Relocation is one of the biggest life events, on a par with marriage or the arrival of children. What makes relocation so difficult is the fact that we do not change our address every day. In other words, we are not familiar with how moving works. Furthermore, relocation requires good organization and planning. Remember that packing an entire household and moving it to another continent is not an easy task. Lastly, moving to another country means that you will have to adapt to your new surroundings and make new friends. This is not an easy process and it could last for several months. As you can see, moving out of Hong Kong is a difficult process and it’s easy to forget something in all that mess. Therefore, we present you with an international moving checklist that will help you prepare for the move like a pro. Stay tuned for more.
Finding a reliable moving partner should be the first entry on an international moving checklist
Like we already pointed out, moving abroad like, for example, moving from Hong Kong to USA is a difficult process that takes time and patience to pull off. Luckily for you, you can always count on professional assistance. Therefore, your first task should be to find a reliable moving partner. Listed below are some of the advantages of hiring professional movers:
- Experience. Professional movers are people who do this for a living and are certainly more qualified than you are.
- Equipment. Furthermore, they have all the necessary tools and knowledge to tackle every type of relocation.
- Safety of your belongings. One of your biggest concerns is that nothing gets damaged during the relocation process. Professional movers will make sure that your belongings arrive at their destination in one piece.
- Time. If you let your movers do the job, you can concentrate on other aspects of the relocation process.
Moving tools are an important entry on the international moving checklist
On the other hand, if you decide to pack on your own you should get some quality moving tools. You can get most of these tools at your local DIY store. Moving tools are not expensive but if your goal is to save some money you can search for used moving equipment online. You can also ask friends who recently moved if they have some leftover moving tools. Anyway, this is what you should get:
- Cardboard boxes in different sizes
- Packing paper
- Bubble wrap
- Packing tape
- Styrofoam peanuts
- Scissors
- Marker pens
- Labels and stickers
- Basic tools like screwdrivers
- Ropes and straps
If you wish to pack on your own, you must get some moving supplies
Sort out your belongings before moving abroad
You are moving to another country, right? This is the perfect time to get rid of everything you don’t use regularly. This is why you should do a decluttering tour of your home and throw everything that you don’t need. Decluttering will also help you to save some money. How? Well, the price of every move is based on two factors: The distance of the move and the total weight of the shipment. By following that logic, the less stuff you transport, the less you will pay for the move. So, stop wasting time and sell, donate or throw away everything that is surplus to requirements.
International moving checklist: collect moving-related documents
What makes international moving more complicated than moving across the street is the paperwork. You will have to gather a lot of moving-related paperwork before you can transfer your entire household to another country. Here some of the most important documents:
- Passport
- Visas and work permits
- Birth and marriage certificates
- Driver’s license
- Professional licenses
- School records
- Medical records including vaccines
- Travel arrangements
- Health insurance papers
- Bank account documents
- Moving contract and other moving documents
- Rental documents
Important documents hold an important place on an international moving checklist
Make a moving inventory and do final checkups
People tend to lose their cool when they are surrounded by piles of obligations. We already pointed out that you should create a moving plan to avoid forgetting something. But we would also like to give you a shortlist of final checkups that you should perform shortly before the move.
- Check if everything is packed and labeled one last time before your reliable movers load the truck.
- Take time to clean the house before you leave.
- Notify the people you care about that you are leaving.
- Organize a cable provider at your new place.
- Don’t forget to pack your important documents
- Charge your phone and laptop.
- Download some music or films.
- Check the weather forecast. Maybe you will have to pack some warmer clothes.
Learn more about your new neighborhood
When you are moving abroad you should invest some time in learning more about your new neighborhood. Where are the best shops and bars? What about landmarks, monuments, and museums? Learning about your new neighborhood will make the transition easier and help you to adapt faster. This information will also help you to choose the best neighborhood for you and your family. Here is what to pay attention to:
- Crime rates and overall safety
- Costs of living and real estate prices
- Job opportunities
- Quality of schools
- Parks and green spaces
- Quality of public transportation network
Get language lessons
One of the most important things to do when moving to a foreign country is to try to learn the language. At least the basics. You will improve your chances of adapting quickly and overcoming cultural barriers if you know the language. It will be also easier for you to meet new people and make friends if you can start friendly conversations. Keep that in mind. So how to do it?
- Sign up for a language course before you move.
- Use the internet or smartphone apps to learn the language.
- Try using the language every day. Read the news in that language, watch films.
- Try to learn the “right” words.
- Reading books is one of the oldest tricks from books when it comes to learning a new language.
So, there you have it, this was our version of an international moving checklist. Feel free to add and remove items according to your needs. We hope that our list will help you prepare for the move.
