Moving Abroad? Here’s What You Need To Do Before Packing

If you have lived abroad and experienced the expat lifestyle, you know what it’s like to move internationally and live in a rental home abroad. Moving abroad is very different from moving domestically. When we move abroad, we usually live out of suitcase for 2 to 3 months between the day we pack out and the day we receive our shipment. Therefore, it takes much longer to settle in abroad.

Be patient and start with what you can. One step at a time. Here are some tips from me.

Downsize Before Moving Abroad

Many companies or organizations provide a big allowance for shipping household effects to posts abroad. At the same time, many expats who go abroad for assignments also get to send some household effects to a climate-controlled storage. Unless your company sets a limit on the amount you can send to a storage while you live abroad, you can send a lot. Therefore, you would be fine if you don’t downsize. Nevertheless, I highly recommend downsizing before you move abroad. It will help you when you move back. You will definitely thank yourself for the hard work you have done later.

This is your chance to think hard what you want to keep and how you want to live in the next chapter of your life going abroad. It can be a transformative process if you put in time and efforts into it now. Time to read Marie Kondo’s “Spark Joy”?

What Not To Send To A Storage

If you will live abroad longer than 5 year, here’s what I advise not to send to a storage

1. Electronic items – Electronic items such as a TV, desk top computer, printer, vacuum cleaner, may become dated by the time you retrieve them from the storage after several years. You may not be able to sell them if they are deemed too old.
2. Electrical appliances – If you send electrical appliances, such as a toaster, coffee maker, hair dryer, iron, blender, and mixer, you may still be able to use after retrieving them from a storage. However, for the most part, I would rather sell them when they are still sellable, if I won’t ship them to a post abroad. Buying new ones after returning is better.
3. Baby gear – Baby gear does not do well in a storage. Still thinking about growing a family? Ship baby items. Baby gear could be recalled after a few years for safety reason. Cribs, carseats, booster chairs, and strollers are always tricky to keep for a long time. We only kept a small amount of baby gear after our kids grew out of them and always shipped them to a post abroad. I’ve seen families, who left their baby items in a storage back home, get pregnant abroad and end up buying everything all over again.
4. Clothes – You are moving to a tropical country and know for sure that you don’t need to bring a fur coat and snow boots? Sure, you should send them to a storage. Otherwise, you should ship all your clothes or let go of them before you move.

There are more items I would not send to a storage personally, but I’ll stop here. You don’t have to go crazy on downsizing. If you have items that you love and can’t send to your post abroad, send them to a storage for your peace of mind. For items that you hold onto because “you might need them later” or you feel simply guilty to get rid of, it’s time for you to let go.

Organize, Organize, Organize

Organizing will help you through the moving process before packing, and after unpacking. I can’t stress this enough. Sure, you will have a team of packers with a moving company come in on pack-out days and they will sweep everything into boxes. Your household goods will move whether you are organized or not. Would you like a smooth transition, though? It’s imperative to be organized.

In some countries, packers move so fast that they will even pack trash you meant to throw away. Packers would pack your passports if you don’t store them in a space that they are not allowed to touch. If you notice early enough that your passports are missing, you may be saved. If it’s almost at the end, good luck finding your passports in hundreds of boxes. By the way, I recommend that you designate a room, which can be a bathroom, to make off limits for packers and store suitcases with clothes and valuables in them while a moving company works in your home.

Breathe

My friend one time said, “The year we don’t move is a good year.” I wholeheartedly agree.

Moving is stressful. I’ve done it so many times, but I still get stressed out. I should know the drills, but I still make mistakes.

There are many elements of moving that are out of our control. For example, timing to receive visa is not in your control. How packing goes. Someone may get sick on an important day. It’s important to remember that it will pass.

Breathe slowly and deeply. Tell yourself that everything is going to be okay. Even if you don’t believe it, saying it to yourself will help. Your body listens to you.

Below are some more tips for moving abroad for expats if you are interested.

Transform A Rental Home Into Your Home

Organizing Secrets for Moving Abroad

How to Stay Happy Overseas

I wish you the best of luck with your upcoming move if you are moving!