Thursday, December 17, 2009

Tips For Moving Overseas With Less Stress

The excitement that comes with moving to a new place is matched by the stress it can cause for your family. Moving overseas to a different country can be especially difficult because the change in culture is a huge adjustment. Furthermore, the logistics of overseas moves are more complicated than those for moves within your own country, and that does not help matters at all.


As many people who have done so successfully will attest, moving overseas is indeed manageable as long as you keep yourself organized and pay attention to the smallest details. The first thing you will want to do is to come up with a comprehensive plan for the move. Make a list of all the things that will have to be accomplished such as scheduling the movers, getting the power and water turned on in the new place, having the utilities turned off in the old home, applying for a visa and more. Take this list and rank it in order from what can be done months in advance to those things that must wait until the last day. You cannot just pack everything the day before moving overseas, for example, so you should schedule this to-do item to begin several weeks before the movers arrive.


Speaking of packing up your home, the whole process will go a lot easier and faster if you have are determined to get rid of as many of your current possessions as is possible. Streamlining your wardrobe, bookcases, and collections are both easy ways to end up with fewer things to pack and therefore, fewer things to unpack once you get there. Consider getting rid of a few pieces of furniture and then buying what you need after you are moved into the new home and country and have lived there long enough to know what chairs, tables, and so on are absolutely essential. Give away and throw away as much as you can, and you will be better off later on after moving overseas.


Adjusting to the new setting will be difficult enough without adding to it by making the process of unpacking long and unorganized. You do not want your child to go without that favorite toy for six months, so make sure that all your boxes are well-labeled so that they can be unpacked quickly. When boxes are not marked well the move can also be more expensive because you may think you have lost something, go out and buy it, and then later discover that you had it all along.


Keep in mind that there are many things that can go wrong when your possessions are in transit. Movers can drop boxes and break fragile items, or you can end up never receiving what they are supposed to be transporting for you. Check out your movers thoroughly before you hire them, and go with only those moving companies that have a long, proven track record.


These tips should help you make moving overseas both easy and enjoyable. A little forethought now will make your life a whole lot easier later on.



Article By Matthew Richard Kerridge

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Thursday, December 10, 2009

Moving Overseas Learn How To Move Into Another Country

Stretching luxuriously, I turned to look at the calendar hanging on the wall by my bed. Today was Monday, June 1st. My family (including our old cat and recently acquired puppy) were booked on a plane leaving the country exactly three weeks from today. We were going to be away for at least four years.

You couldn't tell, though, looking around my bedroom, that this household was about to move. Everything was in its usual place. The same was true of the rest of our four-bedroom house. I sighed, got out of bed and walked downstairs to the kitchen. Pouring myself a cup of coffee, I sat down to google International Moving Company. I skimmed through the websites of a couple of international movers, and picked one at random.

I sent off an email, outlining my needs and asking for an estimate of the cost of their services, remembering to include my phone number. Then I took my coffee cup out to the porch, where the cat was asleep, and tried to decide whether to visit the hair salon that morning.

Before I had made up my mind, the telephone rang. It woke up the cat. I had to go inside to get her breakfast, so I picked up the phone on the way in. Someone from the International Moving Company I had just emailed was on the other end of the line, calling to make an appointment for a free on-site visit to evaluate the cost of the move.

I asked for an estimate over the phone, but he declined. I told him I had a hairdresser's appointment, but he gently pointed out that it might be better to postpone it and allow his crew to come that morning.

I agreed grumpily. One hour later, I had a reasonable, detailed quote, including packing, for the cost of the move. There were no hidden charges or expenses. I waved goodbye to the International Moving Company people, and rushed to the station wagon. I'd decided to perm my hair.

The movers came back at exactly 9 am the next morning, as agreed. By 12 noon, they had packed everything that was to be shipped perfect packing (labeled cartons, inventory list, the whole thing). A representative from the International Moving Company sat down with my husband and I.

He explained the regulations concerning moving our pets (health and rabies certificates etc.). He told us that my beloved plants would not be allowed into the country of our destination, and explained that, if we took our station wagon along, we would have to pay exorbitant customs duties on it.

He knew everything there was to know about moving overseas. Well, that was his profession. He worked at an International Moving Company.

The nest morning, we were out on the driveway watching our belongings, expertly packed in sealed cartons and placed in seven large ship containers, being hauled away on the International Moving Company's truck.

