Expatriate Life

Relocation Checklist

At Holborn we're used to helping clients plan for relocation. As soon as you know you are returning to the UK or a moving to another overseas location you should contact your Holborn Assets adviser. In the meantime here is a relocation planner for you to keep and use to help you remember what needs doing and when.

2 Months Before – Store important records in fire-safe box
(Check if any documents will need to be attested before moving)

• School records / qualifications
• Home purchase / sale papers
• Wills / marriage / divorce papers
• Financial records / stock certificates / pension documents / investments
• Birth certificates / social security cards / passports / visas
• Driving licenses / local and international
• Medical records / dental / optician / any hospital treatment / insurance / prescription / immunisation
• Travel documents

2 months before – Healthcare Planning

• Register with a local Medical practice in the UK
• Take your medical records back with you
• Register with a Dental practice in the UK (It is unlikely that you will be able to register as a NHS patient)
• Take any dental reports
• Opticians
• Take any vision reports
• Medical Insurance Company

2 Months Before – Financial Planning

• Advise your Financial planner and ask them to advise you on:
  • Investments for tax efficiency
  • Arrival for tax purposes
  • Maintaining offshore accounts and the tax consequences
  • New UK Capital Gains Tax rules or UK equivalent
  • Receipt of overseas emoluments after you return and whether or not they will be taxable in the UK or UK equivalent
  • Advising Inland Revenue or UK equivalent

2 Months Before – Check out your company Relo package

• Determine what expenses will be paid by your company
• Determine what expenses you will have to cover yourself
• Start a log of moving expense receipts (some may be deductible)

2 Months Before – Get a written moving estimate

Get estimates from two or more movers

• Including written commitment of pickup and delivery dates
• Get and check references
• Check the limits of the insurance offered
• See if the insurance offered covers replacement cost
• Purchase additional insurance, if necessary

1 mMonth Before – Give cancellation notices

• Give day care centre proper notice of withdrawal
• Give notice to clubs, organizations, volunteer activities
• Ask how you can end, sell or transfer your memberships
• Cancel newspaper subscriptions and regular deliveries

1 Month Before – Hire a storage facility (if needed)

• Check the limits of the insurance offered
• See if the insurance offered covers replacement cost
• Purchase additional insurance, if necessary

1 Month Before – Instruct your bank

• Arrange transfer of your accounts
• Order cheques with new address
• lean out your safety deposit box

1 Month Before – Make travel arrangements

• Hotels / temporary housing
• Rental cars / plane tickets
• Transport service for pets and automobiles, if needed

1 Month Before – Submit a change of address

• Turn in forms at the post office
• Mail post cards to friends and creditors

1 Month Before – Transfer important records

• Contact schools and arrange for transfer of student records
• Contact doctors for medical records and referrals to new physicians
• Change your insurance policies on property, auto, and medical

2 Weeks Before – Clean out

• Take a ruthless walk-through to determine what you want to take
• Tag the rest of it and hold a garage sale / post on Dubbizzle
• Or call a charity for pick-up

2 Weeks Before – Get your stuff in order

• Clean out club, gym, and school lockers
• Pick up all dry cleaning
• Retrieve and return all borrowed items from friends and neighbours
• Return library books

2 Weeks Before – Prepare to leave your home

• Arrange for the disconnection or changeover of utilities - these can take up to 5 days to close out after moving date in Dubai
• Begin packing less-used items
• Clean out the cupboards
• Plan remaining meals so you can pack what you don't need
• Don't buy any more perishables than you have to

7 Days Before – Confirm moving arrangements

• Dates / agreements with moving and storage companies
• Agreements with auto and pet transportation companies
• Hotel and temporary housing accommodations
• Rental car and other transportation arrangements
• Don't buy any more perishables than you have to

7 Days Before – Let people know how to reach you

• Inform friends and relatives of your forwarding address
• If you'll be without phone service, get a temporary voice mail box

7 Days Before – Make survival box for move

• Paper / pens
• Address book / stamps / envelopes
• Cellophane and heavy-duty tape / scissors
• Tape measure
• Paper cups, plates, and towels / plastic utensils / ziploc bags
• Facial and toilet tissue / soap / moist towels
• Instant coffee or tea / bottled drinks / snacks / can opener
• Aspirin / band-aids
• Travel alarm
• Flashlight / small tool kit
• Trash bags
• Children's games
• Spare car keys
• Phone books for the city you are leaving and your destination

7 Days Before – Prepare belongings for packing

• Make an inventory list of all items going with you personally
• Keep valuable / irreplaceable items (jewelry, heirlooms) with you
• Clean out and defrost the deep freezer
• Disassemble furniture or other items
• Check yard and shed for all items that need packed
• Set aside box of cleaning supplies and the vacuum cleaner

7 Days Before – Think about decorating your new home

• Take pictures of furniture / get fabric samples and paint chips
• Create a "decorating reference file"
• Have measurements taken of the rooms in your new residence
• Use floor plans to determine where everything will go

Just Before Moving – Cease using the refrigerator

• Remove all perishable food
• Store anything you still need in a cooler
• Clean and defrost the refrigerator and freezer

Just Before Moving – Finish packing

• Complete packing of all household goods for the move
• Make sure all boxes are clearly marked

Just Before Moving – Resolve financial matters

• Conclude any arrangements relating to lease or sale of your home
• Reconcile and close or transfer bank accounts
• Ensure all financial documents are signed and filed

Moving Day – Confirm moving arrangements

• Confirm delivery address, directions, and delivery date with movers
• Make sure boxes are clearly marked
• Make sure your instructions are understood

Moving Day – Vacate your home

• Make sure all windows and doors are closed and locked
• Make sure all appliances are turned off
• Leave forwarding address, keys, and garage door opener

When You Arrive – On Arrival: Relax and settle in

• Check to make sure all utilities are on and working properly
• Let family members or friends know that you have arrived safely
• Check in with employer and real estate agent to confirm itineraries
• Now relax, order dinner out, and take a hot bath...you deserve it!

The First Few Weeks

• Your shipped items: Check on arrival date and that all import instructions are in place
• Settle into your home and check out the surrounding area

Shipment Arrival – Get Unpacked

• Supervise moving crew on location of furniture and boxes
• Begin unpacking necessary basics first (utensils, toiletries, etc.)
• Give the kids a job to do – let them start on their rooms
• Set kitchen and bedrooms up first, to make you feel at home

Shipment Arrival – Pay and settle with the movers

• Go over "Inventory" with the moving company before signing
• Check for damaged and missing items and make a note of them