10. Get yourself organized!

Try to leave yourself three months to get all of your business affairs and personal documents in order. Remember you will be relying on other people to process your applications etc. so it is out of your hands how long it will take. Begin consular procedures, request information on how to obtain your visa, residency and work permits before you leave. These procedures take time, sometimes many weeks - even months. Begin as soon as possible. Check the documents required for the exportation of your goods from your country of origin and for their importation into the country of destination. Your status may enable you to benefit from certain advantages, such as the obtaining of an " EXEMPTION ". This will avoid you having to pay duties and taxes upon importing your used personal effects. Consider renewing your passport and those of all accompanying family members. These should be valid, at least, until your next return to your country.  Establish international driving licenses. Depending on the country of destination, you might have to obtain a local driving license by going to a local driving school and eventually passing a practical/theoretical driving test. In all cases, keep your actual driving license with you. It may be requested by the local authorities in order for you to avoid having to pass a test.

9. Hire the right moving company

Make sure that you hire a reputable removal company for transporting your belongings to your new home – after all, you are trusting them with all of your possessions. Make sure that the company you use is licensed with the state Department of Transportation and/or Interstate Commerce Commission.

8. Make the move easy on your pet

Relocating with pets is not easy, when traveling in the car you should keep them in a small portable kennel. Never leave your pet alone in the car for extended periods of time and always park out of direct sunlight. When moving overseas with pets have a look on the Internet for quarantine rules and medical restrictions for the country you are moving to. To travel by air your pet will need to be in good health and be up-to-date with all of its shots and vaccinations – your pet will need to have a rabies shots 30 days prior to traveling. If you are considering tranquillizers for your pet you may want to request some expert medical advice on the risks to your pet. Remember when relocating with a pet they will be confused, frightened or even become sick. If they have a bed that they regularly use at your old home take it with you so your pet will be more comfortable.

7. Settle your family in

When moving with young children you need to remember that after the excitement of moving wears off they will often feel lost in their new environment, leaving all of their friends and familiar surroundings behind. Try to get them back into activities they may of been involved in before the move so they feel at home - join clubs and get them involved in local activities so they can make new friends. When looking for a new school have a look through the local papers, which often contain information and statistics on the schools in your area. You can also contact the individual schools that you are interested in which will often mail you information packages on what they have to offer. Also take some time to visit the schools with your children so they can adjust to the new atmosphere.

6. Prepare for the change in living standards

A very common problem when relocating is finding that your standard of living changes dramatically. You go from a safe environment of having everything where you need it to a chaotic environment where everything is different. Adjusting to this can be difficult, however you can do certain things to help, such as:

· If you are moving to a country with another language try to familiarize yourself before hand with a few phrases.  This will make the  initial stages of fitting in much easier.

· Learn a few of the local customs; it is easy to offend in a new culture without even realizing you have done it.

· Work out how much you will need to live on, and budget for it.  It is very easy when you move to a new area to overspend and “treat your-self” while you are trying to settle in.

· Do some research into the local medical issues and make sure you are well protected, see point 1.

5. Change your address

Inform your local authorities (Condominium Association etc.) of your forthcoming departure.

Inform the various organizations of your forthcoming change of address. Transfer your subscriptions or cancel your contracts. Remember to inform your bank or building society of your change of address; after all you don’t want all of your personal account details to go to a stranger at your old address.

4. Research the area you are relocating to

Researching the area you are moving to is the single most important thing you will need to do in the time running up to your move. In the ideal situation you will decide where to move based on this research. However most people who are relocating are committed to a specific “catchments area” due to work obligations. To find the area that is best suited to you in the weeks running up to your move gather as much information as you can. Contact organizations such as the local chamber of commerce. You can also find government statistics in most local libraries that will cover issues such as health, education and crime in the area.

You will want to research issues that affect you the most in your chosen area. Give yourself a realistic time frame to gather all of the information you need, you don’t want to leave it to the last minute and discover that you are moving your family to an area where crime is sky high.

If you can, try to visit the area that you are moving to in advance as nothing can compensate for actually being there and getting a feel for the area first hand.  If you can’t visit the area try and talk to someone who lives, or has lived there.

3. Find appropriate accommodation for the “transition period”

When you first arrive at your destination it is possible that you will have to find interim housing while you are waiting to move into your new home. Remember, this will be the time when the stress of the move will be at its peak. For this reason it is important to find somewhere you will be comfortable and is ideally located near to your new home. Finding a serviced apartment for this transition period is the perfect solution as it has all of the comforts of home and includes all of the modern facilities you will need to keep your business affairs up to date.

2. Org anise your belongings

You have arrived at your new home and everything has gone according to plan. However it has been one of the most exhausting days of your life, all you want to do now is relax in front of the TV with a glass of wine. This is when you realize you have made the ultimate mistake; all of your possessions and randomly boxed up in a heap in the living room. In order to find the bottle opener you have to rummage through endless boxes just when you think the stress of the move is over. Of course this is just a hypothetical situation but think how annoying it would be! Leave yourself plenty of time to pack so you can org anise all of your belongings logically. Go to your local supermarket and ask if you can take some of their used boxes. Then take your time to split you belongings into categories, e.g. electrical, kitchen, fragile – and then mark the boxes. It may take you longer to pack now but it will save you hours when you arrive at your new home.

1. Don’t gamble with your health

Search for health information available about your country of destination, via the Internet you will find the latest information for travelers, with health information on specific destinations. Check for hospitals and how healthcare is structured in your new country. It is very important to take out an international health insurance able to cover you and your family in any case (even in short term missions of several days). Don’t forget vaccination requirements for travelers of all ages. Some vaccines must be given several weeks before leave, ask your GP to schedule this. Ask your GP, dentist, ophthalmologist and any other specialists to renew all your prescriptions so that you can continue your treatment abroad. Do not forget to ask for your medical files