Top 10 things to know before you move!
The first rule of thumb before making a move overseas is the old adage of buyer beware. Since many countries are not nearly as regulated as the United States it is always good to get a reference from someone you know and trust to help you find your home overseas.
The second item you must understand when you move overseas is that most banks are not easy to open accounts to foreigners. In many countries you may need to have a reference from someone actually doing business with the bank at the time. In some countries you simply cannot open an account in their country as this is not allowed by law.
The third item would be to get to know intimately the tax system of the country you have your heart set on. This will allow you to deal with your finances accordingly.
Fourth I would keep your expectations low. Many real estate agents will attempt to sell you on a property based on what is proposed to come later. Rather instead focus on what is around the property at that time.
Fifth I would keep a electricity or phone bill handy when applying for anything. Keep it in your pocket, backpack or purse. You will need to prove residency at practically every turn and having this slip at the ready will save you some time and frustration.
The sixth tip and perhaps the most important one is to try out a country for at least four to six months before moving. This is really important as the rose colored glasses become more clear as you begin to see the place you will be living as it truly is.
Seventh would be to buy what you need when you arrive. I would not recommend shipping furniture to any country as this is really not worth it. The shipping costs alone will eat you alive and then you have the possibility of your stuff coming damaged to boot. Do you really want to pay someone to break your things? I did not think so.
The eighth tip would be to relax about the same conveniences you have here in the United States. Let’s face it, we have it great here in the United States. You may not experience the same thing when you move overseas. So relax and become more like the locals and do what they do. Oh and by the way the locals do not want to hear how great the United States is when it comes to this and that. Not the best way to endear yourself to the locals.
The ninth tip would be to understand and get to know the health care system of your desired country. Is there a private health care system available? Is it actually better? What are the pros and cons of each? What do you need to know before you move?
Finally the last tip would be to understand and speak the language fairly well before you move. This can be done by finding a language buddy that you can converse with on skype or some other cheap communications channel. However the immersion method is by far the fastest method of learning any language.
July 24th, 2007 at 5:03 am
It’s not always easy to try out a country before moving there; when I moved to the Netherlands, back in 2000, it was one of the few Western European countries that I hadn’t visited at some point. Basically, I wanted the job I’d got, so it was pretty much an into-the-void decision that I’d made.
When you’re faced with a move like this, the best thing to do is to study your future home hard before you leave. Get to know the public transport routes and ticket system, learn the names of streets, even look up where the supermarkets are. It will make it much easier when you arrive, because you’ll be able to hit the ground running, to use a tired cliche…
July 24th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Thanks for the tips Paul. I apprecitate them and I totally agree with you.
With today’s world it is not too hard, meaning not impossible, to make some connections before you move to anywhere. This is what I am attempting to do before I spend any significant time in Italy is to get to know some of the locals there beforehand. That way I can have an inside track on what the locals do so I can blend in more.
I never thought of actually studying the map of the area beforehand but I can see the wisdom in doing that. Knowing where the supermarkets are is also another good one, however knowing where the really good supermarkets are is even better.
Again thanks for the tips.