If you’re planning on moving internationally, you should consider going through some of the best moving tips to make your whole relocation process easier. In this article, we will be sharing some of the greatest moving tips and tricks that you should consider using if planning on relocating to another country.
Why You Need Moving Tips for a Smooth International Move
When relocating to a different country, you have to think smart and prepare for the entire process. Relocating is a complex endeavor, and it can get quite overwhelming if you’re not prepared well for it. That is why you have to learn a few important packing and moving tips, so it’s less stressful for you. If you are wondering, “How can I make moving easier?” just read through this article and apply these best tips for moving. They’ll make your moving overseas process a piece of cake.
You Need to Prepare a Checklist
If you’re planning an international move, “What is the best method for moving?” questions will most likely occur in your mind. In these situations, it’s always best to plan out every step and stay organized. That is why a to-do list is a must with relocations. In your checklist, you should write down every single thing you must finish for your move. Having all your tasks written down will make tracking your accomplishments easier.
Schedule Your Checklist for Better Organization
Having a checklist of all the tasks you must finish sometimes isn’t enough. If you feel like you should have a better organization, we recommend scheduling each task. When making a schedule, think about what needs to be done first, which tasks are urgent, and which ones can wait for the last few days before the relocation day. That way, you’ll have a plan of tasks for each week, and it will be easier to stay productive when you know what tasks you have to complete every day.
Do a Proper Research on the Country You’re Going to Move Into
When deciding which country to move to and where you’re going to start that new chapter in your life, you have to be very careful. Relocating to another country is much more difficult than just changing states. You have to do comprehensive research on that place before you move, so there are no unpleasant surprises later. In the next few paragraphs, we will go through some of the most important things to inform ourselves about.
Research the Cost of Living and Job Markets for a Few Cities
When thinking about the country you’re planning to move to, research the cost of living in its cities. Capital cities are usually more expensive than smaller ones, so choose the one that fits your income the greatest. If you’re relocating without a job, consider researching the job markets as well.
You should consider choosing the city that can offer you the greatest position according to your professional orientation. You don’t want to end up in a situation where you move to a city and realize that you can’t cover the expenses it requires.
When Choosing the Neighborhood, Check the Criminal Rates and Its Safety
When picking where you’re going to rent or buy a home, the prices shouldn’t be the only worry. You should inform yourself about the safety of the neighborhood you are going to be living in. This you can do by researching online or contacting people that are already residing in that neighborhood. This is especially important if you’re relocating with kids or you’re planning to raise a family there.
Create a Relocating Budget
As you’ve been able to read in the paragraph above, when planning an international move, finances are usually the most problematic part for most people. Moves are generally pricey, and there are a lot of expenses that you’re going to have to cover. That is why it’s important to set a relocating budget and write down all of the expenses you’re going to have.
Planning out a budget is going to require research about different aspects of your move that are going to require certain expenses, such as:
- Cost of living,
- Housing prices,
- Transportation and shipping costs,
- Healthcare,
- Laws and safety.
Be Smart and Prepare a Financial Cushion
It’s always a good idea to save up more money than you think you might have to spend. If you know you won’t get a job immediately after your relocation, and won’t have any income, consider saving up for a financial cushion. Generally, it’s always better to have savings for living expenses for at least two months ahead.
If you have some trouble with learning how to budget correctly and save up money, you can learn about this topic through YouTube videos. Here is a video that you might find useful.
Create an Inventory List of All the Things You’re Planning to Pack
Before you start one of the most complex parts of your relocation, which is packing, consider preparing for it first. This you can easily do by writing down an inventory list of all the items you are going to be relocating to your new home. Think about what should be moved first when moving. We recommend you start by boxing up smaller items first, especially the ones that you do not use daily. Our advice is to not pack too much but be economical about your time, energy, and money. Here’s how to do that.
Declutter Your Home Before You Start Packing
Even though you may think you want to move all the things from your old home to your new one, that is completely unnecessary. One of the most important tips for moving is decluttering your old house. Carefully examine each room in your home, and decide what doesn’t have to be moved.
You probably have some old items that are broken or damaged, or you just don’t use them anymore. Everything you don’t have to move, you can either toss, sell, or donate. If you are planning to donate some things, you can go on the GoodWill website and find the closest location to you where you can donate items for the people in need.
