There’s a lot that goes into planning a long-distance move – budgeting, finding jobs, choosing schools for your kids, and of course, the dreaded packing. This is an issue that so many people leave until the last minute, which is always something they regret.
Packing for an international move is a way bigger responsibility than packing to move down the street, or even to a new city. You can’t simply pack up your things into boxes and send them across the ocean. Nope, there’s a whole lot of planning and decision-making that needs to be done way before you even buy your plane tickets. Here are a few tips to help you.
Decide on the Big Stuff
Of course, you’re likely to be moving abroad with more than just the clothes on your back – personal items and valuables will always make the cut. However, you need to make the major decision between selling everything to start fresh, or hiring international movers and shipping your possessions to your new home.
If you decide to keep your stuff and move it across the world, you’ll need to do some sorting and planning, and find a reliable moving company. If you’re set on keeping your car too, you’ll also need to research auto shipping and the costs associated with that.
Downsize and Declutter
Shipping all your possessions is a completely valid decision and will save you the hassle of having to sell everything you own and repurchase an entire life’s worth of stuff. However, it also comes with its own challenges.
Even if you’re happy to take your stuff with you, taking everything you own is an unreasonable expectation, and you’ll make your own life a lot easier by decluttering and getting rid of a few things. When you’re going through this process, it can be tough to know what to keep and what to get rid of, but try to use laser focus and be ruthless about what you need and what you don’t.
Research Your New Home
It’s always a good idea to thoroughly research the country and city you’ll be moving to – not just for packing purposes, but to get an idea of your new life.
Research things like the weather (you might not need to pack that heater and electric blanket) and even small details like whether or not your appliances will work with the outlets and voltages in your new country.
Consider Your Pets
Finally, you need to think about whether or not you’ll be taking your pets along with you on this journey, and how much this will cost you. Your pets are part of your family and you should always make the effort to bring them along with you, however, this decision might not always be best for them in the long term.
Remember that relocating your pets is more than just an expense – it’s a major decision that will impact you and them severely, and could cause them trauma or negatively impact their quality of life. Make sure you do your research before you make any final decision.
Comments