You may want or need to sell your home - on your own or through an estate agent - and use money from the sale to pay off your remaining mortgage balance. If you have equity (the difference between the value and any mortgage balance) in the property you may be able to re-mortgage to raise money.
If you are currently renting your house or flat, you won't have many worries when vacating the property - talk to your landlord about getting your deposit back.
Get the timing right
Timing is everything when you're planning a move – within your own country is one thing, moving to another country altogether it is even more important to get it right. Making a move on impulse can work, but taking your time, considering your options and the pros and cons can save an awful lot of heartache frustration and probably most importantly, money.
It is important to plan well ahead so you can afford to pay for costs that arise along the way. The cost of a removal company alone will be anywhere from a few hundred to several thousands no matter what the currency.
Simply renting a lorry or van may be an option for you if you're willing to pack up and transport everything yourself - but if you've got a home full of heavy furniture, you can save yourself and your friends a lot of time and exhaustion by hiring professional movers.
Moving services are no different to most things – cheapest is not necessarily the best. Our recommended removal service providers, are just that – recommended. Not just by us but by our and their customers who have had personal experience with them.
Whoever you use, check that the company is insured, and doesn't just claim to be. Any reputable company will gladly provide you with proof if you request it - and any company that won't is unlikely to be worth your time. Depending on the situation and circumstances, it might be better to start afresh in the new country. Information from the destination regarding sources, availability and costs would help with your decision. Cost of Living & Demographics
As you plan the specifics of your move, some of the most important factors in your decision will be the cost of living, employment prospects, property, tax and the standard of living you aspire to.
Many other factors can affect your decision – schools/education, healthcare, climate or even culture. In an area where the cost of living is low, you'll free up more of your own resources to take advantage of better education, health care, luxuries and so on. A few handy online tools can help you calculate the cost of living in your target region, as well as find demographic and economic specifics about it.
We can provide information to help you settle in to your new location.
You can obviously do your own homework. Searching for your city of interest on Google, TripAdviser, Wikipedia and Travel sites will help you with climate information, transportation and housing but nothing can beat local knowledge. There is a lot of information on the site but we can put you in touch with people who have already gone through the same experience and will be happy to answer any questions you have if they are able.
The same goes for schools, hotels, property and so on. Websites can give you an overall idea of your new area but can be a bit hit and miss with regard to specifics.
Even if you've already got your accommodations planned out, many people will be more than happy to offer insider tips on navigating the area and finding interesting things to do.
Property
If you are currently renting your house or flat, you won't have many worries when vacating the property - although, of course, you should talk to your landlord about getting your deposit back. If you still owe money on a home mortgage you cannot simply roll the balance into any new mortgage. One has to be paid off and another one started if necessary.
Even so, you've got other options. One option is to sell your home - on your own or through an estate agent - and use money from the sale to pay off your remaining mortgage balance. If you have equity in the property you may be able to re-mortgage to raise capital.
Our recommended mortgage advisors and estate agents are able to offer all the advice you will need to give you the options available.
