Sun, 22 November 2009
Some 450 pre-Columbian pieces in Quai Branly museum.
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Basil Howitt on criminal investigations in the coastal resorts.
Useful information on renting accommodation in Paris.
Relocating can have a big impact on your relationship.
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Having a relocation agent to help you when you move abroad can be great, but there are certain things you should bear in mind. We tell you how to get the most out of the deal.When my husband and I agreed to follow his new job from our home in the US to a brand new life in Europe, we were excited but overwhelmed.
It was easy to imagine enjoying the sights, tastes and sounds of our new home, but it was hard to imagine the process of selling our house, packing our belongings and resettling in a place where we didn't speak the language.
We were relieved to learn that his company had hired a relocation firm to help us handle all the details, including submitting immigration paperwork, moving our belongings, and finding housing.
The agency's assistance was invaluable in smoothing the road to our new home.
While the entire moving process was a learning experience, here are a few of the lessons we learned about working with a relocation firm:
Get off to a good start
Get your agent's (not just the agency's) contact information and introduce yourself early in your moving process. You might even hear from him/her first, especially if (s)he will arrange the transport of your belongings or your initial "look-and-see" visit to your potential new home.
Begin the relationship on a positive note; your agent will, in many ways, set the tone of your move, especially if you haven't yet learned the language in the country where you will live.
Know the scope of the arrangement
Familiarise yourself with the relocation agent's duties, both from your company's perspective and from the agent's perspective. Get a copy of the written agreement stating the services the agency is expected to perform for you and the timeline.
If an important task isn't completed — registering as a resident with the local authorities, or converting your driver's licence, for example — you, not your agent, will pay the consequences.
Great post! Thanks for explaining how invaluable the right relocation agent can be! We help relocate people to the US, Silicon Valley in California to be exact, and we hear time and time again, how important our role is in getting people moved in and feeling like they're HOME! It makes all the difference having that hand to hold. (www.WeRelocate.com).
Keep posting!
People often underestimate the stress and complications that can arise when relocating to a new country, especially when you don’t speak the language. I run a Relocation agency located in Toulouse, France and being an Expat myself who went through the motions, I understand my clients fears and expectations.
Make sure your company makes the right choice when it comes to relocation agents and like Blythe says, “if you aren’t getting what you need, or if you and your agent aren’t communicating”, ask for a change!
www.expatassistance.com
Thank you for this review. I started 20 years ago as a relocation agent and each assignee had a different attitude to their move, but our help and approach is always unvariable the same towards them. Our help makes them more successful and this is so rewarding.
Great information. My husband has applied for a position in Leuven, and although I speak some German, we know no Dutch. I was wondering how we were going to coordinate a move with 4 children from Australia to a country where we barely speak the language. I may be putting the cart before the horse, but at least I know now that there is a system in place to get us there if we need it. Thanks
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