The cat was licking my nose again, so I woke up. I glanced at the calendar hanging on the wall beside my bed. Only six weeks to go before the big move! Grabbing my eyeglasses, I picked up my master list of things to do - item one the list: hiring the services of a trustworthy, experienced International Moving Company.


Article By Nir Dotan


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Thursday, December 3, 2009

Moving Overseas The Right Way

One of the kinds of moves that are the most stressful are moves to overseas locations. You will have to have an extended period to plan everything, and you will need to adapt to the local customs, culture and laws that apply to your new place of residence. Before you experience the good life that prompted you to move there in the first place, you will need to experience some birth pains, which include moving woes. So, to help you out, here are some handy pointers to remember when moving overseas:

1. Have a budget.

It's an entirely new locale, with it's own currency and standard of living, and what you have at the moment (or at least what you've allotted) might not be enough. Research on prices of commodities, exchange rates, taxes, and all the other things that are bound to take a chip off your money tree.

2. Choose an experienced moving outfit.

It's best that you research first on the internet to see which removal company best suits your needs and is most recommended for moving to your chosen locale or country. It better if your movers are familiar with the destination - or have contacts there who will help facilitate the move, so that you don't get lost or loose your things when you get there. For stressful moves like this, it's best to hire a company that specializes in overseas moving so that you will have less on your mind.

3. Learn to be a local in advance.

Learn the local language, culture, and customs even before you get there, so you won't stick out like a sore thumb. Learning to be like a local beforehand also helps you adjust faster to living there, and establish a routine you will comfortable with. Even in the move itself, knowing the language will make your move smoother, as you will probably encounter locals who have difficulty speaking English, so it's best to have a few handy phrases up your sleeve.

4. Bring only what you need.

You might be surprised at how much junk people bring with them when they move. Since overseas moving costs a lot more, you'd better make sure that you're bringing ONLY the things you want in your new home; leave all the other junk behind - sell them, give them away, or throw them in the garbage. Either way, you get to save on moving costs by not having any unnecessary junk with you.

As you get the chance to live in a new place, start a new beginning, and deal with a lot of changes, you have to be ready all the time. You have to accept that such things are part of one's life. And so, moving house can be both comfortable and uncomfortable at the same, but it still depends on how you look at things as they unravel.

Going to the moving itself, you have to learn that everything should happen systematically-from the packing and transporting of furniture to unloading from the van, unpacking and to arranging everything on the right place in your new home. This may sound very tiring, but if you manage to do it properly then you wouldn't encounter any headache at all.


Article By Paul Smiths

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Thursday, November 19, 2009

Moving Overseas For Work

One of the primary reasons why people are moving overseas is that they are offered jobs that are more competitive and is offering high salaries. This is why the number of those going abroad is continuing to grow.

People in different countries have come to realize that there is no future where they are right now. So when they see some jobs being offered abroad, they are easily enticed by the high salary and compensations that they offer.

Before they know it, they are off bringing their family and their belongings along to that certain country. And before long, they already have started a new life in that place with no regret of leaving their old home behind.

While moving overseas can be a rewarding and an exciting experience, there are some things you have to check out first before you make your decision. These things will prove relevant in your new life and career. What are these?

1. The employment.

Make sure that what you are getting at is genuine. A lot of people have bad experiences regarding jobs that they are supposed to be getting into. In the process of deciding if you are suited for that position; check out the eligibility of the employer.

Once you are assured that it is legible, consider the benefits that you will get from that company. Are they worth more than what you are getting right now? Is it something that you know you will be happy in and will make you stay for a long time?

These are the questions that you need to have solid answers on. Keep in mind that once you have moved yourself and your family, you cannot get your old life and work back. Make sure that you will not regret your overseas move and your new job.

2. The location.

You probably would want to go back and visit your relative once in awhile. Is the location so far away that you will not get an opportunity to do that much?

If you are from a close knit family, it will trouble you if you cannot visit them from time to time. So you should consider the location and see if it is possible for you to visit or them to visit sometime.

Another thing to consider in the location is the condition in that place. You are better off avoiding those that are frequently visited by natural calamities. You should also avoid places that will put your safety at risk. Even if they are offering to pay you a lot of money, you need to think of your safety first.

3. The place you will move into.

For sure, you would want your new house to be just like the one you have left. And you will want to make sure that you have all the necessities easily accessible.

Be sure to check the place where you will be staying before you plunge on ahead. Check for electricity and water supply. See if it is located near business establishment and a school if you have your children with you. Also check for the mode of transportation from your place to other destinations.

Make a checklist of these things before you accept that job and start moving overseas. If you think that all is well, then it will turn out to be the best decision you have made in your life.


