Being friends with the Queen, drinking endless amounts of tea, and residing in a castle, are all things stereotypically associated with being British. However, we all know that realistically, being British means being incredibly defensive of your accent, popping to a beer garden at the nearest sign of sun, and having a longstanding obsession with the property market.
We’ve all gawked at the vast differences between value for money when it comes to property in the North and South, but what about home or away?
Whether or not you’re already clued up on the foreign market, and are looking to up sticks abroad, there are several things to consider before making the big plunge.
1. Learning the language
If you’re heading to a country where you don’t speak the national language, it’s wise to start learning it as soon as possible. Doing so will make you feel a lot happier and safer as you will be able to communicate with the natives, at least at a basic level. Thankfully nowadays, there are several great free apps and websites that are able to help.
2. Distance you’re planning to move
Just how far away are you planning to move? It may be that you wish to visit family and friends more than you originally anticipated, or you may have become accustomed to some of the brilliant British conveniences.
If you think you’ll be longing for home more than twice a year, make sure you’re realistic with distance in terms of both time and cost. France or the Netherlands may not be an issue, but somewhere a little further afield may be a little problematic.
3. Budget accordingly
If you’ve researched the cost to move overseas or the cost of the living in the country you’re headed for then brace yourself – it’s recommended that you add at least 25% onto that figure. Everybody lives differently; travel and estate agents alike often understate such figures.
You should also read up on the fine print of how accessible your funds will be from foreign accounts, and what the protocol is for moving money between countries.
4. Your current home
What’s the situation with your existing home? Are you selling up to help fund the move, or, are you going to keep it as an asset and rent the property out? Regardless of which option you choose, you’ll find yourself in a much better position if the property is fit for sale.
Tend to any little maintenance issues, and make sure the paintwork is up to scratch. For larger jobs, hire a professional, whether it be an electrician, plumber, or even a Roofing contractor in the North East – this will help to speed up the moving process.
5. Organise your belongings
Moving houses in the same town is one thing, but moving across the world is another. Ruthlessly sift through all of your belongings and get rid of anything that’s going to create clutter.
Of course, you don’t have to limit yourself to the bare essentials. Take a few sentimental items that remind you of home, but leave the kitchen sink behind.
Author
Claire Coutts