Important moving tip always be sure to check the movers Feedback 

It is also a good idea to check the movers Terms and conditions 

It is often not until we come to pack up to move home that we realise how much stuff we really have. 
But how much of that stuff do you want ?
Or need ? at your new place 
Well packing is also a great chance to declutter 

• Ask yourself do I need it ?
• Do I want it ? yes then it is not clutter
• Ask yourself also when did Last use it ?
• Also ask yourself will it fit in my new house ?
• And by fit I mean 3 things does it have a place to go in the new house ? Does it fit within the new houses style eg Lightwood in a house with dark wood etc and also does it fit though the doors into the new place (And can it safely be dismantled ? eg many reclining type sofas can be dismantled if it can get in after been dismantled no problem for things like sofas and dining tables,but it is worth noting if wardrobes are dismantled they are often weaker when put back together)  
  And if you decide you do not need a certain piece f furniture many local charities will be glad to have it, just ring them and ask how to donate furniture 
• Clothes are simple to declutter Will I wear that again ? And will I need to wear it again ? and if your moving to warmer climes like Spain yes you will need a few jumpèrs and coats as it gets cold at night in the winter
• Decluttering Books , again can be simple , when did I last read it ? will I Reread it ? has it a special value to me? Is it worth keeping ? (See our blog on packing tips for tips on packing books and loads more packing tips)
• So you have finished decluttering and have sorted the things your moving home with, the things going to charity and have a pile of things to good for the bin? well Why not look to up cycle them for example a table, chest of draws etc you like could be repainted or redecorated etc, this can also be the solution if loved furniture doesn't fit your new places style

But somethings people pack for moving to Spain may surprise you We have over the years had people pack 1/4 full bottles of washing liquid or 1/4 boxes of wash powered , you can get these at your new place so bin them ? well no infact these may not be clutter at all but can come in handy for the first few days while your to busy to pop to the shops to buy more 





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So your thinking of moving aboard/overseas ? That is great but your unsure where to move , well that is understandable the world is a large place with many many fabulous countries 

And yes you can call us biased (As moving people to Spain is what we do ) (But we also live in Spain so )
Have you concerned Spain ?
Well You Should 

Easy to reach 
For one it is only a few hours by plane from the UK with regular flights from many UK airports to many Spanish airports so unlike some further afield destinations it is easy to still visit family back in the UK and for them to visit you. (And this is also true of many other European countries but that is okay while this blog article is about Spain we do also cover places like France and Portugal ) And depending on the route it is just over a days drive as well to Spain. So you're never far in that sense from the UK and Family and friends 
(Plus it is also easy to move to as ourselves and many other movers offer it as a  regular service between  Spain and the UK)

​Oh but I might miss British food (this is more a quick throw away point ) As Spain is home to Many British people all over the place (But which part of Spain is right for me (Read part 1 here of that article  ) Well as Spain is home to many British people you will in many areas find British food shops and even many of the main supermarkets will stock British food 

Lower Property prices 
Well as you can guess in our work we see a wide range of properties as we move people in, and one thing people will say is oh it cost x or Y and well I sold my UK home and brought this and have money left over, so what your say, maybe the home is smaller, well 99% of the time  it is actual larger than what they had preciously and often even has a pool 
And yes while in Spain property prices are higher on the coast than in land, in most cases your money will spread a lot further when buying or renting in Spain 

Lower cost of living/Shopping
And talking of money going further, in Spain the average living cost is a lot lower than the UK, again this is though both personal experience and customer comments and how much more they can buy at the supermarket and how that includes more luxury products than than would have in the UK and even after converting the money they spent less than they would in the UK for more 
And again it is worth noting that this is very true on your fruit and vegetables (Which are often best brought from your towns weekly market) and as we all may know many of the fruit and vegetables you buy in the UK come from Spain so you will likely notice how fresh it is as of course it has not travelled as far and was more recently growing )

Also worth noting is that many people ourselves included find they pay less in Euros for the same sort of internet usage volumes than they would in the UK
 
The great weather 
Well this point is a well known one but many areas of Spain average 320 days or so a year of sunshine, so Spain is ideal for those of us who love the sunshine (And combined with the closeness though air travel to the UK it is a place some people make home all year round for that reason or just to escape the winter in places like the UK or Norway (As We know several people from that region who do that) and as many thou not all Spanish Regions have winters with day time averages of 20 c it is not hard to see why (But wait you say Spain gets Snow and gets cold , well yes in the winter the nights are cold that is true (But in some regions cases it only feels cold due to the day time to night time temperature differences ) any way back to Snow yes Spain gets Snow often just in the higher peaks ere you find the ski resorts and some regions up north ) 

