Difficult economic times are reportedly to blame for only 11.6% of people living in the Unites States changing home between 2010 and 2011- the lowest recorded rate since 1948.

Demographers and economists reveal that more and more Americans are staying put and that uncertainty in bad times, with regards to savings, jobs and homeownership means that many citizens are clinging to familiarity and remaining in the residence they already have.

Now industry experts are worried that the lack of removals is affecting the population’s aspirations to have a dream home, get married and have children. Although counter arguments claim that with less migration, people will have more attachment to their communities to invest in time and money.

The US Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey aimed to show how the rate of moving and the likelihood of people moving are changing over time. It found that younger people are moving from rural areas to cities; and that the reason for citizens moving more than 500 miles away was job-related.

The study also revealed that 59% of Americans lived in the state that they were born in and that Louisiana had the highest residence (78.8%). If you, unlike the Americans, want to move across the pond, then use Robinsons International’s expert shipping to USA services.

As specialists in overseas removals, we can help from the very early moving stage with your packing, shipping, insurance and storage needs. Moving to America can be plain sailing if you allow people with years of experience to help you; so contact Robinsons international removals today and let’s kick start your new life in an exciting new country.

1. Get organising: Moving house involves a lot of details. From the removals company to packing all your personal belongings. Start by packing each room at a time and keep all things from the same room together. This will make things easier to unpack in the long run. Make sure you have a checklist of all your items and where they will go.
2. Give family members a job to do: Don’t think you can take all the weight on your shoulders yourself. Get family and friends involved by packing and labelling the boxes. If you have no one around to help, removals companies can always do the packing and shipping for you.
3. Take great care with expensive and breakable items: PCs, antique collections, pieces of art, chinaware, make sure everything is packed correctly to be transferred to your new home.
4. Don’t take everything you own: Make sure that you dispose of items that you never use. Dispose of items or put them in the charity shop.
5. Make sure everyone knows you are moving: The bank, relatives, schools, office, doctors, dentist, cancel gym membership etc.
6. Insure your valuable items: Make sure that any items being shipped by your removals company that are of expense, make sure you have it insured to cover your back if anything does go wrong.
7. Hire a professional removals company: Don’t attempt to do it all yourself. A professional movers company will be of major benefit to you and can offer fantastic deals tailored to your needs and requirements.

• Nowadays many graduates are looking for jobs in other countries as the job prospects in the UK are not as promising as they would’ve hoped. Career is seen to be one of the major factors to why people move abroad seeking better employment opportunities long term.
• Countries such as Australia and New Zealand actively welcome graduates from the UK, particularly those who are trained as nurses, doctors and other involved in the medical profession.

• There is also a very high demand for highly skilled workers such as builders, electricians, plumbers and other types of trades across the world. The Government is highly aware of the job opportunities available abroad and that many UK citizens are opting for that move abroad.
• Other factors are down to personal reasons as a way of starting from scratch in a new life with new people. While this can be seen as a positive move, running away from problems isn’t a good thing and doesn’t mean they will go away.
• Another reason people move abroad is to retire or that they have simply fallen in love with another country and want to start a new life.
• Lower taxes are often another reason to why people move to another country as UK taxes are increasing each year.
• Better weather is also a major factor as the British weather is unreliable and hardly ever sunny.

To receive help and advice on moving abroad or to sort out the planning and packing of your personal belongings then you need to speak to Robinsons removals today.

As easy as this often sounds, there is often many underlying costs that get in the way which may not be apparent on first glance.

Many countries, particularly the desired ones, have tough systems integrated to ensure that the people they allow into their country have something to offer their economy back. For example, if you have a desired skill that a country requires, they will allow you into their country on a working visa. Other countries may allow you in if you have family in the country or a sizeable amount of money to invest.  However, some countries only require you to be financially independent and not living off the state.

Doing your homework before moving abroad is essential to ensure your move is as smooth as possible.

Look to answer the following questions; Are your skills relevant to the employment market? Could you require the necessary skills? Is the culture of your chosen country different to that of the UK? If so, could you and your family adjust? Would you miss your family and friends unbearably?  It is so important to be realistic with your answers to ensure this is right for you.

On top of these primary questions, make a checklist of the following areas, making sure you are in full control and have knowledge of all incomings and outgoings before moving abroad.

1. Visas and residency

Check that the visa you are purchasing is correct for the country you are travelling to and what you need it for i.e. working visa.

Each country requires different things so make sure you are aware of what you are asking for.

2. Personal Finance

Make sure that your budgets are planned properly and realistically before you begin to move. Taxation is a complicated area, particularly when dealing with overseas moves, and need to be thought out properly.