Article By Gerry Lamb

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Friday, November 13, 2009

Club Expat - A Complete Guide For A Teenager Moving Overseas

The thing that can shatter the life of a teenager is moving abroad. Teenagers are in a stage of life in which they start getting settled in their life. It is the time when bonds are formed in their life and also last a lifetime. They start taking their first few steps into the real life outside their friends circle. Hence, a move abroad will surely be given only negative reactions by a teenager. Club Expat is a book which can help teenagers deal with the monumental event of moving abroad.

There are indeed fictions that tell tales of how teenagers deal and settle with the new surroundings, however, fiction can do so much as to only give advice to the teenagers and nothing more and may not even be close to reality in certain cases. There are nonfiction works also which try and advice teenagers on this topic, however, the way of writing in such books are in such a way that the teens do not find them interesting and they find it boring. These books are written by authors, who flaunt their experience over these things, and are thereby shunned away by teenagers.

In the book, the authors have extracted all the good from both types of books, delete all the mistakes, if any in them and combine them to form a really exquisite book which is a gem and will be loved by all teenagers. The book is partly a travel guide and partly a biography too. As if it were not sufficient, the book is topped with bits and pieces of advice from the authors, which the teens take to heart truly.

Another thing that is really delightful is that it can also be considered an allegory which describes life. It acts as a teacher and shows teenagers how life can be dealt with and faces the many challenges it poses. The book tells tales of authors who have gone around the world, by taking you on the tour of the places they made. It describes all the places in great detail and thereby gives you a tour of the world and in doing so, dispenses valuable advice for the teens.

They do not tell the tales of the authors from their perspective alone as it is done in many fictions. Valuable advice is given to all teenagers who plan to move overseas and it will help in changing the perspective with which the teenagers view the task of moving overseas. The opinion that a move abroad will shatter their lives will be replaced by the adventurous thoughts about the new place they are moving to. They will, after reading the book, look forward to moving overseas and meeting new people there. The move will be viewed as an opportunity to go to new places and experience various cultures.

Even if teenagers do not have to move overseas in the near future, reading the book will be a very good thing to do as the authors have written the book in a flawless prose which is filled with wit. The insights provided by the authors in the book about life will be so touching that it will go deep into your soul and touch it by every word, thus making the book immortal and indelible in the minds of the readers.

The best lesson given by this book is that, unmindful of what is thrown at you, you must adapt yourself and live it through. There are indeed things which cannot be changed by you and you can do nothing but accept it. This is the lesson given by Club Expat.

Article By Abhishek Agarwal

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Friday, November 6, 2009

Moving Businesses Overseas - The 3 Prime Reasons For Relocating Your Business

People often wonder about the reasons for doing so when they hear of people moving businesses overseas. This may happen because of good or bad reasons. Such reasons can be categorized into three types. They are:

1.) Opportunities: Oftentimes, businesses are moved by people overseas because of availability of better opportunities, which are events, when given a proper reaction, will improve the business greatly. People usually have to search for an opportune moment, which can, sometimes be found overseas.

The most common reason is that people find an open market overseas. Many people have a tough time managing their business due to competition, because of which lots of cash will be lost. A good entrepreneur won't give up in spite of presence of heavy competition. They will look for markets which are new and can be dominated by them. They look for opportunities and exploit them. Many people move their businesses because they feel that they will have lesser competition there than they had in their own place or even because their product may have more demand in that market than the one in which they previously were put up in.

Also, reduction of cost is another opportunity because of which people move their businesses as their profit will increase by doing so. For example, Adidas and Nike have set up factories in the Asian continent because of availability of cheap and skilled labor, which eventually means that their business will be expanded and will earn more profits.

2.) Threats: People move their businesses overseas owing to the presence of some threats in their country. Threat can mean anything that has a potential to cause harm or loss to the business. For example, heavy competition is considered a threat and if you think that it is not very different from the previous reason, you are wrong, because according to the situation described there, remaining in the same place may cause a small dent in the amount of profit made, however, in this situation, remaining in the same place would be the end of the business.

Threats can be defined as events, which when not dealt with in the right way, can make the business face its worst of times. The best way in which they can be evaded is by moving the businesses overseas.

3.) Miscellaneous - People who even move their business because of no reason, whatsoever, related to the business are present. If the move of a business does not fetch any new opportunity or other profits for the company, then, the move of the business would be due to personal reasons of the entrepreneur managing the business.

