International Moving: What to Consider When Looking for a Home

From researching international moving companies to finding a new home, moving to another country requires a great deal of preparation. Finding a home has always brought with it an element of stress but searching for a home in a country with a different culture adds to that some elements you may not be aware of.

An international move is similar to relocating to a new home in general, with a few major differences. You may know less about your destination than you would with a domestic move, and there will be a lot of paperwork needed, such as visa and work permits. We cover these in our in-depth international moving guide.

Whatever your reason for moving, you’ll find yourself doing more research for your international relocation than you would with other types of moves, and you may have to find answers to some questions that would otherwise seem obvious.

1. Should You Rent or Buy?

Renting is an attractive option when first moving to a foreign destination, simply because you may not know how long you’ll want to stay there. It’s possible that once you’ve spent some time in your new city, you might decide that your lifestyle is better suited to a different neighborhood or type of home.

Also, if you’re planning to travel a lot, your monthly rent may be lower than mortgage payments, and you could be responsible for little to no home maintenance. When you decide it’s time to move on or come home, there is no pressure to sell your home before leaving. However, if your international relocation will last more than a few years, buying a home could make more economic sense. There are some cities where renting is so difficult or expensive that buying really is a much better — and cheaper — option in the long term.

Culturally, there may be an option that people from the country you’re moving to gravitate toward. For instance, only 43% of the Swiss own their own homes, according to Eurostat. Often, young Swiss couples only consider a purchase once they have children. The popularity of renting apartments or “flats” is prevalent in other parts of Western Europe as well. However, in the U.K., the culture encourages getting on the “property ladder” sooner than later. Do upfront research to know what kind of housing expectations you’ll encounter in your new country.

Whether you ultimately decide to rent or buy, home-finding services can help you find temporary accommodations as well as long-term ones. If you need to get to your new country in a hurry but haven’t found the perfect home yet, securing interim living accommodations will allow you to adjust to life in a new country and familiarize yourself with the local neighborhoods before making a more permanent decision to sign a lease or purchase a home. Not only that but in some countries, you may not be allowed to purchase property right away, leaving renting as your only option.

2. What’s the Traffic Like?

When you’re moving within the same city or even the same state, traffic patterns are easy enough to figure out. When it comes to moving to a foreign city, you’ll want to do some more detailed research into what it’s like to commute to and from your new workplace. If you’re moving for work, one of the best places to start is asking your coworkers who already live in the area. Traffic and general commuting time will probably be a deciding factor in where you’ll live. The commute situation may also determine whether you’ll need to purchase a car or can rely on public transportation.

3. What About Public Transportation?

As with traffic, public transportation options in a new city are something you may know little about when moving internationally. Fortunately, there will be a plethora of resources to help you, as all cities with usable public transportation will have an official website linking to the options available to you.

If you’ve only ever lived in the United States, you’re probably used to public transportation being available primarily in big cities. However, countries where fewer people own their own vehicles often have affordable modes of public transportation even in smaller towns or villages.

Be prepared to adapt to options other than buses and trains. For example, if motorcycle taxis are the best way to get around in your destination city, you’ll need to buy a helmet. A possible benefit of using public transportation, at least until you purchase your own vehicle, is that it immerses you in the culture of your new country.

4. What About Flexible Work Options and Telecommuting?

If you’re not moving abroad for work, perhaps you are looking for a way to fund your lifestyle in a new city while maintaining the freedom to travel around the globe. Many companies now offer flexible work options and telecommuting, so your current company may be willing to work with you and allow you to keep your job. If not, there are websites like FlexJobs, that can help you find companies looking for remote workers.

The ability to telecommute also mitigates some of the tradeoffs you may be making on traffic and public transportation in your new city. More and more people are working from home these days, and you could be one of them.

5. What Are Your Family Concerns and Responsibilities?

Moving overseas with a family can be complicated, so you may want to consult with friends and other connections and peruse expatriate blogs for ideas about balancing family life in your new city. For parents, finding schools will be one of the biggest concerns and may even dictate which home you choose. For some families, it may come down to a choice between city life with children and a more suburban setting. Another concern for families and individuals of all ages is convenient access to quality medical facilities.

