Moving across town takes work. As in, “Oh, I’m moving again!” like it’s a hassle. But compared to moving across the world, you might as well be complaining about the hassle (and luxury) of hitting snooze on your alarm clock. Realistically- moving is exhilarating! So accept the work and embrace the exhaustion.
Task by Task
Give yourself a month or more to see about your to-do list. Put aside a reasonable amount of time each day to get specific tasks done.
Packing is one of the most difficult parts of moving to another country. Will your style of clothing work in your new environment or will you need to adjust based on climate and culture? They key word is purge. For items, especially clothes, already sitting in storage- let them go. Don’t take them somewhere new just to be stored away again. Sell or donate clothing and household goods. They’re probably out of style, be honest with yourself.
Can’t just give it all away? Throw a going away party and play the auctioneer. Highly entertaining will be the bidding wars among family and friends for more valuable items. Anything left after that should be donated.
Big Items
Some countries post an enormous tax on shipping large items such as cars. Ask yourself, “Is it worth the trouble and expense?” and “What side of the road do they drive on and is my car going to pass local emissions tests?” If you need your car, do your research and get quotes from trusted moving companies that specialize in transporting vehicles. The ability to fit everything into ocean containers might surprise you- you might not have to sell your collection of boats and jet skis, or motorcycles and snowmobiles.
Taking Things Apart
You hate the thought of disassembling furniture that you put your blood sweat and tears into assembling. Even worse is the thought of packing up your desktop computer. You won’t leave that behind so make sure you place everything with a circuit board in anti-static bags to be safe. Determine which of your devices you’ll be shipping or how you’ll be flying with them (carry-on or checked luggage.) Back up everything on external hard drives. Putting electronics back together might be tricky when you get settled but you can utilize online support for that. Expect to purchase new plug-ins to match correctly the voltages for your devices. Before you plug in at your new place, contact the companies of previously purchased software to make sure that using your account elsewhere in the world doesn’t raise red flags.
Compliance
Check with your new country to determine any restrictions or duties for bringing in goods. Each nation is different with some taxing heavily or forbidding certain things.
Make sure all your paperwork is in order for both your country of destination and the one you’re leaving. Your visitor or work visa, travel tickets and passport need to be kept together where you can get your hands on them at all times during the move. Managing your finances comes with its own long laundry list, depending on your situation so be diligent about moving your money. Know ahead of time what sort of help you can expect as a foreign citizen. Contact your country’s embassy and make any necessary legal arrangements before and upon arrival.
Don’t forget to officiate your pets. Get them whatever passports they need, in compliance with your new country!
Label your boxes in a way that makes sense to you but also doesn’t make it clear that valuables may be inside. In other words, don’t take your best silver or expensive jewelry and label it so on the box for every handler from one place to another to see and read.
Keep handy a list of friends and family and their contact information. Check in with at least one family member or friend as well as whoever is expecting you in your new country while in route and especially upon arrival.
Make sure ahead of time that your new home is move-in ready. Is it clean and has the property manager / landlord confirmed that it has undergone pest-inspection?
Coordinate with your moving company to get your things from the port or plane to the doorstep of your new place immediately after your own arrival if possible.
Arrival
Have a list and location of places you’ll need right away such as a grocer, hardware store, local bank, discount or household goods store. Don’t wait until you’re sick to search for the nearest clinic, doctor or hospital.
As you’re getting your new place in order- actually arranging furniture and not unloading it- step back and congratulate yourself on a big job well done.
photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46335096@N07/4515856147">Movers Arrive</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/">(license)</a>
