Getting Organised for Your Overseas Move

Taking the plunge and moving overseas can leave you feeling a little bit nervous about how it’s all going to turn out. However, if you have done your research properly your move should go without a hitch. I’m not teaching anyone to “suck eggs” here but do make sure you know the country you’re moving to. Internet research is simply not enough and will not give you a true idea of what it’s like to live in your chosen country.

Experiencing a culture that’s different to yours can only be done by being there. So make sure you have spent a decent amount of time in the country you’re moving to before you go ahead and take the plunge! If you already have this angle covered, you will want to know how best to organise your move overseas. This can be tricky but if done properly you will be in your new home and enjoying your new life before you know it.

Below are some points you should consider:

•  Don’t leave any loose ends in your current country. If necessary make sure you pay all your outstanding bills and close any accounts you won’t be using. You never know, you may want to return at some point and if you leave unpaid bills behind it will be more difficult to do.

• Make sure you understand any red-tape that may occur within the country you are moving to. Some places have rules about what you can take into their country. For instance, you may want to take wooden furniture and some places will require this to be treated before it can be accepted. Take some advice from an expert who lives in your chosen destination so there are no slip-ups once you’re on the way. 

• If you have bought a property in your “place in the sun” ensure you have done your homework in terms of taxes and insurance. It’s very easy to forget this and the last thing you need is to be landed with a huge bill which you didn’t factor into your budget. Again, it may be a good idea to use a solicitor who can help. Make sure whoever you use knows about the laws in your chosen destination. 

• When it comes to packing your belongings, it is best to spend a little bit extra and buy boxes that will withstand a long journey. Use tape that’s strong and mark anything that’s fragile in big bold letters. It may also be a good idea to put your new address on each box. 

• Make sure the removal company you choose travels to your chosen country on a regular basis. It has been known for some removal companies to take your items and then pass them on to a sub-contractor. Whilst for the most part, this works fine, you will be much better off keeping in touch with the same company at all times.

• Finally, don’t stress. You have decided to move overseas for a reason and you shouldn’t forget that. Oh, and make sure your passport has not expired!

If you’re in the process of organising your move overseas and want to find a reputable removal company to help you, try taking a look at http://www.theroadahead.co.uk/#section-2. There are plenty of professional firms who will be happy to assist you.

Just Moved Home with a Cat – They Need Some Help Settling In

Anyone who has a cat will know there is nothing more soothing than that sound of a contented purr. However, if you’ve just moved home the chances are this is the last thing your kitty has been doing lately! We all know that moving house can be an incredibly stressful experience, and when you throw animals or children into the mix this can make things way more complicated.
 

You see it’s much easier (sorry if that sounds harsh) for you to feel more settled because you know what makes you feel comfortable. It could be putting out a few familiar pictures, adding some of your favourite scatter cushions on your sofa or bed. It could even be as simple as lighting one of your favourite scented candles.

Now, that’s where I want to start – Scent!

Cats and Smells

A great deal of a cat’s life and how comfortable he feels is based on the smells around him (and that doesn’t include the litter tray)! When you first move home, there will be nothing and I mean nothing! In the way of familiar smells (namely their own scent) in the house and it will take a little time for your pet to be confident enough to go about marking their territory. 

Cats have scent glands around their faces and when you see them rubbing various bits of furniture or door frames, they’re actually leaving a little bit of themselves behind. Of course, you may not see this happen right away which is where you can help. 

Try taking a dry, soft cloth and gently rubbing it around your cat’s face. If you get lucky, they might just give it a good old rub anyway. You can then wipe the cloth at cat height on parts of your furniture and entrances to your home. You can also buy various “pheromones” from your local vet if you don’t like the idea of taking a cloth to your cat’s face.

Outdoor Cats

It won’t be long before your furry friend decides he has made enough of a mark on his new home, and wants to extend his territory to the great outdoors. But, (and this is particularly important if you’ve only moved a short distance away from your previous house) you can run the risk of them picking up their own scent from a previous haunt.

It might not be easy, but attempt to keep your pet indoors for at least one week (especially boys because they wander more). When you’re happy to let them take that leap, keep trips into the garden supervised and only for a short time. You can also use food as a way of keeping your cat close for the time being. Little and often helps and if you can, also get them used to the sound of a fork being tapped on a dish or a bag of biscuits being shaken.