Oftentimes, people feel that they want to have a change and may want to start a new life and feel the thrill. However, moving overseas cannot be done without means to support themselves and sustain life and income. Hence, some people may move their business because they are migrating to some other country.

Transferring a business from one country to another may look like a random thing, but, everything that is done is done for a reason only. Others may not understand it or it may be too subtle to be understood, however, it is still present. By obtaining knowledge as to why businesses are moved, we get a glimpse into the mind of another person, which is just a minuscule part of knowing about the whole universe.

Article By Abhishek Agarwal

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Thursday, October 29, 2009

What Do Overseas Moving Companies Do?

Moving overseas can be hard work. There are a thousand details to take care of, a hundred crises to avert, and there are a lot of arguments to settle. Don't you just wish that you could hire someone to take care of those details for you? In fact, you can do exactly that! By hiring an overseas moving service, you can delegate the tasks that need to be done to the people who can do them the best. Here are some ways an overseas moving service can help you:

1) Relocation - the first question that comes to mind when moving overseas is "where am I going to stay?" An overseas moving company can help you find a place of your own. By contacting branches in various places, an overseas moving service would be able to find you a place to call your very own. Often, they will show you some options which match your specifications. From there, you can decide which to pick.

You need to be careful, however, as some may try to scam you by telling you all about the virtues of a house while not disclosing the real deal. They might try to get your money and leave you in some pigsty. This is the reason why you need to choose an overseas moving service that you can trust.

2) Bookings and other paperwork - When you are moving overseas, there are a lot of different papers that need to be handled. Sometimes, it is just hard to do all of this by yourself. One way that an overseas moving service can help you is to handle the papers that are of minor concern. You still make the decisions, but they can help push the paper around so you don't have to.

3) Arranging transportation - an overseas moving service can help you arrange the transportation that you need for your possessions. In fact, an overseas moving company may even save you some cash on the freight. It is often the case that an overseas moving company has some sort of arrangement with a freight company in order to get reduced rates on moving your possessions. One concern with this, however, is the fact that most overseas moving services offer the services of only one freight company. Because of this, you really have no choice regarding the quality of service you are getting.

4) Packing - This is one of the most frustrating parts of moving overseas. Packing takes up most of the time spent in preparation for moving overseas. An overseas moving service can help you pack your possessions and store them in such a way that they will not get damaged on the way. Another advantage to having an overseas moving service pack your stuff is the fact that you can be sure not to miss anything. You can also save a lot of cash by being able to maximize the space allotted to you.

You need to be very careful, however. You need to check your possessions properly. You need to make sure that what is on the manifest is contained on the boxes. Packing can be tedious work, but at least you are really sure that you have everything.

Hiring an overseas moving service can help you a lot. By delegating the tasks that need to be done, you can concentrate on the tasks that you want done.


Article By Gerry Lamb

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Thursday, October 22, 2009

When And How To Employ Overseas Moving Companies

Are you concerned about what may happen to your personal property when you relocate to a foreign country? To make this task easier you need to employ a professional. Overseas moving company can help you with all your demands.

Nearly forty million folks are relocating each year to the United States alone as the current statistics report. This number doesn't calculate those who are going to other countries. The aggregate amount of people who are moving throughout the world is much higher. No wonder that global relocation business is huge. Companies are well aware of the numbers and to assist the people with their needs they have set up subdivisions around the world to cater to these special needs. There are different businesses in existing; all you get to do is select the one that you believe will provide the finest service.

International movers employ diverse techniques of transportation in order to get your household goods and personal items to the desired destination. These methods include shipping by air, land and ocean transport. Many of them have their own cargo carrier fleets while others are connected to trustworthy and well-known companies that specialize in overseas transportation.

1. Air and ocean transport.

This method of transport is utilized if the commodity requires to be transported from one country to another. While air transport is the fastest method to use it's also the most expensive. So you use it only if you are on a tight schedule. Ocean transport is the preferred method for the most of the shipments. Hiring a full service professional moving company can be rather pricey but owners are guaranteed that their property will reach them in the safe condition and delivered right to their house. Air and ocean transportation may have demanding criteria to observe depending on the rules set by the government in each individual country. For example, some countries may require for import taxes to be paid. You may check with you moving company if they have a list of current regulations as a lot of them keep this information updated.

Moreover, you may also face inspections and check ups at some ports. Certain Customs rules in various countries do not admit any agricultural products or anything that has been in contact with soil. Australia comes to mind as a good example. Needless to say, cargo that's considered to be hazardous or dangerous will not be allowed. You'll have to apply for certain permits and get your paperwork approved by the proper authorities if you wish to do so.

