TheAshleys

Hi All,

Would be real grateful if you could offer any advice on things we should be arranging now, so we dont get caught by things last minutes.

We are booked to fly November 23. We are getting quotes from shippers now, the visa is ok'd, just waiting on new police checks so we can extend the arrival date, as we front loaded these.

Other than that, we are not really doing anything other than saving like mad. Our house is sold, we are already in rented.

Should we be planning anything else now ? I am going to arrange a bank account next week, so I can start transferring money. We already know where we are going to get our camper van from for the first month.

Just dont want to get caught out last minute with things we could be doing now.

Thanks

Izzy

List every item in your house and work out how much it would cost you to replace it in Oz as this is what the shippers will want you to do.

Investigate marine insurance as a standalone policy is often half the price and more comprehensive than those offered by the shippers

Ask the shippers if they have memberships of any useful websites. We got a vodafone sim card with an aussie number and $20 free credit to pop into our phone as soon as we got here.

Unlock your mobile phones if you need to.

Gather together any references you may have to give to any potential landlords.

Give notice on any 90 day bank accounts you may have.

Put in place methods for keeping in touch with relatives, ie webcams, skype and get them used to using it. We have found skype in to be very unreliable and loads of people have rung us and we have been totally unaware.

Closer to the time, write your Xmas cards and leave with a friend who can send them for you. We came out at a similar time last year. Bring blank Xmas cards with you to send to your new friends !!!

Can't think of anything else right now !

TheAshleys

Wow, that is fantastic ! Thanks so much, really really useful.

anthonyandkatewagstaff

Link to a quality website below:

http://www.yellabrickroad.com

Happy planning!

thribble

Not sure I can add much to that - great post! Just a couple of things:

If you want to keep your UK number until you get sorted change to pay-as-you-go.

Copy your addresses/phone numbers to paper if they're kept electronically - I lost all of mine when I changed phones. D'oh.

Don't bother with sunscreen etc - you're much better buying that here - but do make sure you've got good sunglasses and hats (good to buy whilst it's summer over there!).

And make sure your camera is fully charged Enjoy!

Lindsay Clan

Insurance for your container - we used Letton Percival who are much cheaper than going through your removals. Book final check up with your dentist a couple of weeks before you are due to leave and then if anything needs doing get it done before you come over. Also get copies of dental records, medical records etc to bring with you. This is just so you have some medical history should you need it! Have a good clear out and get rid of anything that you may have moved from house to house and never used. Maybe do a few car boot sales - we paid for our flight over by doing this!!!! Good luck!

Lorraine

Ozzidoc

There's a to do list sticky at the top of the page.