For example Canada’s banking system does not recognise ISA’s which are tax-free in the UK, so check these grey areas before diving in.

 3. Retirement

If you are looking to retire abroad, then you must make sure that you are aware of what is involved before you flee abroad.

Look at how your pension will be handled and whether it protected in the country you are moving too.

4. Healthcare and medical treatment

Look to see whether the country you are moving to provides medical treatment for you and your family before you move abroad.

Some countries, like the USA, have private health care, while countries such as Canada and Spain offer state health care.

Make sure that if you are on regular medication, you have enough with you between leaving the UK and signing on with another doctor at your new destination.

5. Property matters

Whether you are making a clean break and selling up, or renting your home in the UK while you are away, make sure that you are fully aware of what is being paid and spent by you before you move abroad.

It is essential to seek advice from a lawyer who speaks fluent English to ensure that you know what you are signing and what you are taking on.

6. Removals services

Packing and shipping your belongings is something that should not be done alone and employing a removals company to do the hard work for you eliminates the stress and worries that come with moving house.

It is a good idea to contact an overseas removals company in advance to make sure that the move is as painless as possible.

Firstly check that the removals company you use is accredited to a trade association, such as the British Association of Removers.

Next, ensure that they can provide insurance and what it actually covers.

When given a quotation, look to see whether it includes the destination port charges, destination customs and quarantine charges.

Check to see where your goods will be stored if not shipped within the next 24 hours or have to wait in a country for their next pick up.

Ask for delivery dates and times and ensure that you are kept informed with everything from packing to unpacking of your products.

 When looking for a removals company, look to search for a company with plenty of experience. Robinsons is a specialist overseas removals company that can offer a variety of services to aid your move abroad.

With over 100 years experience in the industry, customers can track their personal belongings at any stage of the shipping, purchase insurance to cover their personal belongings, and rest assured that their items will arrive safely and securely within the set time given by staff at Robinsons.

You need to work out a budget, decide how much you need and spend time and energy on packing and shipping your goods. However, many people often forget the aftermath and the money you will need once you have moved into your new home.

To give you a little helping hand here are a few pointers to help you plan your budget effectively for your overseas move.

Utilities

When moving to your new home you are going to need to set up your gas, electricity, broadband, water rates, satellite/cable TV etc with your new suppliers.

This will usually require installation fees and can become quite a costly affair if not looked into carefully. There are thousands of comparison websites out there that can help you find the best deals for you and your home. Make sure you try these out so you can save money on household bills.

Furnishings

It may be the case that the furniture you sent over with your removals company doesn’t actually suit the style of the house anymore. However, you dragged it all the way over to the other side of the world, paid money to have it sent to have you throw it away and buy new furniture when you arrive.

Be ruthless and practical with your personal belongings. If you know that you will be buying a new sofa once you get there, then there really is no point sending the old one over, it’s a waste of time and money for you.

Work out a budget for your furnishings so you know how much you can afford to spend when you arrive at your new location.

Renovations

If you have bought a house which needs a lot of work doing to it, you need to weigh up the costs before you go ahead with the renovations. There can be a lot involved in this and it’s important that you plan this carefully. You may also need to consider alternative accommodation while the house is being renovated, so take this into consideration too.

Food

Be prepared to spend a whole load of money at the supermarket when you move into your new home. You may have sent a few bits and pieces over however you are going to totally need to restock your cupboards, fridge and freezer so keep this in mind.

Cleaning Products

The previous owners will most likely of given the place a good clean before they left, however you will probably want to get your own cleaning gloves on to add your own touch. From professional carpet cleaners to new cleaning equipment, make sure you set some money aside for this too.

There are a lot of things to consider when moving abroad and it is highly important that you keep organised throughout. If you are looking for a removals company to ship your goods to your new home, visit Robinsons removals today, the expert international removals company to keep you completely organised and everything running smoothly for your international move.

When packing your clothes, a great storage solution is to use wardrobe boxes, which will keep them from getting dusty and can be took straight out and hung into the wardrobe.

Loose items like shoes, socks and undergarments can also be packed in normal bags to reduce the weight.

To make all these ideas come to life, a good idea is to contact a removals company to deal with all your moving needs.

It is important, if you are international movers, to contact an overseas removals company to ensure that your personal belongings arrive safely to your final destination.

These days, most people don’t have time for home removals and the stress of dealing with it all can become a major problem.

There are many aspects to moving home which need to be considered such as the packing and shipping of your personal belongings.

Making sure that you don’t misplace a single item can be stressful in its own right, as well as dealing with transferring items, packing things safely, unloading and emptying everything and rearranging furniture in your desired manner; so much hassle in a short space of time.

