[fish13]

Hi everyone,

We've just arrived back from our 'look see' trip to New Plymouth to see how we liked it. Well, we loved it. It's a fantastic place. I've let the company in the UK know that I'll be transferring as soon as possible!

My question is possibly pretty broad. We are going to rent out our house while we're away, and we are trying to compile a list of all the things we will need to do to leave the UK 'tangle free'.

Can people please jot down things to remember as we're paranoid that we'll get round the world to remember that we forgot to cancel the milk or something silly!

Everything from what to do with your back (we plan to keep one account open for direct debits, money transfer etc) to cancelling utilities!

Has anyone put together a worksheet or checklist of any kind? Thought it might be pretty usefull as a download or something once this post was done (if successful?)

Many thanks for your help in advance, we've found the forum a wealth of knowledge so far.

Cheers,

Melissa and Hugo.

[marcia]

If you pay any bills by direct debit - cancel them now and go onto a pay as it comes basis - very few of the companys do as they say and if you are with vodafone DO NOT expect them to do as you ask even if you put it in writing - they are pretty rubbish!!!!!!!!

Get a letter from your car insurance proving your no claims as well - some don't need it straight away but say they may request it in the event of a claim.

can't think of anything else right at this moment, (trying to multi task too much - getting the kids ready for school, talking on msn and typing on here!! oops) but I'll add to it if I do!!

[fish13]

Thanks Marcia,

Very helpful advice.

Cheers,

Hugo.

[willsken]

Hey Fish, this is a to do list from another site I use. Some of the stuff won't apply but I found it useful to copy and paste the bits that were relevant to me. :nice1

Things to do list
In this 'to do' list I've tried to cover everything you might need to do when emigrating to New Zealand. I will update it as we go through the process and I gain more first hand knowledge.
Feel free to print it, and tick things off as you get them done. Good luck. It's daunting isn't it !

House Sale
Get house valued & find an estate agent or other means of selling
Prepare house for sale
If self-built house get CML approved architects certificates & professional indemnity insurance certificates
Organise the keys for the new people
Write a user manual for the house (where the stop cocks are, boiler things etc)
Check every cupboard, loft & secret hiding place !
Sell House
Note final meter readings
Leave a forwarding address
Furniture
Arrange packing & shipping. Get at least 3x quotes. Don't forget local companies.
Arrange storage
Arrange possible air freight
Get packing materials (bubble wrap ?)
Clean bicycles, garden tools etc
Sell unwanted things
Dispose of rubbish
Make a total inventory of all of your stuff. Keep receipts. Take pictures of everything in case you can't remember what it all is.
Return borrowed things to whom they belong !
Dismantle furniture
Clean & dry everything that may otherwise suffer from mildew during shipping (fridge/freezer/washing machine)
Drain the oil out of lawn mowers and petrol strimmers etc
Get silica gel for absorbing unwanted moisture on journey
Find out which things won't work in NZ (washing machines ?)
Check containers for leaks etc (close, and from inside, look for light through roof)
Be prepared to pay GST/bond if you haven't got residency status
Accommodation in UK
Sort out where to stay until flight
Stop Bills
Council Tax & get rebate
House Insurance & get rebate
Electricity, Gas, Water, Phone
Cable/satellite
Car Insurance & get rebate
Mobile phone contract
ISP
Cancel or transfer subscriptions
Get refund on TV licence (only complete 3-month unexpired periods)
Pay off debts
Credit cards
Car
Car
Sell car or organise somewhere to store it & sell it later
Health
Smear test
Dental check-up
If you're with an NHS dentist, book an appointment for a years time to stay registered, and don't forget to cancel it if you stay in NZ
Eye test
Get any immunisations for NZ
Make sure children's jabs are up to date
UK Tax etc
Contact DWAP about Tax credits, Child benefit, Income tax
Find out your tax/benefits position if you return to the UK
Find out about the implications for your pension
Endowment Policies
Check whether travelling to NZ affects them
Notify of change of address
Get surrender value
Close before travelling or after or not at all
Paperwork
Get passport style photos (how many all together ?)
Get Passports
Birth certificates (long versions with parents names for visas)
Get certified copies
References from banks (you will need proof that you are good payers)
References from employers
Proof of employment experience
Proof of no claims bonus on car & claims history on house
Certificates of qualifications
Driving License
Medical records
Dental records ?
Air travel tickets
Make 2x copies & leave 1x with family/friends
Arrange for police checks, so you can get them from NZ
Get a will written when you get to NZ, to apply under NZ law. Use the lawyer conveyancing your property purchase.
CV
Get a book on CV writing
Write a CV for electronic media & paper
What about a CV website ?
Accommodation details for NZ
Bank account details
List of NZ contacts
Get a diary to note when you must do things etc
Pets
Get dogs & cats micro-chipped at least 6 months before flying
Get immunisations
Arrange for someone to look after pets until settled in NZ
Get paperwork - MAF dog import permit (this is no longer required)
Get travel box
Arrange things with vet
Register dog within 14 days of entering NZ with local government authority
Travel
Sort shipping company
Book Flights
Find out what you can put in the hold for nothing
Ask for special migrant allowance
Book a bassinet seat for <2 year olds
Check availability of baby food/reheating
Travel insurance
Sort out how to get to airport