The Culture 
Well it is often said the Spanish know how to party, and that sure is true, Spain has many festivals and parades though out the year.
And theses festivals cover a wide range of themes from Christmas to Easter to Historical events like the Moors and Christian festivals many towns along the med hold (but only in regions where there was battles between the two groups)
And every town has a town festival every year which is about a week long and a mix of a fair and party/carnival 
And while not sure if this should be under the heading Culture or not it is not unusual here in Spain for people to say Hola as you pass them in the Street 

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Thank you for reading 
And if you have moved to Spain and an not see an advantages you would say is one of the plus/advantageous of living in Spain please add a comment 
As I know there are many more of them so plan to expand this peice as a second part soon 

Spain is a large and very varied country, with no two areas or two towns been the same, so how do people moving to Spain decide what part of Spain is right for them ?
Well firstly everyone is different with different needs and wants, so list what you want from Spain and what you need, 

For example do you want to be in an area with a large amount of fellow Brits ? (Yes/no) the upside to this is if thats what you want it makes the transit in someways easier but can make learning for example Spanish more tricky, but many people do life in areas with many people from there own country,. 
Or would you prefer an area thats mixed ?
Or mainly Spanish ?

If you have children what are the schools like? and how far are they from where we are looking to life ?

Will you be there year round ?Yes then what is the summer and winter temperatures like (they vary all over Spain ) If you want for example warm but not hot Summers the more northern areas may be for you. Or if you want hot summers and Mild winter regions like Almeria, Malaga may be your preferred area 

these are just a few of the questions you may ask yourself, but all I will say is be sure where you move is right for you and if in any doubt why not do short term rentals to be sure.  

It is worth noting that as a rule of thumb generally in Spain houses away from the coast and outside of villages, so for example in the mountains and other inland regions are often both larger and cheaper than their counterparts at the coast, the trade off thou can be some of these houses can be very isolated and miles from the nearest shops, now if thats what you want to be alone and away from it then that is a big plus for you 

It is an often quoted fact that moving home is among the most stress full things we do in our lives, so who must it be for your dog or cat or pets ? Well it can and is often stressful for them as to them it seems like something amiss is going on something they don't understand. (So be patient with them before during and after the move,and I mean more so them normal as it is normal and natural for them to be put out of sorts and act strange )
But that does not mean there are not things you can do to make it less stressful for them.

1. We all know our pets well so know what they like and dislike, so for example while you can in your moving to Spain you can get many good pet foods it doesn't harm to take a few days to a week or twos worth of the pet food they where use to in the UK and gradually swap them to the Spanish/French versions (ETC) this will help maintain at least some aspects of what your dogs know as normal and safe (of course if your dog or cat / pet is not a fussy eater and eats anything this one might not be important to them)
2. As dogs are big on scent and smells make sure when they travel, they have some blankest r jumpers or the likes that not only smell of them but you and of course it will smell of many over scents they know as well so will again help seem more normal and help them relax more when travelling to their new home and when at it until they and yourself are all settled 
3. Also make sure you don't pack your dogs/cats favourite toy so that they can travel with it.Plus  I would also suggest putting in your pets cage just before you start the journey their favourite /2nd favourite toy (I would say ideally one they either can chew quietly  or cuddle up to not one that gets them barmy )(so yes properly don't pack at least two toys) 
4. And Don't let your dog see you packing their toys that you need to pack as they will think your getting rid of them and I would also suggest not packing them all at once maybe the odd toy here the odd toy there over a few weeks 
5. There are a few ideas on this as to whether your pets should be there on the moving day or at kennels or the likes and on this I am making no comment as all ideas and thoughts ha ve there ups and down 
   
6. but if your pets are there on the moving day or even if not and just while packing (check your cats have not hidden in your boxes if you have cats as they love boxes)make sure you maintain some where in the house that your pet can go to get away from the chaos of the packing and/or the move as after all if there on the moving day the removal team may be to your pet scary but at the very least strangers. And that is why when we are doing a move where pets are about we will make a point of taking time to talk to the pet and let them see we are not a threat( as after all we don't want want part of your family stressed we want the move to be a fun relaxing as possible event for you and your kids and pets ) 
7. If you have time before setting of from your old house it will not harm in my opinion to take your dogs on one last walk of their favourite route,
8. if your pet is travelling in a cage whether with you or a pet transporter  if your dog or cat is not use to a cage buy one several weeks in advance so they can get use to it. That way it will be a familiar space come moving day. Let them go in on their own timetable , don't force them but a few ways to help with it can include feeding the in the cage (with door open )(used that one with ours before we moved to Spain)or as suggest by someone throwing a toy like a tennis ball in and playing fetch. There are other ways to of course but as long as they feel it is a safe space that is what matters 

See more general moving and packing tips and some additional tips on pets during moves on the main tips page 
https://www.europeanrelocationservices.co.uk/tips.html
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