In Summary

The above information is based on the fact you have moved home with a pet in your own country. If you would like to find out more information on moving abroad with pets, feel free to take a look at this link: http://www.theroadahead.co.uk/blog/post/2013/04/19/Moving-Your-Pets-to-a-New-Country.aspx

Moving With Your Cat? Here’s What To Do Before The Big Day

Whenever you look on the internet for advice about moving home, you will ALWAYS be told first and foremost this is one of the most stressful things anyone can do. However, if you have cats take a moment to imagine what it must be like for them!

Cats are curious creatures (which is possibly why they’re such popular pets), and if you don’t already know it’s not actually the “material” things in life that make them feel comfortable. In fact, you may have noticed that if something doesn’t smell the way it should your cat will head straight out the cat flap!

So, if you’re about to move home and you have a cat there are a few things you should consider. OK, this will add to your stress levels but then you have a pet because you love animals so making sure their moves goes as smoothly as possible kind of goes with the territory.

When it All Get’s Going

You may have noticed (depending on how seasoned a cat owner you are), that if you move even the smallest piece of furniture in your home to a new place your cat will immediately give it the “once over”. This is because they map out the area in which they live, or as they would probably term it “their territory”. The minute this changes in any way it sparks a sign that all may not be well with the map (so to speak).

What’s the first thing that happens when you start to move home? That’s right, you move stuff! There are items coming out of cupboards your furry friend may not have encountered before. Boxes, packing tape and bubble wrap are all over the place: In short, you’ve REALLY messed up your cats comfortable surroundings. 

Your Cat’s Reaction

This will depend on your cat’s personality. After all, every cat is different and they will all react in their own way. However, there are a few universal signs to look out for. Males especially will probably treat all the upheaval with nothing more than disdain, and just head for the great outdoors for a while.

If you have a young cat, they may not have developed their “homing” signals yet and will just get under your feet, or create a fair few laughs by getting tangled up in the packaging or hiding in boxes and cupboards. Still yet another reaction is the one of impending disaster! Every time you look down at your little furry friend, you’re met with a stare that really doesn’t need verbalising and makes you feel incredibly guilty. 

How to Make It Easier

If you can, make sure you leave their favourite places to sleep untouched. If this isn’t possible, at least move that cushion your cat cannot do without when taking a nap to the new place they’ve decided it’s safe to go.

Toys are also important (even if there are a lot of other things around to play with right now).

The place where your cat normally eats should also be left untouched wherever possible. The trick is to make sure you at least don’t disturb the most important things to your cat before you move which are: Sleep, eat and play. If you have a dog, and want to know more take a look here http://www.theroadahead.co.uk/blog/post/2013/08/23/Tips-on-Moving-With-Dogs.aspx Oh, and don’t forget all that extra fussing!

Preparing Your Piano for Transportation

If you own a piano it’s probably one of your most prized possessions, and when you’re moving this is something you definitely will not want to leave behind. It doesn’t matter if your piano is new, old, large, or small, it will need to be handled with care.

 

Aside from the fact that pianos are often made of expensive woods, they are also made up of many different and delicate parts. If these are not handled properly it could cause some damage. If you have a piano you will be well aware of how costly a repair can be!

Moving a Piano on Your Own

With this said, you may want move your piano by your-self but this does pose its dangers. Not only could you cause damage to it, you might cause damage to the inside of the building when you try to move it. Pianos are very heavy and awkwardly shaped, so if you don’t lift them in the correct way you could also injure your-self.

This is just the beginning. Not only do you have to deal with moving the piano, you also need to make sure it’s packaged correctly and this is something that needs to be done with expert hands. After all, you own an instrument like this because you like to play it, not so you know how to relocate it!

Use a Professional Service

This is why it’s a good idea to call in the professionals. There are plenty of companies that only deal with relocating pianos’, and the specialists that work for them are experts in their field. They will know how to dismantle just about any model of piano, and how it should be packed so it’s transported safely.

Using a professional service like this is also useful if your piano happens to be on the 2^nd or 3^rd floor of a building. We’ve all seen pictures of instruments like this being tied up with rope and lowered out of a window, but this was only ever seen in old comedy shows (Laurel and Hardy for instance- if you remember them!). It simply isn’t possible to transport an instrument like this in that way.

When you’re looking for a company to help you, this should be done well in advance of the date you’re actually moving. The reason for this is that your instrument will need to be prepared, and gently packed which can take some-time.

In fact, if you’re moving more than just a piano, dealing with this should be your first job. If you wish, your chosen company will keep it in storage until it’s time for the rest of your belongings to be transported.

The message is that you should never really try to undertake a job like this on your own simply because of the reasons stated above and using a professional service will be money well spent in the long-run. If you’re currently looking for a professional company that specialises in transporting pianos, why not take a look at http://www.theroadahead.co.uk/getaquote.aspx