If you have made the decision to move abroad, chances are that there is a whole lot on your plate just before the move. Even more so than local house removals, international property removals can be a stressful and complicated time. As such, it can be easy to forget the little things. In the main, these little considerations are the same for those who move locally, but they can be much trickier to fix once you find yourself hundreds of miles away. Before you say goodbye to your old home and your old life, remember to run through a mental check list of a few points to avoid confusion further down the line.
One of the easiest things to forget when moving out is to call up your utilities companies and to inform them of your move. Whether you rented the previous property or owned, it will be vital to make sure that you have told your gas, electric and water companies that you will no longer be living at the address. They may ask for a final meter reading or to send round an engineer to make final checks, so it is a good idea to do this with time to spare. Likewise, any direct debits should be looked at carefully as you may need to cancel some. Whilst you will still be able to do this from abroad, the cost of phoning companies could be far higher when not in the country.
As well as being away from your family and friends, it is likely that you will not be seeing your neighbours for a long while.
As such, say your goodbyes before you leave and make sure to give them your new contact details. Not just your mobile phone number (as this might change) but an email and a postal address can help them forward any vital post you might require. Likewise, doing the same for any new tenants or old landlords could make the process of dealing with any issues far simpler, in the off chance that there is something which you do forget to do.
As well as checking your way through a mental list of all the minor things to do, actually formulating a proper moving list could be your most important action during the move.
As a means of staying on top of all the little details, a well organised and maintained list can make a big difference to the quality of your moving experience. As well as actions, things such as addresses, directions and important documents should be included and kept safe. Better to organise these things before the move than in the moments as you approach a customs officer. When it comes to moving home, a properly constructed moving list allows users to keep on top of minor thoughts, and this is doubly true for those moving abroad. If you are moving to a country with a different language, you could even try writing the list in the new tongue to get practicing.
Once you are confident that all of the little considerations are properly dealt with, there is likely little else you can do but say your goodbyes and begin to leave the country. As a last move, it could be useful to adjust your watches and clocks now. For those countries in a different time zone, now is a good a time as any to start adjusting your body clock. Wind you watch forwards or backwards and start living your life at the new times ahead of your move to a new home.
