, so you have to see if you can fit. You cannot change them but you could try to integrate and be part of them.
Summarizing :
1. Check schools availability 2. The optimum would be office-house-school to be very close one to one another 3. Always check cost of living 4. Clarify what you need from the place (suburbs, city, night life, quite neighborhood, malls, local shops, etc) 5. Clarify what you need from a house (detached, apartment, with garden, no garden, pets, close to schools, close to transportation means etc). 6. Make a first research in the internet. 7. Contact a local real estate agent. Try to be as specific as possible in regards with your requirements. Ask about all the possible costs from the beginning. 8. Arrange a short trip having confirmed some visits to properties that you would like to see. 9. Check, walk, feel the neighborhood. 10. Take some time to think about it. Don't make your mind up in a rush.
All your goods are in the truck. Are you sure all the shipping expenses are covered too... ?
ReplyDeleteHere you are with all your household loaded in a truck ready to leave for your new country. Are you sure that you have checked about all the costs ?
Sometimes, it happens, hidden costs and expenses to pop-up startling us and contribute to our already tensed feelings.
So, let's make it easier. The simplest way to avoid an awkward situation is the easiest one : RESEARCH-RESEARCH-RESEARCH and then ASK-ASK-ASK. Never hesitate to ask as many questions as possible -it would be even better to write them down in calm before your interviews with the forwarders so not to forget anything-. Remember : there is nothing self-evident and the simplest things should be dully confirmed. Ask about customs (is it 100% sure that your things will freely pass the customs ?), about possible fees, storage costs or any other extra expenses that you should calculate in advance. Learn as many things as possible about their company : experience, insurances, damages policy, compensations, etc. It's their responsibility to move your things but it is your responsibility to make your "homework". So, just do it ! Surprises are great for birthday parties, not for hidden costs ! Be prepared !
Finding your new home...
ReplyDeleteFinding a place to live in a new country, could be a complex riddle. It is already one when you just want to change a neighborhood, imagine changing a country ! Ok, let's get rid a little bit of the drama. Things are not so awful. There is a difficulty level, but again there are a lot of solutions.
Let's get started. First of all, the God of Technology is by our side ! Since you know the place you will work, the tangle unfolds. A significant factor to be taken into consideration is whether you have children going to school or not. In this case, the ideal scenario would be to find a house close to both the office and the school. Especially in the first period, you should be able to forestall the maximum of the unforeseen cases. For instance, you finished later at the office or you receive a call from school and you have to run to pick up your kid. If you are close to the school, no problem, if you have to travel a distance of more than 30 minutes by car or transportation means for example, you can easily understand the point here.
In case now that you don't have children, things are much simpler. You just have to decide which is the place you prefer to live in a radius that would suit your transportation. For example, in case you prefer to live in the suburbs and your office is in the city's center, you could decide a daily travel by car or by train. Furthermore, this decision should be also based in financial factors. Check out the cost of living in the zone you are about to move so to decide wisely and to avoid any unexpected (and unpleasant surprises).
Remember that each country has different rules for tenants. For example, there are countries that you should pay a really big deposit (approx. 6 months rent) if you are a foreigner (when the locals pay approx. one and a half rent) and provide letters of recommendation or even more receipts of your bank accounts. In some other countries you will be asked to pay in advance a whole year ! Additionally, there may be extra fees (community fees, real estate agent's fees, or others). In any case, you should always search in advance. Some people checking in the internet, they estimate just the rental cost and the transportation of their goods. In case you are interested in a property, you should always require further details. The optimum would be to make a short trip before your final relocation and spend some days in the area you have chosen. If you know very well what you need from the place and what you need from the house you want to rent, the procedure will be easier for you. Arrange some visits with real estate agents prior to your travel. In this way, you will save valuable time and the agents will know in advance the characteristics of the property you are looking for. In this way the searching will be more focused.
Walk in the neighborhood, see if you like it, get the feeling. As mentioned in the article about "Old and New Country - An Unfair Comparison", everything was there before you, so you have to see if you can fit. You cannot change them but you could try to integrate and be part of them.
Summarizing :
1. Check schools availability
2. The optimum would be office-house-school to be very close one to one another
3. Always check cost of living
4. Clarify what you need from the place (suburbs, city, night life, quite neighborhood, malls, local shops, etc)
5. Clarify what you need from a house (detached, apartment, with garden, no garden, pets, close to schools, close to transportation means etc).
6. Make a first research in the internet.
7. Contact a local real estate agent. Try to be as specific as possible in regards with your requirements. Ask about all the possible costs from the beginning.
8. Arrange a short trip having confirmed some visits to properties that you would like to see.
9. Check, walk, feel the neighborhood.
10. Take some time to think about it. Don't make your mind up in a rush.
Good luck !