Checklist for Your Long-Distance Move

Checklist for Long-Distance MoveHave you made a checklist for your long-distance move to another country from Tampa, Florida? If not, doing so will help make the entire process more organized and less stressful.

Since preparing for a long-distance relocation involves many steps, dividing your checklist by items to complete 90, 60, and 30 days before your departure will be helpful, though you can adjust the time frames to suit your situation. There are other items – such as researching the new destination thoroughly, acquiring visas and passports, and finalizing the items you’ll be bringing – that you should begin as soon as possible.

Items that you’ll want to have completed by 90 days before departure include:

  • Booking your plane tickets (and a hotel if necessary)
  • Researching international moving companies to find the best company
  • Figuring out if you and your household or any pets you need vaccinations and when they need to have them by
  • Putting your house on the market if you’re selling or renting it
  • Acquiring the packing boxes you’ll need
  • Collecting all your important documentation that you’ll need to move and have it certified if necessary
  • Finding out about how to acquire an international driver’s license, if necessary
  • Notifying credit card companies, magazine subscriptions, etc., of your address change or cancel any unnecessary subscriptions
  • Asking your children’s school for transcripts and transfer certificates, if applicable

By 60 days from your departure, you’ll want to have checked off:

  • Asking your doctors and veterinarians (if applicable) for your household’s and pet’s medical records
  • Getting your visas together and making sure you have all the insurance policies you need
  • Selling or donating anything you won’t be taking with you
  • Putting any car or household equipment you’re selling on the market
  • Notifying your bank that you’ll be moving, and if they can’t offer an international account, finding a bank near your new home
  • Checking if any medications you or your household take are available in your new country and if not, learning how to acquire them
  • Setting up a mail rerouting service with your post office

When you’re 30 days out from leaving, you’ll want to have:

  • Begun packing everything
  • Paid all your bills
  • Organized the paperwork required by the moving company you selected
  • Asked utility companies to stop providing gas, electricity, water, etc., by the date you’re leaving or provide the new name if you’re renting the house
  • Prepared the house for the new tenants if you’re renting

If you follow your checklist, everything should be in order come moving day. Just double check that you didn’t leave anything behind and be sure to check with the moving company regarding when you can expect your items to arrive at your new home.

Contact Atlantic Relocation Systems today if you’re relocating from Tampa, FL, to another country and would like assistance from a moving company with decades of experience helping individuals and households successfully move abroad.