Moving out of Singapore? It will be a huge adjustment for the whole family. Make it easier with these pointers on what all you need to consider while wrapping up things at home and at work.
1. Get packing to avoid panicking
First, get in touch with an international moving company. Here are some tips:
– Get multiple cost estimates from moving companies
– Search for reviews of these companies online. It always helps to check on expat forums. It is advisable to sign up with a company that is dependable and careful with your goods. Don’t just go for the cheapest.
– Sell or donate stuff you can’t take back. Facebook groups or sites like Carousell, Gumtree, Shopee are ideal to sell pre-used items. If you are looking at letting go of some designer wear, check out Reebonz.
– You will be provided with an exhaustive list on how to go about packing up your home. Of course, most of the work is done by the company, but you will need to help with sorting and marking out stuff that needs to be packed together or not at all. This is important for you to ensure that unpacking isn’t a nightmare.
Next, do take care of details like cancelling magazine and newspaper subscriptions and letting important contacts know where to forward your mails.
Top tip: Remember to book a hotel near your house for the duration of packing.
2. Financial stuff isn’t fun but it’s unavoidable
This is a toughie! First, get a checklist ready and then get cracking. Some things that need to be on your checklist:
– Pay all pending taxes. You will not be allowed to leave the country until all your dues are cleared.
– Close all GIRO payments authorised before you close the account.
– If CPF applies to you, settle the account.
– Inform your insurance companies about your plan to relocate.
– Notify your credit card companies about your relocation.
3. Say bye to your belongings
If Singapore was home for more than a couple of years, then you may own property and cars here. Here’s what you can do:
– It is best to seek professional help if you want to rent/sell your home. Get in touch with a professional real estate firm to bring down the hassles of managing it when you are not in the country.
– If you own a car, selling directly to a buyer guarantees most financial returns. So, it is best to plan a few months prior in order to crack a good deal.
– You can also checkout online used car marketplaces like sgcarmart, onemotoring, or carro. Do read up reviews before you decide.
If you live in a rented property, then you need to do the following:
– Ensure that you read your contract thoroughly before you announce your intention to move to your landlord. There is a notice period that needs to be served, so do keep that in mind.
– Most contracts come with a diplomatic clause, so if you are breaking the lease midway, you are covered here.
– Landlords also offer an option to get a new tenant for the left-over lease period. This works best for your landlord, but may require a few months of scouting to land a deal.
– You will also need to disconnect and fully pay up for various home utilities before you handover your keys.
Another extremely important factor that gets overlooked often is documents. You must make photocopies of all legal and valuable documents. We are talking stuff like bank documents, marriage certificates, medical records, school records, school transfer certificates, driver’s license, work documents, and tax records.
Related: Best Credit Cards for Forex
4. Be prepared: The last day in office will be your longest
Inform your employers as soon as your plans to move are concrete. There are many formalities that need to be completed at their end, and the process requires a considerable amount of time. Also, paperwork for a lot of your tax and clearance related documents will originate from your employer.
The employer will also need to cancel your work passes, if you have any. Your work passes may be linked with your spouse or children’s passes, so timing is key. Keep in mind school holidays or other dependencies that may exist.
5. Don’t forget the needs of your immediate family!
Inform your children’s school about your relocation. You will need transfer certificates and other official documents from the school to facilitate admission to schools in your new home. If there is a time gap between sessions and admissions in the two countries, ask the school if they can help provide study material for the time being.
Arrange for your pets’ transportation – the paperwork required to take the cuddly ones along with you is as extensive as it is for the rest of the family! Check the laws of your new country of residence; there may be a requirement for vaccinations for your pets as well as family.
Relocating is always a cumbersome task, but a little bit of planning and organising skills will ensure that you’re well prepared for your journey to another land.
This post was written by BankBazaar.sg, a leading online marketplace in Singapore that helps consumers compare and apply for the best offers across all financial products: personal loans, home loans, credit cards & investments.
Like BankBazaar Singapore on Facebook to discover tips, clever hacks, and deals to save and earn you more money.
Share
