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New Job, New House – Factors to Consider
If you have accepted a new job in a different town, city or even country, one of the many things you will have to consider is finding a new home. East Anglia removal firm Hamiltons Removals can help with moves to all parts of the UK and overseas; here are our top tips if you have to deal with these two big life events at the same time.
Talk to Your New Employer – and Colleagues
Check if your new employer offers any relocation packages. Remember it is in their interests to help you out – a settled employee is also a happy (and more productive) employee. If you are moving within the same firm, maybe as a promotion, this set of circumstances may be more likely to apply.
You should also try to meet your new colleagues beforehand. Not only will it help break the ice socially, and save time on your first working day, they may well be able to offer advice on the best areas to move to and tips on settling in the area.
Plan Well Ahead
Your current job may well require you to give a month’s notice (or more) – so make sure you use it wisely. Local estate agents, like future colleagues, may be a help – they will give you more of an idea of the local area than a simple internet search.
You should try to spend every non-working day or spare weekend productively. This doesn’t necessarily mean looking at new homes, just getting an idea of the area’s transport links, shops, schools, doctor’s surgeries and other facilities.
Consider Renting
It may be worth while opting for a short-term let, particularly if you have a probationary period to undergo with your new employer. Once this period is over and you have settled in then you might want to start looking for somewhere more permanent to live.
However, going down this route could create a problem – do you keep your current home, or do you sell it if your finances won’t stretch that far? In such a scenario, it may be worth while putting some of your bigger items such as furniture into storage.
Create a Moving Checklist
Assuming you have identified somewhere to live, you should create your own moving checklist and tick items off as you deal with them. Ideally, this should be separate from any job-related checklist (although there may be some overlap).
At least a month before you move, you should start getting removals estimates and talk to your chosen firm (hopefully us!). Two weeks beforehand, start thinking about utilities – electricity, gas or oil, water and increasingly important these days – phone and internet. Contact your existing supplier and see what arrangements you need to make regarding final readings and any connections to your new address.
Remember there are a whole host of other people to inform – your new local council and your nearest GP surgery, your bank and the DVLA (to register your new address) if you hold a driver’s licence.
A week before your move, you ought to think about starting to pack up items; a methodical approach, taking it room by room, is usually the best way to ensure nothing is missed out.
On the Day
Have a small box or bag of essentials to hand on moving day. This should contain food or drink, favourite toys for children (and pets), and a folder with any relevant or important documents. Don’t forget to drop the keys off with estate agents; and give yourself plenty of time for cleaning (your old home as well as your new one).
Talk to East Anglia Removal Firm Hamiltons Removals
At Hamiltons we have plenty of experience in helping people move at the same time as changing their jobs. We can help with moves to all parts of the UK, as well as overseas. We also help with commercial moves (and are happy to relocate businesses and staff at the same time).
We will be able to take a lot of the stress out of moving – which you may appreciate as it will allow you to spend more time focusing on your new job. For instance, if you are short of time, then we can offer a packing and unpacking service. Not only will your items be professionally packed, minimising the risk of breakages, we also use our own high-quality packing materials (including bespoke cartons for pictures and clothes).
If you are renting or opting for a short-term move, then we have two Safe N Stored self-storage sites on the Norfolk/Suffolk border – one at Harleston and another at Aldeby. Here can store all your personal possessions (the Aldeby site can accommodate caravans, motorboats and other larger items); both sites are protected by CCTV cameras, so you don’t need to worry about security.
If you would like to know more about any of our UK moving services, follow this link; for overseas moves, click here. You can also call us on 01379 855203.
Driving on the Left – or the Right?
One of the biggest differences you will experience if you are moving from the UK to Europe is on the roads. Many other countries drive on the left-hand side of the road – so you will need to learn a whole new set of driving habits.
Hamiltons Removals provide high-end UK removals to Europe and further afield. Here we take a look at reasons why some countries drive on the left and others on the right – and how we can help you move vehicles abroad.
The History of Driving on the Left and the Right
Originally most countries drove on the left. This is thought to date back to the time when the only horsepower on the roads was of the equine variety; riders preferred to stay on the left as this meant they could defend themselves more easily against any approaching highwaymen or foes (assuming they were right-handed and so would carry a sword in their right hand).
However, many other countries drive on the right thanks to the influence of the French, and Napoleon in particular. Noblemen and women rode on the left in France, forcing everyone else to ride on the right. In addition, Napoleon insisted that his armies rode in the right during military manoeuvres to avoid congestion and getting stuck in any mud. The military leader was left-handed himself and so preferred riding on the right.
When horses were replaced by cars, countries generally continued driving on the same side of the road.
So, Who Drives on What Side of the Road?
There are currently 63 countries which drive on the left, apart from the UK. These include:
- Many of the Caribbean islands, including Barbados, Jamaica and Antigua;
- Some African countries, including Kenya, Malawi and Botswana;
- Larger countries, including Australia, New Zealand and Pakistan.
Many of these places were part of the British Empire (now the Commonwealth) and simply followed the UK’s lead.
However, around two out of every three countries drive on the right. These include:
- North and South America (with the exceptions of Suriname and Guyana in the south)
- Middle Eastern countries
And, if you are considering UK removals to Europe, then the whole of the continent drives on the right (with the exception of the UK). Much of this is down to the French influence (mentioned above).
Factors to Consider when Driving Abroad
Although there is no law to prohibit you from driving a right-hand drive vehicle abroad, just as you can drive a left-hand drive car in the UK, there a number of other factors to consider. You will have to get used to a whole new set of driving habits, particularly when it comes to roundabouts, overtaking and speed limits (which may be in kilometres per hour rather than miles per hour).
You also need to ensure your car is compliant with the rules and regulations in your new country, such as those surrounding exhaust emissions, and safety equipment you need to carry in your car – such as hi-vis jackets or a warning triangle. All your paperwork and insurance (including logbooks and licences) will need to be in order as well. The relevant page on the UK Government website, https://www.gov.uk/drive-abroad, is a useful source of information here.
So, you may be better off selling your vehicle in your home country and buying something new when you arrive at your new destination.
Specialist Moves with Hamiltons Removals
However, if you do want to take your vehicle with you then Hamiltons Removals can help, thanks to our Specialist Removals team. We have purpose-built removals vehicles and ramps and have moved many different types of vehicles over the years, including some prized classic cars, and – in the case of commercial moves – tractors and other machinery.
If you would like to learn more about our any of our moving services, you can contact us on 01379 855203 or email info@hamiltonsremovals.co.uk.