Moving Abroad: Three Important Questions to Think About

For many of us, moving abroad is a long-held dream. As we sit and stare out of our office windows, watching the rain fall endlessly from grey, cloud-covered skies, we look out and imagine being anywhere but here.

For some of us, this is more than a fantasy. We know that we want to move abroad, that we can leave everything behind and start a new life somewhere else. The thought of sun, sea, and sand sends a jolt of excitement coursing through our veins, and we spend endless hours thinking over all of the possibilities.

But as enjoyable as it is to plan and plot where we’d like to go and what we’d like to do, there are some very real considerations to take into account. Once you’ve settled somewhere, it’s not possible to simply up sticks and move away, however charming the notion might be.

If thoughts of moving abroad are filling your days, then here are three things you really ought to consider…

Where Will You Go?

It is not enough to dream of beaches that stretch forever, nor sun blazing from a cloudless sky. Moving abroad is a big decision, and different places will offer different opportunities. Depending upon your profession, it may not be possible to practice everywhere, or if you can, you might find that the rules and regulations that you have to comply with are different in other countries.

The important thing is to really do your research. Although some people simply fall in love with a place, others are more open to ideas. If you fall into the latter category, make a list of requirements, from weather to work-related factors, and find somewhere that meets your needs as fully as possible, narrowing it down to a specific city or state if you can.

How Will You Fund Your Move?

It’s also important to remember that moving abroad is a costly process. How will you fund it? For many, a large chunk of your capital will come from selling your home, and this makes it very important to find the best price possible.

Estate agents like House Network are a good place to start, especially if you’re in need of a quick sale to get things off the ground. You’ll also need to consider how you can tap into other avenues of funding, from cashing in ISAs to redeeming your savings; the important thing is to make sure that you have access to your money when you require it.

Will You Start Afresh?

As we mentioned above, your destination will have a big impact on your professional life, and this raises some very important questions, chief amongst them where you’ll work and what you’ll do.

Moving abroad offers an ideal opportunity to start afresh, but if this is what you choose, you’ll need to have some ideas ahead of relocating. Equally, if you choose to stick with your current profession, think about how it will work: can you freelance for your existing employer, or will you need to look for employment elsewhere?

How will you answer the questions that really matter?