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Ten things to do before moving out of your apartment

Relocation

19/10/2011Ten things to do before moving out of your apartment

Here are some practical tips on moving out of your apartment, from de-registering to moving costs, moving home, moving storage and how to get organized to get out.

Managing the shock of re-entry

1. Give notice regarding your apartment
This is very important. We had to give four months notice and you may not be able to give notice to leave in December. If you plan to move out in December, contact your agency far in advance to ensure this is possible, as most tenants want to stay put in the holiday months. You may also have to give notice in writing. If this is necessary, you should send the letter via registered mail.

2. Give notice to the electric and cable companies
These two utilities usually need the most notice. The electricity company may need to set up a time to do the final meter reading. Some cable companies require three months’ notice for cancellation of accounts. You may also need a letter from city hall notifying them that you are leaving.

3. Deregister at city hall
In many countries, you must do this before you leave. Do not leave this very important step out. Get a confirmation of your deregistration; we needed it for several service cancellations and our retirement money transfer. Make sure that you keep your now-deregistered permit and the confirmation letter in a safe place, especially to show officials if required at the airport.

4. Get quotes from movers
We went back and forth between moving our stuff and selling our stuff. It is a personal choice, definitely dependent on your finances. Make sure you also look into any insurance options, storage, additional charges for stairs or delivery, etc. They always seem to get you with those extra charges. Also check if the charges for moving some and/or all your stuff differ much. Check all the options...then decide what stays and what goes.

5. Get quotes from cleaners
You can clean the apartment yourself or you can hire someone. The list of things our hired cleaners were going to clean in our apartment was huge. And as we needed an empty apartment to clean it and we had no supplies, we thought it worth the effort and cost to get someone to assist here. By hiring professionals, the handover is included and someone will be there on the handover day from the cleaning company. So if something is not clean enough, they will do it again. It really saved us the hassle and allows us to hopefully keep our entire deposit. Again, get multiple quotes, as prices differed greatly.

6. Get organised
Once you know you are leaving, and you've given notice at city hall, you can pretty much tell anyone you want. And you should, as there are lots of things that you'll need to do in advance. The best policy is to contact anyone and everyone that you have had contact with, tell them you're leaving and ask if there is anything you need to do in advance.

There were heaps of things that we learned too late. For example, I had to give four months notice on my allotment garden, I needed to post back my cable box, and while I thought I had paid all my bills in advance, I was actually only paying a portion of each month in advance – this was the one that got us! We had a late notice from the cable company, so make sure that is all sorted out.

And then what I did was put all the latest utility bills, the tax details, the letter from city hall, and all that jazz that you think you won't need after you leave, in a folder and I took it with me on the plane! Do not pack it away, as no matter what happens, you can be sure those papers will be in the box that you can't find or that you unpack last.

I would put a statement for all policies in a folder and carry it with you on the plane. Either that or scan it into your computer and email it to yourself; then it's available wherever you go, ready when you need it. I also recommend copies of passports and visas – especially the ones you're giving away. You never know when you might need to show them again.

Arrange for mail forwarding. Get everyone's email addresses or online details so that you can contact them from overseas if you need to. This has proven to be really helpful for us; with HR contacts, the tax people, with the apartment people and more.

7. Get it in writing, especially when it comes to your deposit
To get our deposit back, we had to fill out a form that initially looked like the agent was going to steal our money, and actually that is what the form is: they ask that you release the money to them so that if there is something you need to pay, they can take it out of your deposit and then give you the remaining funds. We did this, and then it took – I kid you not – two months before we got the money put into our account.

Ours was held up because they had to negotiate repairs for the chemical burns caused by the cleaners. In the end, we got our entire deposit back as the apartment agent worked hard for us and pretty much vouched for the fact that we couldn't have caused those marks. I had her email address, so we were in constant contact and I emailed her once a week to ask “WHERE IS MY MONEY?!”

Another thing you want to get in writing is your job referral. You might not think you need a formal, written referral but I've used mine already. It just makes it easier for potential new employers to get your background. So get it in writing and use it.

8. Get your new life organised
You haven't even left yet; is it too soon to be arranging an apartment? Getting a new job? Getting in touch with old friends? The answer is no! It's never too soon. I can't tell you how much easier it was having things worked out on the other end. For example, I got my new job via a referral and I interviewed over Skype.

I also gave notice to the tenants that rented our house way in advance; that ensured we got into the house sooner and didn't have to rent a place in the interim. We also set up the new utilities, ensured all visas were up to date and enquired about things like new licences and transport before we even left. The more you can do in advance, the better.

We saved heaps by getting into our house sooner, as we didn't have to pay the movers to store our furniture for several weeks or months. We were able to get our health coverage activated in Australia before we left, so we were covered for the flight and didn't need expensive travel insurance. We were also able to proposition relatives and friends for furniture in advance so that we didn't spend too many days sleeping on the cold, hard floor.

9. Make a list of last things to see and do
You will miss a lot once you leave. Make a list of things you would like to see or do one more time. Soak it all up, and then soak up some more. The good life is coming to an end, perhaps an even better one is around the corner, but there will be things you miss. No doubt about it.

10. Enjoy the ride
You knew this day would come – you’re an expat – and you have to go home eventually, even if it's just for a visit. So make the most of it all.

Get gifts for friends and relatives far in advance, perhaps even send them home instead of packing them or sending them with your container. Give everyone your new address, Facebook details or email address way in advance, as you will forget if you leave it to the last minute.

When things get you down, just remember that only a small fraction of Americans actually have a passport and only a small fraction of anyone with a passport will get to live in another country.

Yes, you are one of the lucky few.

Embrace the change and relish the fact that for a small amount of time you experienced another culture, and boy, was that an amazing ride.

Jessica Cartwright recorded her Swisstory of four years in Switzerland, before relocating to Australia. We're sad to see her go but all is not lost! New home, new blog: follow Jessica now on Aussiestory. Feel free to contact Jessica with questions about life in Switzerland.

Text adapted from Swisstory.com by Jessica Cartwright / Expatica 2010

4 reactions to this article

Francesco Sinibaldi posted: 2011-10-22 13:59:14

In the breath...

Simply, like
the sunshine
in the middle
of a luminous
thought, you
live with a
certain idea.

Francesco Sinibaldi

James Henry posted: 2011-11-02 13:12:47

Remove all light fittings and electric plugs. Strip wallpaper. ; )

Mathew Leonard posted: 2011-11-03 07:01:23

Such a great points you mentioned in the post about moving .Sometimes people forget the important task at that time before moving ypur post will remind about all that things.

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Joanne posted: 2012-01-17 01:55:47

I'm a little confused-are these things expats have to do in AMS BEFORE leaving to return to their home country or things we have to do AT HOME before leaving to live in AMS? I.e. I'm Australian and we're moving to AMS for 1 year.

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