Financial Considerations

• Many foreign countries do not offer the range of banking services that we are accustomed to in the United States. Some have no U.S. dollar accounts; many have no account protections. Investigate the financial system in your overseas destination. Visit your own bank and discuss potential pitfalls and issues. Explore options that will help you manage financial transactions smoothly during your overseas stay.
  
  

Housing

• Resist the temptation to sign contracts for housing before you arrive overseas. A description and photos of a property cannot provide vital details like security, neighbors, actual condition of the unit or nearby amenities. Plan to spend one to two months in temporary housing. During this time, you can visit suitable properties, compare leases and negotiate a contract for long-term accommodations.
  
  Start researching your temporary housing options by contacting travel agents that specialize in corporate travel or vacation rentals. Get rates for extended-stay hotels and short-term vacation villa or condominium rentals.
  
  

Furnishings

• You may need to ship some of your household items overseas. Ocean freight shipping is considerably less expensive than air freight. However, you should allow a minimum of two months for your shipment to reach customs.
  
  Get several shipping estimates based on container sizes. Ask for estimated delivery times and find out if the shipper has experience with customs procedures at your intended destination. Check the reputation of several companies. Ask them for references from large corporations or U.S. government agencies that have used their services.
  
  

Appliances and Electronics

• Unless you are moving to a location within North America (and some Caribbean countries), you will need appliances that operate on the 220-volt system. Decide if you can afford to buy all new appliances. Alternatively, find out if the cost of renting them for the entire length of your overseas stay is more reasonable. Some people invest in a few step-up transformers that allow you to adapt the voltage for small items like irons and toasters. However, these are not reliable for appliances like microwaves and washing machines. It is often least expensive to purchase 220-volt appliances in the United States and pack them with your household goods shipment.
  
  Some computers and cell phones are dual voltage. For these items, you may only need to purchase adapters that allow you to change the end of the electrical plug to fit the overseas wall sockets.
  
  On the other hand, most televisions, VCRs and DVD players that we use in the United States use the NTSC signal. Overseas, these components operate on the PAL or SECAM signals. You will need to buy a multisystem television before relocating. If you purchase a PAL or SECAM television at your destination, it will be useless when you return to the United States.