Moving should be an exciting time in your life: turning over a new leaf, beginning a new chapter, and looking forward to building a future. Unfortunately, for many people moving and relocating ends up being an endless source of stress. This is especially true for those moving long distances and relocating to another country.
Moving from the UK to another country in Europe presents many opportunities and challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit have combined to change up the standard rules, so it is important to be aware of how the process has changed.
Aside from the political and economic factors, you should also be aware of how to move from country to country. This includes knowing what to pack and finding yourself a reputable and trusted moving company, such as BubbleVan. So, keep reading to learn more about essential knowledge for those moving from the UK to the EU!
The Rules Have Changed Just a Bit
Brexit means that the United Kingdom is no longer part of the European Union. This impacts the ease and overall process needed to relocate from, for example, London to Portugal! After Brexit, the UK is now defined as a “third country” meaning it is a nation outside of the EU.
Now, it is important that you file for a visa in order to permanently relocate to your chosen country. You can still stay in any EU country for up to 90 days, which will be helpful for scouting out your new residence.
Some of the most popular countries for relocation include: France, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. Luckily, BubbleVan can help you move to any of these countries! Learn more about the specific visa requirements for each country, make sure you renew your passport, and get ready to move – albeit with some slight changes.
A Moving Service Will Be Your Best Friend!
Once you have your visa secured and have pinpointed your new home, it is time to consider how you will move from place to place. In this case, a quality moving company like BubbleVan will be more than worth its weight in gold. It might be tempting to assume you can do everything yourself, but here a few reasons to consider a moving company:
- Professional movers can help with packing, loading, and unloading.
- A moving company will have vans available to move your items rather than family vehicles.
- It will be a long drive: almost 11 hours to France, 13 hours to Switzerland, and almost 20 hours to Spain! No matter where you are going, help will be needed.
Most vehicles are not equipped to hold boxes and boxes full of your belongings. Loading up your car to the brim is not only uncomfortable; it can also be a potential safety hazard if it obstructs your view. That is why the professional industry-standard vans provided by your moving company will be the much better option.
In addition, loading and unloading by yourself is an exhausting task. You are carrying heavy boxes and pieces of furniture back and forth, and all of them need special care in order to be delivered safely. Rather than risk an injury and losing some belongings in transit, consider giving that job over to the professionals. They have years of experience and are incredibly capable, leaving you to just focus on making the move as smooth as possible.
When it comes to moving comfortably and safely from country to country, you should spare no expense. A moving company will be a huge asset to make the process as seamless as possible!
How (and What) You Should Be Packing
Packing all of your belongings up into various boxes can be the perfect way to learn what you do and do not need! No matter how you do it, the process is very stressful and can make you want to just leave it all behind and start over.
Here are some great tips to help you figure out how to pack and what you should be bringing.
- Some things are too dangerous to pack at all! It can be tempting to just throw everything in a box and unpack it later, but there are some things you should never pack. Examples include cleaning materials (especially fluids), batteries, and perishables from your fridge. In addition, your valuables, cash, and important documents should be kept with you during the move in case of emergency.
- Take a serious look at what you actually need. We all tend to keep items that we know we will never use. But when you have to pack up everything and move countries, the less you have the better. In the months leading up to your move, go through everything and throw out or give away what you haven’t used in a long time.
- Pack (and unpack) one room at a time. A good way to make packing less overwhelming is to take it one room at a time. This also allows you to group together your boxes based on the room they need to go. When it comes time to unpack, you will know where everything is instead of having to go through every box.
With these tips, it becomes serious to pack and unload your belongings. A good rule of thumb is also to deconstruct your furniture to the best of your ability instead of trying to move it all at once. For other tips, consider asking your moving company what they would recommend.
It’s Time to Get Moving!
Now that you know more about the relocation process, packing, and the importance of a moving company, you are ready to get started! A long distance move is no joke, but it becomes more manageable when you take things one step at a time. Eventually, the hard part will be over and you can focus on settling into your new home. Don’t forget to research the best moving company for you and get a jumpstart in the tricky (but rewarding) relocation process.