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Avoid Making These 5 Mistakes When Moving

Moving is a big decision, especially when you are moving to a different country! It doesn't mean only a change of house, but a change of culture, a change in the way you do things, food culture, people, etc.

But sometimes, a move is essential – whether for career, family, or a change of pace. So, while the move can be exciting, it is also completely normal to dread international relocation as it brings numerous challenges.

So, whether the move is to China or Argentina, you have to consider a few important things to avoid rookie mistakes. This article will outline 5 common mistakes that you need to avoid when making your international move.

These are:

1. You Didn't Conduct Research

The biggest mistake you can make when relocating internationally is to move without research.

The first lesson we learn about anything in our lives is to research before we choose. It's the era of the internet, where you can find all the information online. You can get a sense of things before actually moving to that country.

We recommend that you start googling the minute the idea even comes to your head that you want to make a move. Here is what you should research:

• Cost of living
• Culture
• Religion
• State laws
• Customs and taxes
• Cost of relocation
• Schools and education facilities
• Safety and security

Learn about the driving situation and if they would accept your license or would you have to apply for another license as per that country's rules and regulations. Similarly, you might want to research your job area, which neighborhood you plan to move to, etc. If the move is for the entire family, you would need to do more research, in terms of schoolings and good residential, family-friendly neighborhoods, etc

2. You Didn't Consider Real Estate

Sometimes that job letter might want you to move within a month, and it is possible that you might not get much from selling your house that you could have otherwise if you had probably a few more months to get the best price.

Similarly, it is also possible that the real estate market of the country you are moving to might be crazy high. It is already in the news that the real estate market in the USA and UK is at an all-time high where the rent has become so expensive that families are relocating to low-income neighborhoods and choosing to commute longer instead.

So we suggest working with a realtor to sell your house and buy a new one in the new country. While you might look at the market rate on Zillow, you don't know the local market. Therefore, it is better you leave this in the hands of a real estate agent of the selling and buying country. It will save you a lot of time, money, and anxiety.

You will be able to get a good deal on the property you are selling or renting back home and getting a new one in the host country.

3. You Underestimated the Commute time, Costing, and Other Expenses

Your commute could become a major overhead if you don't make the correct estimations. You have to do a cost and budget analysis before moving abroad. Because while you might think that the salary and compensation package you are getting is awesome, it might not be that awesome when you subtract the cost of the commute.

Moreover, consider the cost of food, clothing, health facilities, and other living expenses to see whether the move is worth your while. Do you have anything left to save? Are you making more money as compared to what you are making now?

So once you do the analysis, you will be able to make a sound decision of whether you want to relocate or not. Many make the mistake of skipping this step and end up moving to an expensive country that is out of their budget.

4. You Didn't Buy Transit Insurance

When you are making a big move, anything can go wrong, which is why we suggest you invest in Insurance. Our valuables can get damaged during transportation; they might get lost or damaged. Therefore, we recommend that you choose moving insurance.

How to do so?

Choose a moving company that offers legitimate transit insurance. There are many international relocation companies that offer international moving insurance. This will give you peace of mind and compensation in case your valuables are harmed in any way. Otherwise, you might end up being sad over your lost or damaged products.

5. Underestimating The Required Time and Space

The last thing we would suggest is that you must not underestimate the time you will need to make a move.A lot of people make the mistake of underestimating the time, which is why they end up being frantic when moving is upon them! And as well all know, doing things in a hurry leads to mistakes. Therefore, it's best to plan ahead, create a timeline, and do things accordingly.

The second thing to watch out for is space; you are only allowed a certain amount of luggage per ticket. In most countries like the USA, the limit is 22KG per ticket, but the limit may vary from country to country.

Check out the luggage limit and plan it accordingly. Take only essentials with you on the plane and ship the rest of your belongings via sea or air freight. Plan out everything, which includes sorting your belongings, packing, and transportation.

Now You Are Ready to Make the Big Move

Making a move can be quite daunting; mistakes are inevitable, but if we take certain precautions, we can save ourselves from making any big ones!

So just remember NOT TO DO these five things; not research the place you are moving to, not calculating the expenses and commute time, disregarding the real estate market, not buying insurance, and last, underestimating the required time and space.

If you follow these tips, you are sure to make a much smoother and stress-free move!