A hundred years ago moving overseas was a long and arduous journey. The transatlantic crossing would take 10 to 14 days alone. Luckily, today’s scientific achievement allows us to shorten that time by half when traveling by ship and make it even shorter if we use a plane. But, in a lot of aspects, not much has changed regarding an overseas move. It is a still a big step in anyone’s life whether you are coming from or going to the US. If you are not careful you can have a really bad experience when trying to make Europe your new home. Here are some tips on how to avoid pitfalls when moving to Europe from Brooklyn.
What you should know about Europe
Before you settle on making Europe your new home, here are a few things you should look into.
Importance of history
Europe is a continent, not a country. It may seem obvious to a lot of you, but we should make this perfectly clear right away. Europe has a long and rich history and it is tremendously shaped by it. It has seen the rise and fall of many great empires (like Roman and Ottoman) and has been influenced by many cultures over the centuries. Wherever you go in Europe you will better understand your surrounding if you know the history. There are cultural, historical and etymological influences that can only be understood if you are aware of the struggle and condition in which your future countrymen had lived in. So be sure to study up on the history of your future home country.
Cultural difference
When moving to Europe from Brooklyn the first thing you are going to notice is the cultural change. No matter where you go, culture is going to be very different from your hometown. Even though Europe is smaller than the US in size, the diversity of culture is staggering, and you will be able to experience it first hand. To get the better feeling of what’s it really like to live in the country you are moving to, you should consider living there for a while. Most countries allow up to 90 days of stay without a visa, so try and visit your destination off-peak tourist season in order to know what to expect which will help you stay relaxed when relocating. There is no need to add more stress when moving to Europe from Brooklyn.
How to prepare for moving to Europe from Brooklyn
Now that you know the basics of the place that you are moving to, here is how you should approach getting ready for your relocation to Europe from Brooklyn.
Packing
When packing be sure not to overpack. Shipping everything at such long distances will be costly and you should try to avoid unnecessary spending. Pack only the things you are sure that you will need. If you are unsure whether something is necessary, it most likely isn’t and you should discard it. When you have figured out what you need, sort it, pack and label with care. When you figure out the exact time of your relocation, start packing a week before. You don’t want to rush packing, but you don’t want to take it too long either. Starting too soon will have your apartment looking like a warehouse and you will feel stressed having a lot of boxes lying around. Label with big letters if anything is fragile so that the people who will move you will know to take care.
Organizing the move
When organizing your move your best bet is to search for a Brooklyn moving company. Finding a local moving company helps you better plan your move and have a better insight into how good your movers are. Usually, you can find someone in the neighborhood who has used them before and you get a much better idea on how to choose the right movers for you. Since it’s going to be such a long move, there is a number of things you should factor in when figuring out how much it is going to cost. You will need to budget for:
- Moving and Transportation Costs
- Packing and unpacking costs(optional)
- Moving Insurance costs
- Storage costs
- Customs Duty Charges and Taxes
- Visa Fees
- Lawyer Fees (optional)
Your moving to Europe from Brooklyn costs vary on a number of issues. Are you using a plane or a boat? When will you move? How long can you afford for the move to take? Do you need to pay for storage? All of this questions need answers and you will need to figure them out in order to know your cost. Being open with you movers will make it much easier to agree on a precise moving quote. Consider getting estimates from a couple of movers before you decide on which one is the best. Avoid moving in peak season (during the summer) and giving too little time for your movers to plan your move. They probably can organize a move on a short notice, but it will cost you.
Having proper paperwork
Depending on the country you are moving to you will need to fill out and present different paperwork. There is Schengen area in which you can travel freely once you get your passport checked, but you can only stay for 90 days without a visa. Countries that are in Schengen are Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. When moving for a longer time you will need to provide information on where you will live, where you will work and that you have enough money to sustain yourself. There are many different visas you can apply to and should be carefully examined before you come since some procedures can last for months. You should also look into what is required to become a permanent resident in the country you are going to stay in.
