A house move is an experience packed with various different emotions both good and bad. As much as it can be exciting it can also be very nerve wracking when it comes to all the logistics of the move. While a move in your own country can be rather overwhelming, you can only imagine how complicated and stressful an international house move can be.
There will be additional factors which you have to account for and take care of on top of the move itself and it’s precisely those that can create a more chaotic and difficult experience.
In order to be prepared and avoid all the hassle of the move, property experts from an online estate agent House Sales Direct have come up with ways to organize yourself and ensure that the transition runs as smoothly as possible while also handling things such as immigration, customs and cross-country shipping.
Table of Contents
Step 1: Start Early
The workload involved in an international move is a lot and the reason why the process can become overwhelming is because you have not prepared in advance for what’s to come.
It’s a rather lengthy process which can cause you lots of pressure and stress throughout the way so starting early and planning everything in advance will only benefit you in a positive way. The earlier you start, the more time you will have to deal with any unexpected obstacles that occur in an efficient manner.
Preparation is key and keeping a list of all your to-do tasks can prove to be very useful as the more you get into the moving process, the more things you will end up having to do. Whenever you feel overwhelmed by certain tasks or deteriorate from your plan, you could use this list to regain focus and get back on track.
Step 2: Prepare Documentation
Any house move requires a lot of paperwork so when it comes to an international move, you can expect twice as much documentation to be needed. In order to be prepared for any stage of the move and not waste time looking for certain documents which you may have misplaced, it might be useful to gather all the papers you may need in an accessible place. What’s more, making several copies of important documents can prove to be rather helpful as well in certain situations. Having these ready to send out will speed up any processes such as VISA application or renewal of ID documents. Here is some of the most important and commonly asked for paperwork:
- Passport/Photo ID
- Driver’s license
- Birth certificate
- Social security card
- Medical/Dental records
Step 3: Sort The Immigration Papers
There are a lot of things involved in the immigration process itself from legal documentation, country-specific laws, customs, cross-country shipping and even immunization. Due to the complexity and longevity of the whole process you should consider starting your research early.
Bear in mind that each country is different and the requirements for each individual one won’t be the same so it’s important you make yourself familiar with the country you are moving to.
You may even have to contact the legal authorities or hire a professional consultant to help you out throughout the process as well, which is completely fine, and it will ensure you have a less stressful overall experience.
Step 4: Research International Moving Companies
Chances are that if you are moving abroad either on your own or with your family you will have many possessions that you would want to bring along with you.
At the end of the day, you will be moving your whole life internationally, so it only makes sense that you would want everything to be there with you.
Transferring household possessions can be rather difficult without a moving company, especially if the move is overseas as well. That is why it is so vital for you to research the options you have and request quotas from them as soon as possible. That will give you the time to compare prices and choose the best alternative for your budget.
Also, it is really important that you do this in advance, plan and book everything perfectly so that you don’t end up in a different country where you are going to be waiting weeks for your possessions to arrive.
Step 5: Contact Service Providers
With the official moving date confirmed and approaching, it is now time to look into contacting the people that need to know about your move. Make sure you send out the final meter readings to energy providers and water suppliers, redirect your mail or cancel any outstanding one, let your council know you’re moving and anyone else who you may think needs to be aware.
On top of that, you’d want to cancel any subscriptions from service platforms like Netflix and Amazon or memberships to the gym for example. If any of these can’t be done in advance, it’s important to make a note of it so that you don’t forget.
Step 6: Create a Packing List
Alongside all the paperwork and serious work around the move, you would want to spare some time for packing daily too. Starting with decluttering and getting rid of unnecessary items is the first step in an organized and well-laid out packing process.
We would suggest packing room by room and labelling all of your boxes so that when it comes to unpacking, you would have it much easier. As long as you stick to your rooms and a schedule with a nicely organised packing checklist, this part may be the most enjoyable of the whole process.
An international move is almost certain to bring challenges and obstacles along the way and we cannot guarantee that your journey will be perfectly smooth but if you follow these tips and stick to a plan, you will have a less overwhelming experience and will be able to enjoy this transitioning time.
