Logistical Advice for Relocating

     Louis and I are happy to share advice that we learned (and taught ourselves) during our relocation from the United States to the Czech Republic.  The wisdom is straightforward, sensible, and extremely helpful.  

• Find a job where the employer values you enough to hire you above the local population.  You may have to exert yourself, but you will find that employers in other nations do not treat employees as disposable assets (like American employers do).  Your new job will immediately include a relieving Life-Work Balance that will not exist in America.
• Realize that your income may decrease because jobs in other nations pay less.  Nevertheless, the costs of living are also lower, Universal Healthcare is provided from your taxes, and the Life-Work Balance is priceless.
• Contact the embassy or consulate for your new nation, and be prompt and patient with the process.  Americans are overworked and brainwashed into a culture of working too much... but don't expect everyone in the world to do that.  Diplomatic staff will usually enjoy days-off for holidays in the USA, as well as in their homeland.  Also, people in government jobs might not be concerned about "customer satisfaction".  After 30 days, send a courteous follow-up email.  If you treat them politely, they will respond favorably.  
• Instead of social media, we had better results researching blogs, vlogs, and online videos of people who moved to new nations.  They describe neighborhoods, culture, customs, language, accessibility, prices, taxes, moving expenses, and integration.
• Try contacting those people to see if they will offer advice and answer questions.
• If time allows, start tasting and cooking the national recipes of where you will live.  Get acclimate with how to pronounce greetings and simple phrases.  Use them when interacting with people in that nation.  It is polite, and it demonstrates intent and deferential respect.
• Choose reputable banks and contact them to learn how easy it is to arrange new accounts and transfer funds.  Beyond the USA (where people still mail checks as payment), the world is mostly cashless.  Don't bring too much cash, and you can avoid a costly currency exchange.
• Be prepared to notify the American federal government of your relocation, and you might use an international accountant to pay any taxes that are due to the USA.  Your future salary will only be taxed by your new nation, but assets in the USA might owe taxes to the USA.
• Anticipate that realtors might be incompetent, slow, or unmotivated.  They often get paid twice (by sellers and buyers or by landlords and renters) so you reasonably expect responsiveness, but that is not guaranteed.  You may have to nudge them repeatedly to get things done.  You might crave a refund for doing their work for them, but that is improbable.
• Choose reputable real estate agents.  Realtors will be instrumental in helping you find a new home.  Realize that the first apartment/house that you get may not be the last because you will discover things about neighborhoods and might move within a year.  A one-year lease will give you ample time to choose the perfect place for your next residence.  If you are not bringing furniture, consider getting a pre-furnished apartment as your first home.
• Realtors in other nations are not as greedy as American ones and not as bad as NYC's.  Be kind to them, and they will want to work with you.  Being nasty (because you anticipate problems) will not help.  
• Anticipate that homes beyond America are slightly smaller (because most of the population isn't hungry for over-consumerism, midnight shopping, and materialism).  The new size that you get accustomed to will require less cleaning and have lower energy costs.
• The modern era allows you to enjoy video calls with realtors/owners and "virtual tours" of potential homes, so you don't need to buy flight tickets to view each home.
• Be certain that the usable space is not included with balconies, garage parking, cellar storage, or floorspace under walls/partitions.  The "usable space" must only include the area inside the dwelling where you can stand.
• The rental or ownership contract must connect you, the realtor, and the current owner who sells to you.  It must include an inventory of all appliances, equipment, and furnishings.  It should include a penalty fee if the seller cancels.  It should include a penalty fee for every day that delays you from occupying it.  (That will prevent any delays from the current owner).  
• Purge your possessions of things that you don't use.  People have a tendency to accumulate too many things, and they rarely use them.  Reduce clutter, shipping costs, and the need for closets/furniture by getting rid of them.  Donate clothes.  Sell things online (and that revenue will offset your moving expenses).  Make things into "going away" gifts to friends.  If you didn't use something more than 3 times in a year, you should get rid of it.
• Don't ship utensils or cooking knives: metal is heavy and will increase your costs, and blades might cause Customs to scrutinize your shipment.  Reconsider shipping things made of metal, stone, and wood.  If they are minor keepsakes or souvenirs, take photos of them.  
• Due to variances in voltage, do not bring household appliances to your new home: hair dryer, blender, air fryer.  You can buy a power adaptor for small gadgets (cellphone, hair razor), and modern computers and laptops have internal voltage adaptors.  Buy new appliances and gadgets in your new nation... and they will cost less, too. 
• Anticipate that you will finally be able to walk to grocery stores, bakeries, butchers, convenience stores, and hair salons... because most communities are created for accessibility.  They are not car-centric like American ones.
• You will discover that your neighbors make smaller purchases more frequently because they want freshness and enjoy the convenience of the stores.  Beyond the USA, most populations do not "buy in bulk" or overload their freezers and pantries.  They buy things when they need to.  Consequently, they have fresher ingredients, tastier meals, and some exercise.  Going to markets is how you ingratiate yourself in your new community.    
• Contact your current bank, insurance, pension, et cetera, and change your address to a trusted person, or opt for online statements.
• Tell the postal service to forward your mail to a trusted person, or stop mail so it is returned to the senders.
• If you are emigrating out of the USA, you probably won't need credit cards... and you won't want their American-level interest rates and fees.  Find debit/bank cards that are popular in your new city.  
• Get advanced amounts of prescriptions and cosmetics (e.g.: organic soaps) so you have a stockpile until you find new suppliers in your new home.
• Hire reputable movers.  Use double-wall boxes, and pack your things with clothes and fabrics as cushioning.  That saves money from buying additional packaging padding.
• Use the internet to familiarize yourself with your new home: neighborhoods, public transit, travel routes, stores, gyms, cultural institutions, and leisure activities.  
• You will probably use public transportation more than ever before, and it will outclass anything in the USA with modernity, reliability, punctuality, and online notifications.  Download the app for it and get acclimated to the maps, routes, transfers, and types.  Public transit in most first-world nations (not the USA) is remarkable and will help you greatly.  On your phone, pre-purchase a weekly/monthly/annual travel pass (ticket), so you are ready to use it.  You can choose when to activate it.  
• Learn some of the local lingo before you arrive.  After you are settled into your new home, enroll in a native language course.
• Locate and visit Integration Centers for immigrants and expats.  Join social clubs from your homeland (but don't isolate yourself only with natives from your homeland).  Participate.  Donate your time.  Contribute to community activities.  Attend local events.  
• If you have a Driver's License, enroll in the necessary exams to convert it. 
• Learn where the locals go for getaways, vacations, meals, holidays, and civic celebrations.  It's always wise to "go where the locals go".  Be enthused about exploring, and your new nation will surprise you.
• Be thorough and vigorous in everything.  

     Sometimes, the steps of your ascent are the keys to your development.  (Yes, these steps look like a keyhole).

     To see encouragement during your moving process, please use this link: 

https://halfwindsorfullthrottle.blogspot.com/2024/08/encouragement-for-people-relocating.html