2. Land transport.

Land transport is a favorable mode of relocating your personal assets. Obviously this can simply be arranged for short distances. For example, countries in Europe are very close to each other and you won't require air transport for your belongings. Naturally you can pack all your stuff, load it in the truck and just take it with you, but you also get the option of using the services of a moving company. Having the services of professionals can carry away the headache that your material possessions might get damaged or lost in the way of transportation. Road transport is recognized for its efficiency and diligent operations. The movers know that they deliver significant things and they're after client satisfaction all of the time. Their primary goal is to have your household goods brought to final destination in a timely manner and in proper condition.

Relocating abroad is made effortless by global moving providers. Imagine what it'd be like without them assisting you in bringing your stuff along. The single matter you need to care about is the money budget that you can shell out for the services provided. Be willing to set aside some amount of hard currency if you intend to take a lot of furniture or vehicles with you. Other important thing to think of is to have everything set up and in good order so that the worldwide relocation company you picked can arrange the rest.


Article By Mickeal Bliss

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Friday, October 16, 2009

Overseas Moving: Services And Options

People who wish to relocate overseas oftentimes require a lot of assistance. This is when overseas moving services come to mind. However, because the demand for these services is quite high, people are presented with the dilemma of selecting an overseas relocation service that is proper for them.

And so, how do you decide which moving service to use?

Many would prefer to go with the speed. A sound abroad moving service has to be able to deliver your household goods on schedule. In order to execute this, they might provide you with a specific promotional package which would allow them to accelerate the delivery. We all can confess how we do not in truth have any time to do the things that we need to, right? All right, by employing the foreign moving help which offers the quickest service then you'll be able to make certain that you can manage your time in good order.

Some folks will go with location. It's frequently better to engage an overseas mover which is stationed within your destination. This spares a lot of transfer cost. It likewise helps with the speed since people who are long-familiar with the destination could deliver the goods faster. There's also the matter of the transport costs. Numerous overseas relocators may have associations with people at your country of destination. This implies that you will be able to save up on the price of moving.

Some people get going with the perks. There are some overseas moving companies which attempt to appeal to a lot of customers by proposing many add-ons when you charter their company. People may get side-tracked by a promo and they might wind up paying tons of hard currency in order to get something free. That is just asking to be scammed.

A lot of people proceed with reputation. It's frequently the case that global moving companies get hired merely because they produce more advertising. If you go this route, you may finish up with a genuinely high quality moving service which fulfills its reputation. Nonetheless, somebody can just as well end up spending an unnecessarily big amount of money in order to pay for the moving company's brand.

In the same respect, be aware of cases when an overseas mover asks you to pay a suspiciously low amount of deposit. You want to make certain that you can entrust these guys since many others have already went through having their belongings confined for ransom. Some companies out there will give you a low-ball rate quote when you are still negotiating but then turn around and stick you with a ludicrously higher charge when the time arrives to deliver your stuff. Don't fall a victim to this scam. You need to choose your worldwide moving services carefully.

Additional measure that people use to evaluate a moving provider is technical favorable position. People need to be sure that they are capable to track their shipment until it arrives to the final destination. They call for technological superiority since this holds the confidence that everything will be managed correctly.

Picking out an oversea moving service could be rather challenging. Because of this, you need to rely on some kind of standard. By adopting these few tips and finding out as much as you are able to about the different companies, you can make this action a painless one.


Article By Michael Bliss

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Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Moving Overseas? Simple Steps To Shipping

Moving overseas can be an exciting prospect, however having to move your entire residence might seem a bit daunting when it requires shipping via freightliner. However, this is actually a very efficient and fast way to get your belongings to your overseas destination where you will be able to make your overseas a home with all of your belongings.

This is the most efficient way to ship, but there are some decisions you will need to make before you start the shipping process.

First, you need to evaluate how many items you need to ship and how much space you will need. You have the option of a 20’ or 40’ container, or else a partial container for smaller items, so whatever you need shipped will be accommodated. A 20’ container generally has enough room for a vehicle an some of your smaller household appliances or else the contents of a two bedroom home.

If you need more space than that then you have the option of a 40’ container that can accommodate a vehicle and the contents of a two bedroom home or else just the contents of a three to five bedroom home. In the instance that you are only shipping certain items you can ship a partial container as well. Evaluate what you need to ship and the amount of space available and then either upgrade to the larger container if necessary or if you have too many items have a yard sale to get rid of some.

