London is a great city to live in, and life in the capital can be exciting and full of adventure. Sometimes life leads us in a different direction, and you may find that you need to relocate for work or other reasons. This might result in your next move taking you overseas to a new city or town in Europe or further away to another international location.
If this is where you find yourself now, then it’s time to embrace this new chapter in your life. And when you start to plan your move from London abroad, you can rely on Aussie Man & Van. We’re London’s ‘can-do’ removals and storage company, and we organise and relocate people to Europe and internationally every week. We’ll go through some of the important aspects of moving overseas in this blog.
Your Guide for a Successful Relocation Abroad –
It starts with a plan and a willingness to make consistent progress. And more importantly – beginning some basic tasks straight away. That’s the key to any successful relocation, but there are more things to consider when moving overseas. Whenever a relocation has extra miles in the equation, it’s necessary to get everything in place well before the final week.
You might be forgiven for a lapse in your organisation or for forgetting a task for local or regional moves. This will never apply to an international relocation because the stakes are much higher. You have red tape, immigration regulations, and plenty of bureaucracy to navigate. And the consequences of getting any of this wrong will disrupt, possibly even cancel your trip.
Rather than waste time and potentially money, the best way to approach this is with preparation and consistency. A moving checklist with additional tasks for moving abroad is crucial to making this a success. In the next section, we’ll discuss what this list entails and why the points you’re including are vital to having a positive moving experience.
A Moving Abroad Checklist –
While all relocations follow a certain pattern and come with their challenges, things go up a notch for overseas moves. You’ll need to create or use a pre-existing moving checklist, potentially adding in the relevant points for international removal situations.
Here’s an overview of the larger tasks you’ll need to complete:
- List every task for your relocation.
- Use a blank calendar to map the timeline.
- Assign tasks from the list on a calendar.
- Research removals companies and seek quotes.
- Check online ratings on Google and Trustpilot.
- Balance the two and choose the most suitable company.
- Book your relocation with Woods Removals.
- Research visa and property rental/ownership information.
- Start learning the primary language and discover more about your new location.
- Double-check each point two weeks before your move.
No matter where you choose to relocate to, there will always be a lot of forms to complete and places to notify before and after you’ve successfully arrived at your new home. Rather than putting this off, it’s better to do some research online to see what authorities you need to contact, which forms you need to complete, and other considerations you should consider.
There will be tax and rates implications, so head to the HMRC website to see how your tax will be affected, especially if you’ll still be earning money from savings and rental from a UK property. Contact your local authority for council tax and other rates, and then list the utility bills you pay every month. To avoid receiving invoices after you leave, you’ll need to contact them all with a date of departure.
You should also research healthcare and apply for the European Health Insurance Card if your destination is in Europe. It’s all very dull and tedious, but it’s better to have this in order before you begin bidding on properties, and a majority of this must be complete before you leave the UK.
Favourite European Destinations for Expats –
Now onto the exciting part of your relocation – where will you live when you leave London? We’ll look at three destinations that our customers move to above the rest, but we suggest undertaking further research on each.
France is one of the most popular destinations for people leaving London, and it’s not always a straight swap of London to Paris. Many people leave London for a quieter life and choose more rural villages and towns like Ars-en-Re of Eguisheim.
Portugal has always been a firm favourite for British holidaymakers, but it’s also becoming a preferred destination for relocation. There’s a noticeable balance of what expats often look for when relocating. There are good schools and provisions for children, making Portugal a good place for families.
Spain is possibly the main attraction for British expats, so it might not need much explanation. Great food and drink, entertainment, sunshine, and a diverse range of regions to explore. We regularly visit Madrid, Seville, and the Costa del Sol when relocating people.
A few more countries are popular with expats – Germany and Switzerland have always had a good reputation with people relocating to Europe. If you’re looking for a slightly different destination, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Denmark are places where expats adjust and enjoy a high quality of life.
Shipping Assistance for International Locations –
Aussie Man & Van has more freight options for people moving to a destination on the continent. That’s because it’s possible to perform the relocation via road freight to mainland Europe. However, this isn’t possible for other locations due to the impractical timeline and route choices necessary to reach the final destination.
If this applies to you, there’s no need to worry. Aussie is here to assist with the logistics, paperwork, and shipping for any international move. And the high standards of customer service won’t end in the UK. We have global partners who will receive your belongings at the relevant port. Everyone we work with undergoes a stringent vetting process to ensure our standards align.
From our side, your possessions will have the proper packaging and protection to reduce issues with damage or breakages. We will arrange to collect them from your house to ensure everything goes out on the correct mode of transport. This will remove any issues with delays occurring. Our experienced team of international moving experts will double-check your paperwork before the ship sets sail.
Using Self Storage for Long-Distance Moves –
One of the impressive advantages of self-storage is its broad applications. Its everyday use is for households trying to make space and businesses utilising offsite storage. However, the possibilities have far wider use that applies to long-distance moves. And that’s due to the nature of relocations that span hundreds of miles, often including national borders.
If you’re moving overseas temporarily, you might be vacating a property in the UK. That means you’ll have nowhere secure to store your possessions. Now you can see where renting a storage unit becomes a handy tool for anyone who doesn’t have a permanent home or apartment in England. Similarly, homeowners might be uneasy at the thought of leaving their items in an empty property.
Then there’s the reality that some international relocations don’t work out as we plan. Adjusting and integrating into a new culture isn’t always straightforward. There are things you can’t know until you experience them in person and daily. Homesickness is also a factor you should consider, which is why people retain some of their belongings in storage.
How to Find a Reliable Moving Company –
Please don’t overlook the information in this section. It might help you avoid booking your removal with an unprofessional outfit. The typical reason people have problems with overseas relocations is poor customer care and a lack of service delivery from their moving company. This results in broken or damaged furniture and appliances or a significant delay in completion times.
We all enjoy a bargain, and saving a few quid is usually a good thing. However, this isn’t always the case when it comes to moving to a new country. In fact, we would suggest there should be a level of scepticism for any company that provides you with a quote that’s too good to be true. That’s because it often entails a lack of standards or accountability.
There is good news, though, so there’s no need to panic. Moreover, the solution is right in front of you. You can see every company’s ratings on Google Reviews and Trustpilot by looking online. You’re looking for a moving provider that receives consistent five-star ratings. Furthermore, you can read reviews from previous customers to understand what service you’ll receive.
Aussie Man & Van – Use Reputable Movers for Your International Relocation –
Using a reputable moving company is a topic that always finds itself on two different lists. Every moving checklist will note it, and more importantly, you’ll also find it in articles online stating the mistakes expats often make when moving abroad.
Aussie is not only London’s favourite moving and storage company – our famous Aussie vehicles are a constant sight making the journey from London to France and back again. It’s such a popular relocation route that we can offer fantastic rates. Because of our strong network of associated companies, we can reduce costs by providing part-load consignments.
Aussie is committed to customer service, and we aim to lessen the stress of your relocation as much as possible. Our expert team is all time-served. We can confidently pack and transport all manner of things – from the large antique wardrobes, grand pianos, and fragile vases. And we will ensure that everything leaves London and arrives at your new home in perfect condition.
Aussie is the ‘can-do’ company – we take on every job with individual care and attention. We plan every detail, and we let nothing deter us from providing the best customer service available in London. Contact us today, and you’ll learn why we’re London’s favourite movers and storage providers.
