Any house move is a challenge – and if it’s to another country even more so. Keeping a checklist is one way of making sure that everything is properly organised and that nothing is forgotten. But what should be on it? Here Greens Removals, who offer international removals to all parts of the world, provide 10 essential items that should be on your list.
This isn’t just about whether you can actually afford to move (although it would be a good idea to set a budget for that too). This is because you may need to open a new bank account in the country you are moving to for your earnings or pension to be paid into. It is also important to check what the tax situation will be.
Wherever you are moving to abroad, you will need to check if or what kind of visa you will need and what the residency laws are (such as do you need a job). This is especially true post-Brexit.
It’s also important to make sure you have copies of documents such as birth and marriage certificates, driving licences, as well as maybe payslips and utility bills. Make sure you apply for a new passport in plenty of time (if you need one).
In the UK it’s easy to forget that healthcare for citizens is free at the point of use, thanks to the NHS. That’s not the case everywhere. You may have to take out health insurance if it’s not being deducted from your salary and you may need vaccinations in advance as well depending on where you are going.
You’ll need to get around in your new home country, so check if your driving licence will be valid. At the same time, you may also have to get a new car, if your existing one isn’t coming with you. Regardless of whether you will have a car or not, it is also useful to check the public transport options in your new location.
You might have to think about your family too, such as enrolling your children in a new school. Getting that process started early will be beneficial, and don’t forget to notify the education authorities in your existing country. Pets also need to be thought about - will they be coming with you or not? If so, find out what paperwork and injections will be required, quarantine rules and make travel arrangements well in advance.
Make sure you have a buyer in place as early as possible because you don’t want to be held up in a chain. If you are renting it out until you return, get a tenant in place before you go because it will help with the finances and home security. Check out your new home in advance (if possible), as nothing beats an in-person visit rather than relying on pictures online.
You will need a reliable, professional company well-versed in the art of international moves, and Greens Removals fits the bill. We are fully bonded members of the British Association of Removers and the Movers Trading Club, which means we have to maintain high standards.
We will help you pack your items, load them up and ensure that they get to the appropriate port. One of our dedicated agents will also guide them through customs and ensure they are delivered to your new home. Some smaller items may be better sent via air freight, and we can sort this out for you too.
If it won’t be occupied, make sure you have arrangements in place to sell, loan or store the possessions you won’t be taking with you. Whether that’s to friends, family, charity shops or online sale. Create a separate inventory for this, so you know what’s going where (and to whom) and everything is accounted for.
At Greens Removals we offer househould removals and storage in Suffolk and across East Anglia if you want to keep some items but can’t take them with you. For more details follow this link.
Make sure any milk is stopped, and any post redirected to your new address. In this electronic era, this may also mean cancelling subscriptions such as Netflix and Amazon Prime.
The day you actually move will be different to the day your possessions are moved, but you still need to sort out your plane or your ferry tickets in advance. On the day itself, have a few snacks and a supply of water too. If children are moving with you, make sure they have their favourite toy. You should always try to travel as light as possible – you don’t want any physical stress on top of any mental stress.
International Removals with Greens Removals
At Greens Removals we offer groupage and part-load shipping for international moves. If you’d like to know more about our overseas removals service follow this link, and if you are moving to Europe, click here.
Tomo Ind Estate, Stowmarket,
Suffolk, IP14 5AY
Little Braxted Hall, Witham Road,
Little Braxted CM8 3EU
Greens Removals operates purpose
built warehousing in Stowmarket,
Chelmsford and Ipswich
