Recent articles about digital nomads and the lives of expats have created a lot of interest in the idea of living abroad. A mix of hot how-to articles and lavish lifestyle pieces share the thrills and challenges of the journey, and provide temptation and inspiration to many that feel they might benefit from a life in a new country.
Maybe you're one of them? You’ve done your research, your dream location has been selected, and you've made the decision to move abroad. Perhaps you're ready to put your plan into action. Congratulations on making it this far.
In this article, we will talk about some of the resources that are available to you as you do the necessary work to set up your new life abroad.
Relocating to a New Country
Time to get to work. You make your list; as the absolute minimum, you have to: solve visa and entry issues, arrange the travel, settle things at home, find housing in the new country, move in to your new home, set up phone and internet, maybe even a local banking account. That is a lot to do, but no one said it would be easy.
For many travelers, including families, or remote workers that need to arrive into a reliable place they can get to work, there are a variety of services that could make things easier: Expat websites can give you insightful information from insiders about the living conditions in your chosen country, local real estate agents help with real estate and related issues, and relocation coordinators bring professional expertise to some larger tasks and challenges you will face when moving abroad.
Expat Websites are a Good First Point of Contact
If you're considering moving to a foreign country, expat resources can be a great source of inspiration and information. These expat communities provide information about popular destinations, and often provide expert testimony on the process of setting up your life in the new country.
"Many of the foreigners that come into Mexico don't speak Spanish perfectly. When they need help, we can do everything from airport pickup to connecting them with bilingual doctors, lawyers, and real estate agents. They can rely on us to identify good local choices." -- This Week in Guadalajara, city guide for Guadalajara, Mexico
As you dig deeper into their offerings, you may find that they also provide specific services to help potential or decided expats. These sites may offer consulting calls or one-on-one coaching sessions related to specifics like visa procedures, setting up a business, or tax issues in a local destination. Some membership-driven expat forums offer a shared space where new and experienced expats can exchange information about: the logistics of international moves, finding temporary housing or buying real estate in a foreign country, and how to connect with local legal services, real estate agents, language schools, immigration advisors, and more.
Expat community members can offer recommendations in public comments or via direct messages between members. There can be meetup groups in the target country. Sometimes, even new friendships are formed.
First You Pick a Country, Then You Choose a Home
If you are like most expats, your knowledge about the country where you want to live comes from online research and a few personal trips; that early exposure is a great start.
As you become more serious about a new life in a foreign country, and particularly when picking a place to live, you'll want to move from thinking like a tourist to thinking like a local. Online real estate listings do a good job showing pictures and prices, but won't provide much advice or guidance as you're deciding which of the local neighborhoods will be the right location for you for a long-term home.
To find the right home and location to live in, local, English-speaking real estate agents can often provide that much-needed local advice and guidance. Good local buyer's agents can listen to your preferences, and provide recommendations on the best local neighborhoods. They have often already served foreign clients, and they know what has worked out well for expats in the past. Independent local agents are usually much better than online listings, can explain the pros and cons for a range of living choices, and can provide pre-screened, local housing options - and sometimes even off-market property (that is not listed at all on commercial online property portals).
"Having watched over a thousand foreign clients, we see many of them trying to help themselves. They struggle to complete deals in the local language, or they find property listings with problems that would be obvious to experienced local agents. For location recommendations alone, local agents provide a ton of value. We recommend that anyone looking to buy property in a foreign country talk to a few local buyer's agents." -- FindHokkaidoAgents.com, real estate referral company in Japan
As you search for a new home, a local real estate agent can be an indispensable source of wisdom. There are different kinds of services that help foreigners with real estate transactions that make it easier to rent, buy, or invest in real estate as a foreigner.
For expats buying property in international real estate transactions, talking to local real estate agents can be especially important. Experienced, talented, local real estate brokers want to make good use of their time; be prepared to pay a commission to the agent on the purchase (just like you would in your home country). A recent report about the commissions for real estate agents by country shows transaction fees on purchases can range from 0.5 to 8% of the property price.
Your agent can not only guide your choices, but can actually provide access for you to see apartments and property for yourself.
While a local agent has no obligation to help you after you complete a contract for a place to live, real estate agents that regularly work with expats and foreigners can often provide recommendations to other local professionals like tax accountants, lawyers, translators, and more. If you're a good client, your local agent may open doors to help you accomplish other goals.
Relocation Coordinators to Do Your Moving for You
Many foreigners considering moving abroad already have experience using a moving service in their home country. That job is simple: pick up your things at your old house, put them into a truck, and move all that to your new home. Moving internationally requires a higher level of service as your belongings will be transported by train, by boat, or perhaps by air; and will need the approval of international customs along the way.
An international move to a new country may involve more than just transporting goods. International relocation coordinators provide services to help you before, during, and after your move. The range of services these companies provide varies widely, but the primary services include: a comprehensive search for housing, moving and home set-up logistics, as well as local registration and governmental paperwork. Most international movers have a lot of experience, they know just what needs to be done (and when), and they can both save you time and give you a better experience.
Full-service relocation management can be expensive, but may be the right choice for international moves that need to be done very quickly, for moving a whole family abroad (getting children enrolled in school, transporting pets, etc), or for professionals when their company may offer this kind of support as part of a relocation package or employment transfer.
When choosing to work with a relocation coordinator, your role is to consider how much you can pay, how much help you want, and what you want to carry with you that you will need as you arrive (versus what can arrive days or weeks later).
For a Smooth Move, Get Help, Plan Well, Avoid Surprises
The next steps in starting your life abroad may be intimidating, but if you figure out the exact steps you need to take, and identify local help in your new country, your journey to become an expat will go much smoother.
Whether you want a short-term place to hold you over while you explore your options, a long-term apartment lease, or perhaps even to buy a home in the new location, establishing a place to stay provides a safe haven as you start your life abroad. Perhaps you'll work with a service that helps foreigners with international real estate transactions along the way.
Do your research. Plan well. There will undoubtedly be some surprises, but if you stay flexible and get some local help, you can land safely and begin to enjoy all the benefits your new home has to offer.
Article by Graham Hill