Hiring a professional removals company can relieve the stress and worry of all these matter whether you need a removals service within the UK or overseas removals abroad.

International movers should make sure that they contact a professional removals company well in advance to ensure their items are delivered on time when you arrive at your destination.

However, there are a few things that should be understood before a move is attempted:

- Moving is hard; no matter how it is done, it’s a back-breaking job that will take more time than you wish to spend on such a task.

- The more people you invite to help means the more people you will have to help move when the time comes.

- Always feed the people who help you. This will give then strength and they deserve it.

- Beer seems like a good idea in order to get people to help; but be warned, the amount of beer being drank is directly proportional to the number of items that will get broken.

- If you have children send them away or tell them to avoid you. You will yell at them before the day is over. Just accept this fact and take the appropriate actions.

- It’s OK not to unpack anything that first night. However, do set up the bed; no matter how late it is or how tired you are you will be glad you did this come the morning.

- Use a removals firm, and don’t be cheap about this. One trip is much better than many little trips.

- Take this opportunity to not only pack your children’s rooms, but to also throw out unused toys. This will save you time in packing and when asked by your child for the head to his Power Ranger figure, you can say without guilt that it must have been lost in the move.

- Have a garage sale before you move (see the heading on Moving Sales further on in this entry); it will give you some extra spending cash and what you sell you will not have to move.

- Tell yourself – a move is a good thing. Things will only improve from this point on. Keep telling yourself these things. This may be your only salvation during a period that is sure to be back-breaking physically, draining emotionally, and difficult mentally.

Of course, many Brits are moving internally throughout the UK, searching for job opportunities or relocating as a result of their careers. For the recession-hit jobless, new locations within the UK represent a new opportunity – the same opportunity that was once pushing many Brits to move overseas.

The number of citizens leaving the UK fell by 12 percent in 2009, landing at 146,000. At the same time, over 87,000 British citizens returned home to take advantage of the UK’s welfare and relatively supportive economy. As foreign expatriates, British citizens are subject to relatively few welfare options and supportive financial programs.

While a large number of British citizens still look for opportunities overseas – over 140,000 left the UK in 2009, while only 87,000 returned home – the change in expatriation rates suggests that Britain’s professionals may eventually look for employment in the UK. Whether the moves were the result of financial necessity or long-term planning is debatable – a decision that the next five years are unlikely to uncover.

The most important thing to do when relocating is to break down the project into manageable pieces. For instance, packing all your stuff in the last few days not only sounds like the inevitable nightmare, but will play out in exactly the same fashion. Planning ahead is crucial, start by thinking about what you will not want in your new home. Any items that are destined for the scrap heap can be sold on auction websites or donated to charity shops, already cutting down the task ahead.

One of the next things you should do is make arrangements for picking up all important records from health clinics, schools etc. Make sure that these are either forwarded to your next address or picked up in person by you. While doing this, ensure you fill in a change of address kit (you can get these from the post office) for places like banks and insurance companies, along with healthcare providers. Ensure you pack all essential documents are packed in one place for convenience.

Once the life admin is dealt with, its time to actually begin the packing. Roughly work out how much packing supplies youll need and then order them. Once they arrive, work out what you can pack now, what needs to be left till the last minute and mark the boxes accordingly. While doing this, mark on the boxes what should be opened first, bedding and a kettle should be in one of the first boxes opened, after a long day moving, bed and a cuppa may be the only thing you are fit for!

Utility disconnection and connection can be easily arranged at anytime, so it is best to get this out of the way early on. There are companies that will arrange this for you, leaving you the task of ringing one number and speaking to one person, letting them do the rest. This is advisable if you have a particularly large move planned. Why struggle when you can share the strain out?

When it comes to the actual moving day, make sure the removals company are fully informed of the plans, given the full address and a mobile contact number. Ensure you have a contact number for them in case of last minute changes or heaven forbid – problems, it has been known to occur.

Throughout the move remember one thing; failing to plan is planning to fail.

Optimistic sellers listing their properties in the New Year have been demanding 0.4% more than those who advertised in December.

According to Rightmove, the average asking price for UK properties fresh on the market is now £222,261, compared with £221,463 last month.

The property website said that an increasing number of buyers fighting for a very small number of properties has allowed sellers to jack up their asking prices as those looking for home removals strive to find a bargain.

‘The rise in asking prices is an early indicator that new sellers in 2010 have the confidence to try for a higher price,’ said Miles Shipside, Rightmove’s commercial director.

‘We are now seeing the lowest number of properties on the market this century.

‘Buyers have little choice in popular areas, and while this continues sellers have a window of opportunity to obtain a higher price and a speedier sale.’