Gather All the Necessary Packing Supplies Such as Boxes and Materials to Wrap Each Item
When in the middle of a relocation process, the question that worries you the most is probably “How long before a move should I start packing?” We recommend you start at least a month or two ahead of time. But, the first thing you should do is prepare the materials necessary to box up everything.
Once you have your inventory list ready, you will know approximately how many boxes you’ll be needing, as well as how much packaging paper to get. Our advice is to get boxes in different sizes and shapes, so you can safely pack up everything. When it comes to packing up fragile items, you’re going to require lots of protective materials to ensure that everything is packed safely.
If You Want to Save Money, You Can Find Boxes for Free
If you are relocating on a budget, there are a few ways you can save up money. It’s always smartest to get packaging supplies online or in a supply store, but if you don’t feel like spending too much money, you can get them for free. You can find second-hand packaging materials in different retail stores in your neighborhood. You can also ask your friends and family if they have some to borrow from you.
Label Everything for an Easier Unpacking Process
When it comes to both boxing up and unboxing, one of the best tips we can give you is to label every single box you are relocating. For labeling boxes, you just have to prepare some waterproof markers, stickers, and tapes. You can label boxes however you want. Just be sure you have some basic instructions and information written on them. Consider writing what is inside the box and instructions on how to handle each box. You can also write down which packages you should open first and which ones are not so urgent for unboxing. With these relocation hacks, your unpacking can be so much easier.
Use the Color-Coding Method When Labeling
When it comes to labeling, there are different methods you can use to label each box. One of the greatest types is the color-coding method, where each color represents a different room in your house. For example, the blue color represents bathroom items, the red color kitchen supplies, and so on. The whole labeling and boxing-up process will be much more fun.
Consider Getting Help From Professional International Movers
Every international relocation process is complicated, no matter what the reason for the move is. If you really want to have a smooth and efficient move, you should consider getting international moving services.
When working with an international mover, you will be offered much more than just help through packing services and transportation. Movers can also offer you the service of overseas car shipping if you have a vehicle you’re thinking about relocating. Renting storage units can also be quite useful.
They also offer good relocation insurance, meaning you won’t have to spend a ton of time just looking for providers. Booking relocation services is the greatest way to ensure you have a stress-free move, as the professional movers will take care of the whole process, so you don’t have to.
Do a Proper Research on the International Moving Company You’re Planning to Hire
When choosing which company to work with on your international relocation, you have to be very careful. You want to choose a reputable company with years of experience and knowledgeable movers. So before you book their service, be sure to check every information you can find on them online.
Go through their reviews, as well as reviews on them on different web pages and blogs. Especially pay attention to which licenses they own, as well as how long they have been in the business. If you fall for some relocating scams, that can mess up your whole relocation and cause you lots of unnecessary stress. So keep in mind these tricks, and stay safe.
Don’t Forget to Transfer Your Utilities and Update Your Documents
One of the most common relocating mistakes and tasks many people forget about is transferring utilities and updating different documents needed for an international relocation. These are most certainly not the most fun tasks you can do during your relocation, but they are quite important and must not be overlooked.
You definitely do not want to have certain issues getting a job in a different country, or even going across the border, because you forgot to update your identification and travel documents. Be sure to get all the information about legal questions of the country you are going to be living in. And don’t forget to contact your utility service providers about scheduling a transfer date.
Find a Way to Adjust to Your New Surroundings
When you change your place of residence, you will have to face so many new cultural trends. Some people do not have a problem adjusting to the new surroundings, while some people require much more time. Do not rush yourself into blending in in the new environment. It’s okay to feel like a complete stranger for a while.
Adjusting periods can take weeks, and you should accept all these changes naturally. To make this transition easier, you can start by finding tricks to learn a new language easier, as well as learning about certain culture shocks before the move date.
Time and Proper Organization Will Make the Whole Relocation Process Much Easier
Once you decide to move to a different country, remember that proper organization can make the whole transition process so much easier for you. Even if you consider hiring professionals to assist you, you should start preparing in advance. With the tricks we have provided you with today, there is not a single doubt you will have any problems during the move.