Moving overseas for the first time

Are you considering moving overseas for the first time? If you are, then, you are probably worrying about fitting in, finding new friends as well as saying goodbye to all old ones, maybe even finding a new job and a new place to live in. Those are all time, money, and energy consuming things that you need to take care of before you leave. But, another thing you have to before moving overseas for the first time is to find an affordable and reliable moving company as well as move to the new country properly. So, without further ado, here is a simple guide on what you need to do before you move out for good.

Visit Your New Country

Before you pack your bags, it is necessary to visit your new country and city at least once. It is best if you know what to prepare for. Also, this is a great way to get a good feel for the location, find the neighborhoods that will suit your needs, and meet the locals.

Moreover, it is advised to do some researching before you come to the new place in order to know which neighborhoods to visit and where to find an apartment or a house. If possible, try to find a place to live before you move out for good. In that way, you will know how much space you will be able to work with and you will know the sizes of each room. By doing this, you will know how much downsizing is necessary and what to pack. Furthermore, while you are there, talk to the locals or buy a guidebook in order to learn as much as you can about the city you are moving to.

A woman pointing at a map — When you come to the new city for the absolute first time, be a tourist. Do some researching for a while.

Find a Place to Live Before Moving Overseas

As previously mentioned, it would make your life easier if you would find a place to live in before you move. Otherwise, you will have to live in hotels or rent for a couple of months until you get a real feel for the city. So, be smart. In order to find an affordable and safe place to live in, that is also close to your work and your children’s school, hire a realtor.

A good realtor will show you houses and apartments that suit your needs the most. Do not try to cut corners on this one, you are a foreigner and you do not want to be tricked in buying something that is not good enough. Proper realtors know the market inside and out, and, what is more, they will be able to help you out with all the paperwork, especially if you do not speak the new language yet. So, before looking for Lebanon based moving experts at your service to help you with your relocation, find a place to live first.

two people shaking hands - moving overseas — Having a proper realtor is just as important as having a proper moving agent.

Find an Interstate Moving Company

If you were thinking about having a DIY kind of interstate move, you will probably make a huge mistake. This is a long and complicated process. So, do yourself a favor, and hire a moving company like Boueri Freight Services Lebanon for example. They will handle your relocation from start to an end and you will not have to lift a finger. Bear in mind that when moving overseas for the first time you will need all the help you can get. Just make sure to find an interstate moving company which is reliable and trustworthy.

However, before you hire a certain moving company, do some researching, ask for recommendations, and aks a couple of them for an in-home estimate. By doing this, you will know the final price of your move and you can budget accordingly. Do not forget to ask which services do they include in their price. An interstate moving company should offer the following services:

packing and unpacking
loading and unloading
taking care of transportation
handling your freight
heavy lifting
providing you with the best packing materials
dealing with insurance and all the necessary paperwork.

Purge Before Packing

So, after you know with how much space you can work, you need to seriously declutter your current home, that is, prepare for junk removal. Shipping and moving overseas is extremely expensive. And, in order to save money, try to downsize as much as possible. Start by cleaning each and every room. Get rid of all the things that are not working, that are broken or that are simply useless. Do not get too sentimental. Things are replaceable! Pack only what is necessary and what has sentimental value. If you have some old furniture, give it to your friends and family. The same goes for the books you no longer need or clothes you no longer wear. If nobody you know wants to take your things, consider visiting a local charity and donating.

Room full of boxes. — Moreover, if you want to earn some extra cash to help you with moving overseas, think about organizing a yard sale and selling all the thing you do not plan on taking with you.

Prepare for a Cultural Shock

Saying goodbye to everybody and everything familiar and leaving your comfort zone can be nerve-racking. But, it is something you have to do in order to turn a new leaf and start fresh. However, since people are overwhelmed with moving overseas for the first time, they forget to prepare themselves for a cultural shock. Let’s be honest, you will now have to live a completely different lifestyle and be surrounded by completely different people. So, do a lot of researching, explore the lifestyle, traditions, and customs of your new neighbors. If they are speaking a different language, make sure to know at least some basics. And, last but not least, let yourself be a tourist for a while. This is the best way to deal with moving stress. Good luck!