6. What is the Cost of Living in Comparison to Your Current City?

The cost of living in your destination city is likely to be a determining factor in your housing budget, so it’s important to find out the difference in cost between your current city and your new one. When comparing the cost of living in various places, there are several common expenses to factor in, including:

• Housing
• Utilities
• Food
• Taxes
• Transportation
• Healthcare
• Education or childcare
• Clothing, personal care items, and cleaning products

Online you will find plenty of calculators that evaluate how far your salary can go in a new city. This cost-of-living calculator from Expatisan, a source for data and tools for moving abroad, lets you compare the percentage differences between key expenses. LivingCost.org is another international cost-of-living calculator that may yield slightly different results.

What You Need to Know Before Signing a Lease in a Foreign Country

Signing a lease for a new home is an exciting time but leave your American expectations behind when doing business in another country. Here are a few things to know before renting a house or apartment in a place where you may not know what is customary:

• Clarify what is included in your monthly rent.
• Find out which appliances are included.
• Ask when the rental period begins.
• Understand the accepted payment methods.
• Ask what kind of documentation is needed to be able to rent.
• Find out whether you are responsible for setting up utilities.
• Verify which repairs and maintenance renters are responsible for.
• Ask for an estimate of monthly utility costs.
• Make sure to insert “diplomatic clause” if assignment ends early

Where Can You Get Help Finding a Home?

Since moving abroad involves so many unknown variables, it’s possible that you still need help with finding a house or apartment. That help could come from some unexpected places. Here are just a few suggestions:

• Leverage your overseas contacts. If you have family members, friends, coworkers, or acquaintances in your destination country, they can give you advice about where to find housing and possibly even view some properties for you in person before your arrival.
• Ask your international movers. Full-service international moving companies often have contact information for landlords and real estate agents in your destination country — especially if they are constantly servicing moves between your country of origin and your destination country.
• Contact your HR department. Some employers offer relocation assistance to help you find housing, especially if they already have a physical presence in your destination country. When a company wants you to move, they are often more than willing to help with some of the details.
• Check your destination city’s newspaper. Finding the online version of local newspapers in your desired locale will give you instant access to their housing ads. Here you may find hidden gems not advertised in other places.
• Spend time on real estate websites. Real estate sites such as realestate.com and Century 21 Global include international listings, but you could also visit some websites that are unique to your destination country.
• Contact an international realtor organization. These kinds of agencies are often willing to provide Skype or Facetime walkthroughs of available properties. When a prospecting trip isn’t doable, a live virtual tour can give you a detailed look at a home you’re interested in. This preview might be the next best thing to physically visiting a property and can help you narrow down which homes you want to view in person.
• Join some Facebook groups for people relocating to the same area. Most major cities have Facebook groups for people who either already live in a city or are planning to move there. Interacting in one of these groups will likely lead to obtaining information from fellow expatriates who have already found a home in the area and are eager to help and even make friends.
• Consider hiring a home-finding relocation service. When all else fails, you may want to seek professional help with finding your new home. International home-finding services are businesses that can help you find accommodations in your destination country. These services offer a bigger picture of your prospective neighborhood by providing detailed information about schools, houses of worship, grocery stores, community centers, and more.
• Look into staying at an AirBnb as a temporary solution. Although not the most affordable option, staying at an AirBnb is easy to arrange and has become a popular short-term solution for families in the process of moving.

Whichever home-finding resource you use, they will ask questions about your wants and needs to narrow your property search. To prepare for these questions, start thinking about the general area where you want to live and make a list of your must-have features. Beginning your search early and keeping an open mind will help you avoid stress during this major life event.

Our Experienced International Movers Can Help with the Logistics of Your Move

Once you find a home, it’s best to schedule your move as far in advance as possible. It’s also vital to go with a reputable moving company. As international movers with more than 100 years of experience, Suddath is fully equipped to get your belongings to your new destination safely and securely. Our overseas move coordinators and professional packing teams will prepare your items for customs and are ready to handle almost any moving situation.

Read more of our international moving resources, or contact us today for a quote on our international moving services, from packing to shipping and storage, and more.