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reminder system
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| Moving abroad is a complex project and, like any
project, there are numerous pitfalls along the way. If you read
the other pages in this Guide, you will go some way to avoiding
many of the traps and this page will give you even more guidance
on how to manage your move abroad successfully. |
- Always seek independent, professional advice. Use the
links on the 'Doing Your Research' page of this Guide to get
to FORDPAC or AIPP in order to get reputable companies who
abide by a code of practice.
- For information on mortgages and many other aspects of
moving abroad, use the internet, for example
www.buyassociation.co.uk, and some of the trade
magazines that are available on the high street. A good one
is International Homes Magazine; you can get a feel for it
at
www.international-homes.com .
- Once you have chosen chosen an area, make sure that it
is not too wide a regional target. You want to be able to do
some in-depth research (click on the link to 'Doing Your
Research') and to do some sensible price comparisons. These
tasks are extremely difficult if you are looking at too wide
an area.
- Take your time. Don't rush into things and buy the first
property that you see. Shop around and give yourself a
cooling-off period.
- Make sure that you get a survey, searches and proper
legal advice, just as you would in the UK. DO NOT try
to take short cuts.
- Check house and contents insurance with British
companies as well as in the country to which you are moving.
The insurance may well be cheaper in the latter, but do you
fully understand what you are getting and how will you fare
if and when you have to make a claim?
- Consider whether it's best to apply for residency. In
Spain, for example, if you are stopped you have to be able
to prove who you are and where you live. If you do not have
a residency card, it means you will have to carry around
your passport and a utility bill of some sort, which is
inconvenient. So check what residency involves and weigh up
the pros and cons.
There may well be other issues that you can think of that
will affect you individually. Try to tease out all these things
by thinking about them. if you have a family, get together and
have a brainstorm so that everyone has the opportunity to
contribute their thoughts.
The remaining pages in this Guide will also give you food for
thought. So go to all those that you haven't yet read by
clicking on the links in the box.
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