Moving to another state or country is one of the biggest changes you can make in your life. While it can be difficult and troublesome to document, it can also prove to be an extremely interesting and rewarding experience. Whether you are moving to another state for work or personal reasons, it is worth preparing well to make the move to another state much easier and more enjoyable. Consider hiring professional moving help who knows their job. In this article, you will learn what to consider.
Make a plan of Moving to Another state.
First of all, make a plan, the points of which can be crossed out as they are completed. This plan should be detailed and include deadlines for all actions. Here are some more considerations:
- Arrange packaging and delivery. Consider at least three different moving companies and find out their prices for transportation. Find out what each mover is willing to do: specialized packaging, transportation of your wine cellar (this can be problematic), assistance with pets, guarantees of deadlines, storage at the destination, and so on. Also, discuss the possibility of storing your property in your current country of residence. If this is a short-term move and you intend to return, then it would be better to leave some things (or most of them) at home.
- Decide what to do with your current home, if you own it. Are you going to sell it or rent it out? If you want to sell, talk to a real estate agent and tell them about your plans. Ask yourself if you have time to wait for the best offer, or if you need to sell quickly to get the money. But be careful when you negotiate terms with an agent — you still want the best price, no matter how much you rush.
- If you decide to rent out your home, talk to rental agents, and cooperate only with someone who you will be one hundred percent satisfied with. Ask for references and, if possible, choose an agent who has already worked with landlords living abroad — it is very difficult to rent out such landlords, as a lot can go wrong in your absence if the agent does not cope with their basic responsibilities of regularly checking the property and tenants.
- Deal with mortgages, and loans. You will need to contact your bank or other lenders to find the most effective solution to these financial obligations.
- Discuss the upcoming change in your children’s school. You will need a certificate of your children’s current level of education for school in the new location. If the child will be studying at home (the move is temporary and/or you want him to get a Russian certificate), arrange a transfer to remote family education.
- Take care of vaccinations. Make sure that you have all the necessary vaccinations. Understand all the documentation that accompanies a permanent or long-term move.
- If you plan to renounce the citizenship of your current country of residence and accept a new citizenship, this will take a considerable amount of time, so start working on it from the very beginning of your planning.
- Calculate the time frame for collecting and packing things. Follow them strictly, as this will give you plenty of time to deal with anything that goes wrong — and something is bound to go wrong!
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Give yourself enough time to move to another state.
Some corporations and government organizations that send their employees abroad are willing to give a few months for fees, but you can get a notification of an assignment abroad and only a few days before the date of the move. In this case, ask for as much financial help as possible, as you will need it.
If you can afford the luxury of setting your own deadlines, give yourself at least six months. You will need every minute of this time to solve all the issues, including dealing with your property, car, pets, insurance, collecting things, delivering them, banks, transferring children to a new school, and so on. However, in other cases, you may not have such a luxury.
Moving quickly is also possible, so do not despair if the news of the move fell on your head like a snowball. However, immediately find moving helpers in organizing the move. You will really need as many hands as possible.
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Try to find a place to live in a new country as soon as possible.
Are you staying in a hotel or apartment with a daily stay while you are looking for an apartment to buy or rent?
Do not buy a home online. You need to be on the spot to get an idea of the area, to see the mold on the walls, finally to realize that the price is too high!
One way to resolve this issue is for you or a family member to make a preliminary visit, inspect the property to see the existing offers and choose the best option. Or maybe you know someone in a new country who could be your eyes and ears.
Even if you want to buy a house or apartment in a new state, it is recommended to rent a house first. Rent allows you to move out faster if you chose the wrong area or just don’t want to stay in a new place. When about six months have passed, you will know whether you want to stay or not, plus you will have a much better idea of the local real estate market and preferred areas to live in. This will mean less pressure and more chances to make the right decision.
Keep in mind that you will have to wait until your property is delivered. This means that for the first time it will be convenient to stay in a hotel or apartment.
If you are going to buy real estate when moving to another state, hire a good lawyer. You will need someone who understands all the taxes, fees, liens, risks, and so on in the area where you are moving.
In case moving to another country
Open bank accounts based on convenience and cost.
It is now becoming easier to transfer money from country to country without losing too much in the transfer. Check with a representative of your current bank to find out about the possibilities of making transfers — some banks even allow you to transfer money to foreign accounts via phone, so consider all options.
Unless you are one hundred percent sure that you are leaving for good and will never return, it is advisable to keep at least one bank account open in your home country. The longer your account is open, the better your creditworthiness. When you return, it will be easier to start with what you left behind than to open new accounts. Thanks to online banking, it will be easier for you to control your account in the country you left.
In some countries, access to money will be much more difficult than in others. Be sure to discuss the problems and their solutions with your bank and a reputable financial advisor who is knowledgeable about the country you are moving to.
Try to find connections in a new place.
You may have friends or relatives in a new state when moving. They can be an invaluable source of help if you need information, support, or communication. Let them know about your plans and it is likely that they will do their best to provide the information you need.
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Evaluate your things and start giving back.
We do need quite a bit to live on, but still our homes tend to be crammed with various consumer goods that we have accumulated over the years, many of which we don’t need or use. Instead of dragging all these things with you or paying for their storage, honestly assess whether you need so many belongings. When possible, donate or give away things you don’t need. It’s much better to travel light and not worry about things in storage than to burden yourself.
Get paid for your stuff.
Use online auctions and ad sites to get rid of your stuff. Even if you don’t have much time, this is a great way to sell things in bulk, even whole rooms. Tell people that you are moving abroad and that everything should be sold. People love big deals!
Be merciless. Every item added means a lot of shipping costs. Sometimes moving containers fall overboard, although damage to things can occur at any other stage of transportation due to rough handling or other accidents. Keep this in mind when sending your antique collection of trinkets — it may be better to leave them in storage or sell them and get paid. Properly insure yourself against any accidents during transport.
Consider all possible options for any pets you may have.
For some, it means giving furry friends to a friend or family member to take care of them. For others, it means taking the animals with you. If you take your pets with you, consider the following:
- Is it allowed to have pets like yours in the country you are going to?
- Will your pet be quarantined? How long and how much will it cost?
- How to transport a pet? Learn about safety, costs, and any requirements, such as an animal passport.
- What is your pet’s health status? The pet must be vaccinated and healthy for travel. There may be other requirements in the place you are going to, check it out.
Consider your pet’s weaknesses when making a decision. If you take an old and weak pet with you, it may be too much trauma for him/her.
Find out about your driver’s license in a new place.
Some states will accept your current international driver’s license or driver’s license. In some cases, you will have to pass a local check after a certain time. Don’t wait to find out — you may be uncomfortable if you lose the ability to drive in a new place.
Provide the appropriate notification at your place of work.
If you are not moving in connection with your current job, you will need to adhere to their layoff policy. Be sure to inform them in advance. However, if your planning does not obviously affect your place of work, it is not recommended to report too early. This is in case you change your mind, or your employer decides to replace you earlier than you expected.
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