Next, when you begin the packing process there are several things you need to keep in mind regarding things you are allowed to pack and things you are not. Make sure when you are packing that you do not include any kind of food or food product, jewelry, important documents like birth or marriage certificates, seeds or plants, alcohol, open bottles, pressurized cans, and the like. The shipping company will provide you with a list of items not to ship, and if you don’t receive one ask before you begin packing.

Now that you are ready to begin the shipping process, you need to know to contact the shipping carrier at least seven to 10 days before the desired departure date if at all possible. Then, you will need to provide them with a full address in the United States as well as the full overseas address in addition to local and foreign phone numbers, your social security number and the like.

Finally, you will need to pay for your shipping costs. Most companies require that you pay a deposit before you begin packing the container and then the balance before the shipment heads out. Regardless, most all shipping companies accept a wide variety of payment options to meet your needs.


Article By Robert Michael

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Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Expenses Of Moving Overseas

Are you about to move abroad? Have you considered how hard it is going to hit your purse?

When we consider moving overseas, it is not just about the job and the opportunities. It is also most definitely about how your finances will be affected.

It is important to check out information like the Mercer survey. This helps to calculate which cities are the most expensive in the world to live in. These surveys can give you accurate information and can help you compare costs of living. An important aspect you may want to take into account is how your quality of life will be affected when you move. A higher salary does not necessarily mean a better quality of life. It is not guaranteed that you will be better off.

When you first arrive in a country you may need to be able to pay for things such as rent, set up costs, deposits, a car and others. It is a good idea to have a good amount of emergency reserves of cash for unexpected costs that might arise.

When I made a move from Korea to the USA, I was very thankful that I did have emergency reserves of cash. I needed to buy a car, put a hefty rental deposit down, pay for motel costs for a couple of weeks, deposit cash in order to open a bank account among other things. There are many and often unaccounted for relocation costs that come into play when you move. It is in your best interests to be as prepared as possible.

The best way to get information is to do your homework. Go online and look at some sites, especially expatriate sites. A useful tool is to go to the FORUM boards and see what people have said about living in certain countries. You might even want to start your own forum discussion. Expats are very willing to share their experiences and knowledge.

Once you have gathered your information, the next step is to do your math. Brainstorm with friends about what factors you need to take into account so that you do not miss anything. Factor in education, housing costs, moving and/or storage costs, transport, clothing, household goods and so on.

Moving abroad can have a severe impact on your finances. You need to take this knowledge into account before your move and not afterwards! How prepared are you for your move?

The World ' s 10 Most Expensive Cities

Source: Mercer Human resource Consulting, 2005 Cost-of-Living Survey

2005 Ranking

1 Tokyo, Japan

2 Osaka, Japan

3 London, United Kingdom

4 Moscow, Russia

5 Seoul, South Korea

6 Geneva, Switzerland

7 Zurich, Switzerland

8 Copenhagen, Denmark

9 Hong Kong, Hong Kong

10 Oslo, Norway


3 things you need to be prepared for when you relocate

* No one understands you

* No one understands you

* No one understands you


Tip of the week

What is considered enough money when moving? Maybe just a little bit more than you planned on.

Quote of the week

"Beware of the little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship." Benjamin Franklin.


Article3 By Kimbles

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Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Moving Overseas? Some Tips To Keep Your Move As Smooth As Possible

Moving to a new home is said to be one of the most stressful things in life. It's stressful just moving across town, worse when you move to another town miles away across country. How much more stressful must it be to move to another country thousands of miles across the ocean?

Well, it can be, of course, and there is a whole lot more involved in moving abroad. However, you can make things much easier for yourself by remembering the two Ps, Planning and Preparation. It’s like any other major undertaking really. If you plan it well in advance and try to take into account all the thousand and one things that could go wrong, most of them won’t! Careful preparation should take care of those that do by you spotting them in time to deal with them.

International removal is quite different to the usual local move. You will need to be particularly organised if all is going to go as smoothly as you would wish. There are so many more things to take into account and however long you think it’s all going to take, it will take longer than that. So the first thing is to start really early with your planning.

Just to ship all your worldly goods overseas can take several weeks so don’t pack anything you might need during that time. Keep it with you, but don’t forget that if you’re flying to your destination you will have weight and other restrictions to contend with. That’s something else you’ll need to be sure about in good time.

Choose your contractor very carefully. Make sure that all the companies you get to quote for your move are experienced International movers. You should get and take up references in respect of all of them. International removals are a highly specialised business and you’ll need all the expertise you can get. It’s seldom the best policy to simply pick the cheapest. You want the best you can get.