Things to take with you by air
Clothes
Paperwork
Money (NZ dollars & credit cards)
Food & drink
Car seats & booster seats (need to check whether they conform to NZ regulations)
Computer disks
Children's toys
Toiletries
Entertainment for you and the kids on the plane
DVT socks (look on ebay. http://www.wbrewin.co.uk/ did a great deal when I looked)
Medicines (including for children/babies)
How about a few pieces of rope to tie two trolleys together, so one person can push two ?
Things to take
3 & 5 amp fuses - they are difficult to get in NZ because the plugs don't have them.
Mobile Phones
Make sure mobile works in NZ
Money
Open an account with a foreign exchange company (like HiFX or xeTrade). You can also use banks like ASB.
Sort out where to invest the proceeds of the house sale (onshore or offshore). You must open accounts while still in the UK.
Bank Accounts
Change address with bank
Close all UK bank accounts or leave enough money to pay any direct debits you want to keep (endowment policies etc)
Open NZ bank account
Credit Cards
Make sure you can pay off bills on-line
Change address
Tell them you are going to NZ and will be spending there, otherwise they might put a stop on your card.
Communications
Buy a laptop in the UK and set it up.
Get ISP independent email account such as gmail, hotmail, msn, yahoo
Get email addresses for everyone you can
Arrange for mail to be forwarded (your local post office has a form)
Give your details to family & friends
Organise a web cam for aged parents !
Have a leaving party (or a going on holiday party if you end up coming back !)
Choose your preferred NZ region
Study weather
Crime rates
Employment types and statistics
Schools
House prices
Jobs in NZ
Register with recruitment agencies
Get a list of possible companies (using directories)
Get sources of job adverts (newspapers & on-line)
Get IRD number for everyone (get this while still in the UK)
Accommodation in NZ
Hotels, B&B, Long term motel, Home stays, Rentals, Purchase
Study 'To let' sections of local papers
Car in NZ
Car rental for first few weeks
Car purchase & check credit history
Car insurance
Driving test within 12 months for NZ driving license
Get separate personal injury/accident insurance
Living in NZ
Arranging for your phone to be re-connected
How to choose an electricity supplier and get connected.
Contents insurance for when your stuff arrives
Registering your car, you need your passport or you'll have to do it at the post office!
How to get the kids into school once you've chosen one.
Setting up a family trust
Bank fees - how to avoid them
MAF fees - how not to pay too much

Health in NZ
Health insurance for NZ
Register with doctor ?
Locate hospitals
Enrol kids at the local School Dental Clinic for regular checkups
Computers in NZ
Sort out what & where to buy
Sort out internet access
Return to UK
Research schools etc & decide to where in the UK you would reluctantly return

[fish13]

That was what I was after!
Many thanks indeed Nicola!

Great....

[Ana&Steve]

Wow, now that's a list! Thanks for posting that, I'm going to print it out for future reference. :)
Ana

[fish13]

Yeah, great post eh? Thanks again!

[stu70]

Holy Canoli!! That list is as detailed as they come. What great post. Cheers

[beano_bill]

Fantastic - you must have read my mind. I was instructed by OH to find if anyone had a list of jobs to do!!

Thanks for your post - its helped tremendously.

Beano.

[Hannah]

Oh Nicola, what a fab post....and at such a good time for me!!!!

Melissa and Hugo, Glad you liked New Plymouth - it's not just me that thinks its great then!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???????????????

Did you like Pukekura Park, and did you have a cup of tea in the library cafe as you marvelled at the wonderful selection of free papers, magazines, books, internet access, museum, exhibitions,etc etc.!!!!!

i LOVE New Plymouth (in case anyone hadn't noticed)

hannah