An Expat Talks about Moving to London, UK

What is the name of the city or town that you are reporting on?

London

Name three things that you wish you had brought and three you wish you had left at home.

Wish I'd brought:

1. Grits
2. Jiff Peanut Butter
3. My car

Wish I'd left behind:

1. Absolutely anything electrical
2. More of my furniture
3. Many of my clothes

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CORNERSTONE Relocation

Home finding, schooling, moving, settling-in and more for UK, London and Ireland. Cornerstone is a tech-driven, innovative relocation company. Making relocating to London, UK, Ireland and beyond a happy experience!
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Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.

What advice would you give someone preparing to move to your area about the actual move, choosing a neighborhood and finding a home?

Pay for a full structural survey if you buy. It's expensive, but worth it for the peace of mind. Make sure you take insurance for the stuff you move - replacement value. Shed as much as you can before moving if coming from the US, as you could easily have less space in a UK home. Check out an area at dinner time, so you see how good/bad parking really is, rather than just looking at a property during the day, when the street may be empty. Very important if you don't get off street parking guaranteed with your place. If you rent, go through the lease and the "condition" of the home listing very carefully - note even the most insignificant looking pre-existing "problems" you have with the property, so it does not come back to be your problem later in trying to retrieve a deposit.

What type of housing do you live in? Is this typical for most expats in your area?

I eventually bought a flat. Most expats in my area rent or buy a flat, depending on length of stay. Those I know with children usually start by renting a house.

How did you choose your neighborhood and find your home or apartment?

Chose the area based on reasonable drive to work (30-40 min) and close to London (20 min by train). Found my 1st flat in the area by using a relo service that my company employed. Later moved by finding a place on my own - visited every estate agent repeatedly, some of them a few times a week, for a few months straight. Finally one of them called me to arrange a viewing. Nothing I viewed was on offer on a window advert.

Are your housing costs higher or lower than they were in your home country? What is the average cost of housing there?

I left the US 14 years ago, so it's hard to say. But, I'd estimate that when I moved to this area, I paid about 75% more in rent than I had been doing in the US.