India

Moving to India may not spring to mind when you consider a new place to relocate. However, it has great power across the globe, both economically and politically. At the federal level, India is the most populous democracy in the world. India has an estimated population of 1.13 billion and is the world’s second most populous country. Although nearly 70% of the population resides in rural areas, recently migration to larger cities has led to a dramatic increase in the country’s urban population. The largest cities are Mumbai (formerly Bombay), Delhi, Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), Chennai (formerly Madras), Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore), Hyderabad and Ahmedabad.

As more businesses are moving offices overseas, moving to India may become more commonplace in the next few years. Before you call India your home, be sure to find out all you can about moving to India.

Making an international move—like moving to India—will take a lot of preparation. You will need to make similar decisions as if you were moving across the city, but there will also be others where the international move will provide its own challenge.

To prepare for your transcontinental move, ensure you enlist the help of a professional, reliable moving company that is very familiar with international moves. You will want movers that know how your belongings will clear customs and deliver them safely to your new home. An international moving company should also be able to help you prepare you and your family for the move itself. They should offer guidance on how to prepare your paperwork such as visas and passports to help expedite your travels, as well.

Also, ask a trusted confidant or family member who has possibly made an international move if they have any tips for you. A guided hand will definitely help make your move much easier. It’s always helpful to have first-hand advice.

Now that your paperwork is in order, it’s time to prepare your home for the move. More likely than not, you’ll be moving into a smaller space than the one you have now. This means that you won’t be able to take all of your belongings with you. Take the time to sort through the house and determine what is essential to bring and what you can live without. Many people find that they have things that they haven’t accessed in years, such as extra couches, wall hangings, lamps, dishes, etc. These can all be sold, donated or discarded if they aren’t used.

If you know that your international move is temporary, you may want to consider utilizing storage facilities with your moving company. Most facilities are now climate-controlled and under constant surveillance. This offers great peace of mind, especially if you have valuable antiques that you don’t want to move overseas but want to know they are safe and secure during your stay overseas.

Once you’ve placed all the things that aren’t moving internationally in their proper locations, it’s time to prepare the items that are moving to India. Start in rooms or closets that you don’t access as much. That way, you can start packing with weeks to go before the move and not be looking for items that you’ve already packed away.

Make sure to clearly define contents and the room of where to box will need to go. This will make it easier on both the moving company and you when you go to unpack. You will know where you kitchen and bedroom items—such as sheets and pillows—are right away, so you can get everyone settled.

After you have made the move, living in India should be an experience that you treasure. Make yourself familiar with locals, as well as shops and restaurants. Before you know it, you’ll feel like you’re right at home.

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