Once you’ve chosen your International removals firm take heed of any advice they offer you. Remember, you’ve probably never moved overseas before. They’ve done it many times.

International removal means that all your treasured possessions are going to be loaded into a van, unloaded into a warehouse, then loaded into a ship. That ship is going to sail thousands of miles across stormy seas, rolling and pitching, through whatever the ocean throws at her to a foreign port where your valuables will be unloaded, probably into another warehouse. Then they’ll be loaded into another vehicle of some sort and carried to your destination, there to be unloaded and unpacked.

Remember all that when you decide whether to do the packing yourself or get the professionals to do it. There’s no contest really is there? Leave it to the experts! There’s another thing. If you do it the cases will have to be labelled on the inventory, “PBO,” (Packed by Owner). Customs officers are far more likely to examine the contents of boxes so marked. That can lead to extensive delays and additional costs that will considerably outweigh any saving you may have made by doing your own packing.

Sort through your possessions and decide which items you really need to take with you. Be ruthless. You don’t really want to pay shipping costs for things you hardly ever use now. Go through all your paperwork and arrange for things like insurance policies that you won’t need anymore, such as house insurance and car insurance are cancelled on the day you leave, though not before.

If you’re thinking of taking any electrical goods, first make sure they will work in the new country. Voltages etc. can be quite different and things like TV systems and DVDs too.

Make a list of all the people and organisations you’ll need to notify before you leave and make sure that’s all done. Make sure you fill in a form P85 for the tax people or get your employer or accountant to do it for you. You could lose out on a tax refund if you don’t.

See your doctor and make sure you not only have all the necessary vaccinations etc. for where you’re moving to but also have any letters or other forms your new doctor will need and a supply of any medications you might be taking to carry you over until you can get to your new doctor. At the same time make sure you have all the medical insurance cover you need in place before you go.

There’s still lots more to think about yet so do give yourself plenty of time. You’ll need to start all this at least twelve weeks before you actually leave, more if possible.

Article By Pauline Collins

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Wednesday, September 9, 2009

A Simple Guide For Moving Overseas

Moving from one country to another can be quite scary and nerve-wracking. But, just like moving across town or across the country, this can be handled easily with proper preparation and an expert international mover.

Think about your choice of movers. If you're relocating due to business, your company may have an international mover they would prefer you to use. Your company may even pay for most or all of the costs. If this is not the case, look for a mover as soon as possible. This part can be more complicated than a local move so don’t wait until the last minute to begin preparations. An unlicensed international mover can spell disaster.

A local or long distance mover is just that, a local or long distance mover and they can be very good at what they do, but they cannot legally transport your belongings overseas. For this, you must use a licensed international mover.

International moves require careful consideration regarding packing. Your possessions will be traveling on land, on sea and then on land again. There are a lot of steps to get your prized possessions from your home in the US to your home in your new destination country. For this reason you will want to take extra care in packing your items with many layers of protection. Everyone has a budget when moving, so discuss packing with your international moving company. They can pack your belongings for an additional cost or provide tips for you to pack yourself.

Before you move, think about what you're going to take, what you are going to need and how long you are going to be in your destination country. Is this a permanent or temporary move? If you take your household appliances, will you be able to use them in your destination country? Will you need an adapter to run your electrical appliances? Depending on the length of time you plan to live in your destination country, you may want to consider storing items that you cannot use, or do not need, and only take personal effects and items that will give you pleasure and keep you from being homesick. If this is a temporary move, research what it would cost to rent versus purchase items in your destination country or maybe rent a furnished residence. If your move is permanent, then you may want to take everything with you.

Check with customs to see what you can and cannot bring into your destination country. This will also help you to determine what you will bring. Normal customs clearance is generally included in your quote. This means there is a customs clearance agent that will facilitate your paperwork. It does not mean that duties and taxes are paid by the international moving company. Check to see what documents, duties or taxes you may be required to produce and or pay, if any. You may be exempt from duties and taxes depending on your status for entering the country. Each situation is individual and unique. It is your responsibility to have the proper documentation available. You should contact the consulate or embassy for the latest updates in regulations and requirements.

Once you know what you are taking, it is important to make a list. The international moving company will ask you to complete an item list. It is important to know what you are taking so the total volume can be estimated in order to provide you with a quote. The internet is a great tool and the item lists can generally be found on an international moving company website. They are usually very easy to use and once you enter the quantity of the items you are taking, the volume can be calculated automatically with the click of your mouse. International movers quote their moves in volume. Local and Long Distance movers quote in weight.

