Becoming overwhelmed by the hodgepodge of emotions that comes with moving house overseas is the last thing you want to happen during the preparation stage.
When you let your excitement, fear, and apprehension overcome you, you will likely have a stressful and unproductive pre-move stage, which will affect your transition to your new home, life and career.
Moreover, when you let your emotions overwhelm you, you are more likely to make plenty of prep mistakes that can make moving house more stressful and challenging.
If you are getting ready to relocate to another country, the best international removal companies say that you should avoid these mistakes to have a smooth experience before, during, and after your relocation overseas:
1. Failing to plan
Relocating overseas requires a lot of planning and preparation. Not taking the time to jot down everything you have to do and creating a timetable for them can affect your overall experience with moving house.
To avoid all kinds of problems and headaches, make a detailed list of everything you need to do before the big day. Next, create a schedule of when you need to complete these tasks.
Your checklist should include buying your supplies, decluttering your home, hiring your removers, and packing all the items you want to bring.
If you are bringing plenty of your belongings on your move, make sure you create a timetable for packing your items by room.
With this detailed checklist, you can be sure that you will stay on top of the pre-moving house stage. Additionally, you will be certain you won’t forget anything important and rush through the packing stage, which is a crucial part of the entire relocation process.
2. Forgetting to create a packing checklist
A packing checklist allows you to identify the important items that you need to bring. When you are relocating overseas, it would be impossible to take everything with you.
It is also unwise to bring all your clothes and footwear, no matter how small and light they are, since they can also cause you to over-pack your luggage and boxes, which can lead to costly overcharges.
Moreover, a packing checklist ensures you won’t forget to pack all the items you have to bring. After all, nothing can be more frustrating than opening your luggage and boxes and discovering that you do not have your favourite tie or your chargers for mobile devices.
Whether you want to avoid over-packing or forgetting to bring anything important, a packing checklist can help you greatly when you move house overseas.
3. Being disorganised when packing
Creating a packing checklist is one thing; staying organised is another. You will avoid plenty of troubles when you are methodical as you prepare for your big relocation.
Sorting your belongings while packing can save you plenty of time when it’s time to unpack. Organising them based on common functions, room use, or other factors will make it easier for you to keep track of all your items during transport and when you arrive in your new flat.
Also, make sure to label all boxes appropriately and create an inventory for each so that you will have a less stressful unpacking experience.
Additionally, when creating your packing checklist, specify a timeframe for completing this task. Doing so will help you avoid packing at the last minute, which can cause confusion and disorganisation that can lead to damage or the loss of some of your valuable items.
Last-minute packing is also a sure-fire way of forgetting to bring something crucial.
4. Booking a removal company too late
Relocating overseas is always a complex undertaking. Avoid making it more complicated and difficult than it already is by hiring removers as soon as possible.
When you book removal professionals at the last minute, you won’t have enough time to read about them and make sure you are hiring a reliable company. Moreover, you will not have the chance to look for a trustworthy one with rates that you are happy with.
Lastly, if you hire the remover a week or two before your moving date, there is a chance they may not be available on your preferred schedule.
Once you have confirmed your moving date, start looking for your relocation company. Conduct your research and arrange your move with them as soon as possible.
5. Not knowing anything about your destination
Moving house to another country can be pretty exciting. However, this feeling can easily be extinguished if everything you see and experience in your new home falls short of your expectations.
Get as much information as you can about your destination. Read about the language, lifestyle, cost of living, local politics, culture and traditions.
When you know more about your destination, you will have a more realistic expectation of your new home and lifestyle. You will also have an easier time managing your culture shock and acclimatising successfully.
Use the Internet to read vital and accurate information about your destination. Join online forums and connect with other expats to get first-hand details about living in your future home as well.
Many international relocation companies also offer pre-departure training programmes that give you an idea of the language, culture, way of living and other important information worth knowing about your destination. Find out from your remover if they offer this service and take advantage of it.
6. Failing to prepare your children for the big move
Finally, if you are moving with your family, don’t forget to include your little ones in your planning and preparation.
Children often have a hard time going through a big change. As such, they will have difficulty transitioning and acclimatising in your new home.
To help your children deal with this big event, start by involving them in as many processes as possible. Allow them to make some decisions, such as choosing which of their possessions to bring and when and how they should say their farewells to their friends.
Moreover, include them when you are researching and learning about your destination. Doing so also allows them to become familiar with and know what to expect regarding your future home. This will help reduce their anxieties and fears about moving overseas.
Whether you are relocating to the Caribbean, Middle East, or Europe alone, with your partner or with family, increase your chances of experiencing a smooth move by avoiding these common mistakes.
AUTHOR BIO:
Tarun Ramrakhiani is the CEO of Writer Relocations, India’s premier mobility services company that handles all types of moves: International & Domestic Relocations, Office Relocations, Commercial Move Management Services, Hospitality Logistics, Fine Arts Logistics, Orientation Services, and Storage Solutions. Headquartered in Mumbai, Writer Relocations has presence in 7 countries and operates in more than 190 countries.