The UK is one of the best destinations in the world, and several people relocate there every year, either on a short-term or permanent basis. However, unlike a simple local move, international moves are very daunting, even with the excitement that comes with moving to a new country. Therefore, if you are considering moving to the UK from abroad, you should understand that the move will not be an easy one. Fortunately for you, below are some great tips that you can use to plan a successful move, as well as settle down in the foreign country.
Tips on how to successfully move to the UK
- Prepare for the move adequately
Like every other great project you will ever embark on, the planning stage is one of the most important steps as it provides you with a roadmap that you are going to follow. This roadmap helps you to know exactly what you need to do and when to do it, thus making sure that your plan does not fail. Therefore, when you decide that you want to move to the UK, the first thing you need to do is create a plan that you will use to make your move successful.
Your plan should start with creating a moving checklist, such as this real simple one, that contains all the tasks you need to do during the move. An example of some of the tasks you should write down include:
– Cleaning and sorting out your belongings
– Packing
– Hiring a moving company
– Acquiring documents needed to move
– Selling your house/ending the lease agreement
– Setting a moving date
– Cancelling your subscription plans
After you have noted down everything you need to do, you can then start arranging those tasks into various categories and create a timeline for when each of the tasks is to be completed. This will give you a solid plan that will help to guarantee you do not forget to do anything, and that all the tasks are completed in time for the move.
- Research and chose the location of your new home
The United Kingdom is one of the best countries to relocate to, regardless of where you are moving from. The country has several destinations with a rich culture, nice people, and affordable cost of living, which are ideal for people relocating from abroad. However, you still need to choose one location before you move. Therefore, you should start researching various destinations in the UK that you can make your new home. After you have come up with a list of good ideas, you can then choose the best one by considering various factors such as your personal preference, the climate of the region, the location of your new job (if you already have one), friends and family members who might be living in the UK, the cost of living, etc.
In addition to choosing the location of your new home, you should also a number of times before the move and familiarise yourself with it, thus making it easy for you to settle in once you move. Prior visits will also help you to identify things that you like or do not like with your new home, thus helping you make a final decision on the location – whether it is ideal or if you should start searching for a new one.
- Move your belongings
One of the most important tasks that you need to do when moving to the UK is to transport your gear from abroad to your new home. To do this, you need the help of a reputable and reliable moving company, which will help to ease the burden of the move and ensure you have a stress-free experience. Therefore, after deciding on where you are going to move to, you should start researching various international UK removals companies that can help you transport your belongings. You can come across these companies by asking for referrals from friends and family members that have relocated to the UK. However, the most efficient way is to conduct your own online research, shortlist the best companies, and meeting with the companies in person or asking for quotations. This will help you make an informed decision, thus guaranteeing that the company you chose will not let you down.
In addition to choosing a moving company, you should also consider finding a reliable and affordable storage solution, like this reputable one from Wynnes, once you reach in the UK, especially if you are moving with too much stuff. Since most UK removals companies offer this service, you just need to ask the moving company you chose for a quotation on their storage services.
- Make a plan for settling in
One of the things that make most abroad moves unsuccessfully is not being able to settle into your new home due to various factors such as culture shock, language barrier, the high cost of living, etc. Therefore, before you move, you should prepare yourself adequately to ensure that you settle comfortably in your new home. You can do this by:
– Learning the language – The UK people speak English, and thus you need to make sure that you can communicate fluently in English before you move. In case you don’t, take some classes before moving to improve your skills.
– Finding a job before moving – one of the best ways to ensure that you settle down easily is to find a job before moving to the UK. This will give you financial stability once you move, making your transition easier.
– Saving some money – in case you do not have a job by the time you are moving, the best way to ensure that you are financially stable is to save enough money to last you a number of months in the new country. This will give you enough time to find a good job.
- Build a support system of friends and professional contacts
Regardless of how well you are prepared for your new country, you might still find yourself having problems settling in. Therefore, once you move, you should create a strong support system to help you settle more easily. You can do this before moving, by finding people, clubs, societies, and groups that interest you. When you arrive in your new city or town, you can also go out to clubs, restaurants, parks, group meetings, and other places where you are likely to meet like-minded people.
Conclusion
Making a move to the UK from abroad is not an easy task, but you can be able to take a lot of pressure on the move with adequate preparation, some finer details are listed here, thus guaranteeing a stress free relocation. Planning beforehand will also help to make it easy for you to settle in, thus making sure that you experience very few or no problems at all in your new home.