Once you have determined the volume, decided if you will pack or have the international moving company pack, the next item to consider is insurance. Insurance in optional but it is always recommended. Discuss the coverage types that are available. Loss and damage coverage is only issued if the packing is done by the carrier. You can still insure your shipment if you pack yourself but the coverage will be for loss only.

There is not one company anywhere in the world that owns or has offices in every city in the US, owns the ships and has offices in every city in every country in the world outside of the US. An international moving company networks and works regularly with agents who are trusted, licensed and insured in every location. Once your shipment is ready to ship overseas, your international moving company will advise you the shipping details for your shipment and the agent that will be handling your shipment in your destination country.

Enjoy, prepare, research, have fun in your new adventure and good luck with your international move.


Article By John Jo

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Friday, August 28, 2009

Moving Overseas

If you are preparing to move overseas then you should know that there are so many different parameters that you cannot actually control everything. You should be comfortable with the idea that no matter how prepared you are, you are probably not fully prepared for what you are immersing in. Not in a bad sense though; moving overseas is a kind of adventure. This can be fun, especially if you try to organise yourself in advance so as to avoid possible pitfalls and frustrations down the road.

Stay organised; prepare a moving overseas checklist consisting of what you will need and what you might need. This will help you be more focused, especially if you commit in adding something the moment you remember it. Don’t underestimate the importance of a checklist because it can save your sanity in your effort to prepare yourself for the move.

Don’t keep things for the last minute, since you will soon figure out that there are so many things that you need to do, that you will get overstressed if you leave everything for the last moment. Decide what you need to buy and what you need to sell. Remember that if the move is temporary, you need to take just personal things you will need; avoid taking unnecessary things with you.

Try to find out things about the culture, the habits and customs of the place you are going to; being an expat in Dubai, for instance, is not the same as being an expat in Germany. Different culture, different way of life, different mentality. Being an expat in a foreign place is not always easy, thankfully though there are numerous people in the same place as you, who are capable of providing you useful information and insight. There are also many websites where expats from all over the world discuss about their experience and their suggestions. Check them out because they could be a great resource of information.

Article By Sturat

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Wednesday, August 19, 2009

When Moving Your Family Overseas

Step 1: Making the Decision

You should remember to always include your family when making decisions that will affect all of their lives. Nowadays, parents often tend to disregard the opinions and the feelings of their children in making decisions affecting the whole family. The common line that can be heard is this: “Kids, we are moving overseas.” That’s it, end of discussion. What needs to be heard from you is this: “Kids, we have been presented with a wonderful opportunity, but in order to get that opportunity, we are going to have to move overseas. What do you think we should do?”

Parents know that any child will always react negatively to the question. Because of this, they would rather not listen. This can be very harmful to a child’s self esteem. He or she might grow up thinking that you never had any respect for his or her opinion. Because of this, children often grow up resenting their parents.

Some parents think that the step of making the decision and breaking the news to the family should be separate. However, you need to understand that making the decision of moving the family overseas needs to be done by the family. You need to consider every opinion and you need to show that every opinion matters.

Step 2: Comforting Fears

Once you have made a decision, you should encourage your children if they have any worries regarding the move. Of course, your children will have all sorts of questions about what would happen. They will also have a lot of fear. This is natural. We all fear the unknown. This understanding will give you the first thing that you can do to ease those fears.

You need to learn about where you are going. This is the best thing that you can do to assuage your fears. When your children know what to expect when your family moves overseas, they will be able to drive their fears away. This step will also help you since knowing about where you are going will help calm your fears too.

Step 3: Planning

Moving your family overseas is not as simple as getting on a plane. There are a lot of considerations to face and there are plans to be made. Planning the move will help you make the transition much smoother for your family. In planning, you should try to find people who can help you. You should find and hire various services that can help you handle the intricate details of moving your family overseas. There are also people who prefer not to move the whole family overseas at once. Some people would plan the move in a series of steps with each family member following after a preset duration. This is ideal if you are on a tight budget.

Step 4: The Move

Moving your family overseas requires a lot of effort. You need to adjust to a new culture, a new climate, and a whole new way of living. The key to overcoming culture shock is to accept the fact that your way of life is not the only way of life. Respect the rights of others and you should be just fine. Make sure that your family also learns this lesson. By following these tips, you should find the experience of moving your family overseas to be pretty easy.

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