Tips for Temporary Overseas Moves

Your boss called—and she has great news! She’s sending you to the new Paris office to get it off to a great start. The only trouble is, you’ll have to move house within the month. Panic sets in—immediately.

Don’t call your therapist. Read these tips from the professional house movers at Zoom Removals first.

First, Contact Australia Post

Australia Post has a fantastic redirect and hold mail service—one that even works for overseas moves. If you’re taking your family with you, you can submit a list of all the names of your family members so their mail will redirect to your new address as well. W/

hen you apply, be sure that you have either your passport or your driver’s licence with you since they’ll need to verify your identity. Make sure you know when you’ll return so you can begin to receive mail there when you come home.

For overseas moves, Australia Post has a special international mail redirection program. Just give them your new overseas address and they’ll send your mail there. One caveat, though. Australia Post can’t redirect mail that requires a signature or customs clearance. Arrange for someone else here in Australia to receive those kinds of packages and then send them to you directly. Otherwise, they will return to the sender as undeliverable.

Don’t let this step go until the last minute. You must lodge your application at least three days before your move.

Next, Call Your Removalists

If you’re coming back within a year’s time or so, you may not even need to move your furniture. There may, though, be a few things you’d like to keep for removals storage so it’s in a safe location. If, however, you plan to move elsewhere upon your return, it might be a good idea to store all your belongings with your removalist until you move back home.

If you’re under a strict timetable, no worries. Most reputable removalists offer movers and packers services to save you time – There will be plenty of more important things to spend your time on!

Finally, Prepare for Cultural Change

If you’re moving to a non-English-speaking country and don’t know the language, it’s time for a crash course in the country’s culture and language. Learn the basics so you’ll be prepared to communicate when you go to the market, to your new healthcare provider, or conduct other business.

Make friends with the locals, especially when you’re there for business. Your company will earn a five-star rating when you make an effort to learn the culture and speak the language.

Also, have the name of a good translator handy to help you untangle the language in any legal documents, such as residency permits, apartment applications, and contracts. Most importantly, bring along patience. Bureaucratic systems tend to work slowly, particularly when communication is difficult.

Even if you’re moving to another English-speaking country, it pays to know the local culture and jargon. Some expressions that may be perfectly acceptable here in Australia may have a completely different—and often embarrassing meaning—there. Learn the local culture so you don’t offend.

With these tips in hand, you’ll be prepared for your temporary overseas move in no time. If you need extra help, book removalist services now!