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A few of the points covered on the session dealing with the move |
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Do emigrants usually rent a property when they first arrive?
Most emigrants on arrival have no household items. These usually follow in a few weeks' time by ship; therefore it may be necessary to rent property for at least a couple of months.
This is an area fraught with more complications than appears the case at first sight . Many new arrivals however feel strongly that they don’t want to help pay off their landlord’s mortgage for longer than necessary.
Many who have rented for a number of months have commented that not only have they lost the money in rent that they could have used as a down payment on their own home, but also given the present level of low mortgage rates their rental payments were a lot higher than mortgage payments would have been.
Many long term renters have also said that when they eventually decide to purchase a house, their options are restricted to their current rental area because they don’t want to move their children’s school again, after they have just resettled and made new friends.
Obviously it is important to get a feel for an area when you first move in but rental over too long a period can actually limit your eventual options due the impact it can have on your ability to take out a mortgage - this is an area that you need to be fully briefed on.
When renting property in certain areas there is a vast difference in costs between certain times of the year, it is not unusual for rental prices to be fourfold higher during the peak tourism season, particularly in certain rental developments.
In some areas there are rental communities tailored for the needs of those waiting for their new homes to be completed, these developments can include a number of important ancillary services but again you need to be aware of the overall cost implications.
How do emigrants select a removal company?
It is essential that you select a company with many years of extensive international experience and BAR bonding, after all you are entrusting your most precious possessions to their care. I cannot emphasize this point enough following the much publicized collapse a few years ago of a removal company which left its customers desperately making transatlantic phone calls to attempt to recover their goods from warehouses, ships and in certain cases from impounding.
There were no financial guarantees and as the company’s own insurance policies were worthless, many unlucky victims had to pay twice to obtain their goods, not a great start to life in a new country, some did not even recover their goods as they were impounded by the Customs authorities to meet unpaid charges.
Getting this initial step wrong can be the start of a catalogue of problems where your costs can mount up at a time when you need to be concentrating on other aspects of your move - we therefore cover this area in detail.
Once you have bought your Florida home, unless you are purchasing furniture out there or have a furniture package provided to you from your seller,( We go through the advantages and disadvantages of this and where so many Brits lose thousands of Pounds at the onset of their move) you may wish to ship items to Florida. This will take anything from between four and eight weeks to ship your furniture and other personal effects from the UK and it's advisable to approach a number of companies and get a selection of written quotes before committing yourself to any one removal company.
You could also consider air freight which is certainly swifter and easier than waiting up to two months for your personal effects to reach your new home. The first thing to check is whether or not the quote you secure includes insurance and the packaging of your furniture and effects. The second thing to be aware of is clearing your freight through customs. There are two ways of doing this: the first is to pay for 'Custody in-bond' where a third party clears your effects through customs; the second way is to fill out form 3299 to ensure your effects can be cleared by customs, but this does take longer. Also, bear in mind the possibility of having to pay duty and internal revenue tax on importing your items, although in most instances you won't have to. In general, international moves are best commissioned to a removal company that is a member of the International Federation of Furniture Removal (FIDI), the Overseas Moving Network Inc (OMNI), or the Association of International Removers Ltd. Companies associated with these bodies usually subscribe to a payment guarantee or bond scheme, so that if your contract is not fulfilled by your chosen mover, the contract will be completed at the agreed cost by another company, or your money will be refunded. Ensure you make a complete list of all items to be shipped to made so that you can prove if something is missing. Some removal companies will persuade you to take nore than you actually need, we explain the implications of that.
Once you take possession of your new home, if not before, one of the first and most valuable tasks is to make an inventory of all fittings and furnishings and check it against the terms of your contract, thus ensuring the previous owner hasn't absconded with anything promised to you. Thus, the ideal scenario is for the buyer to obtain written instructions regarding the appliances from the previous owner to ensure they can operate the utilities. Check with your local town hall to ensure all the regulations are adherd to regarding recycling, parking and home maintenance.
Are there problems obtaining car insurance?
This can be hard to obtain at a reasonable rate in your first year, but you will need it in place before you are able to drive away that all too necessary car. Again it is worth making contact prior to your move for advice on those elusive insurance policies, for example the incorrect explanation of the British, automatic penalty point system for speeding to an American insurance agent can significantly increase premiums.
Please note if you are intending to buy a car this is virtually impossible without a Florida driving license, obtaining this vital document can be far from easy.
Healthcare
It is imperative that you have health insurance coverage when you enter the USA. If you are being sponsored by your company and have a copy of the policy fine, if not, you are advised to obtain cover. Do not depend on your British holiday cover - it will not be valid. Eventually you will qualify for American insurance companies, we cover this in our briefing. (some will be able to obtain immediate cover). We cover the danger of a particular type of medical insurance policy which is frequently sold to new emigrants who do not realise the implications until it is to late- the cost implications of this can be significant.
Education
Florida's state schools vary considerably from country to country, but the best are as good if not better as the best provided by the British state system. Many people who have had first hand experience of schooling in the states say the choice of subjects offers something for everybody and very few students leave before the age of 18 - the High School Diploma is almost a minimum in career terms. Some parents have chosen to educate their children privately but it needs to be remembered that private schools are very different from the UK- often associated with the military or churches.
Parents who are moving to Florida or are moving to a new school district should spend some time researching the district and schools their children will attend. Initially, parents should determine the characteristics most important for meeting the needs of their children. For instance, parents may be interested in the academic performance of students at the school, programmes for special needs of students at the school, programmes for special needs of students, courses offered, teacher turnover rates, the availability of special resources, the size of the school population, the number of students per class, dropout rates, graduation rates and other information.
Children of all ages can be very affected so it is important to make the move as smooth as possible. We provide information concerning the critical differences between the American and British systems, including how to explain children’s British school grades to an American school.
There are probably more myths on the American education front than on any other issue, apart from crime. As an example few people in Britain realize 20% of grading in Florida High Schools is for employability (good behaviour). The Florida Lottery can cover college tuition costs at State Universities in many cases.
For further information on how to obtain specialist advice on relocating
or emigrating to Florida - click here
Thinking about retirement to Florida - click here
Andrew Bartlett an acknowledged expert on property trends and relocation in Florida, writes articles and answers readers’ questions for several British publications including Florida Magazine, Escape Magazine, Place in the Sun, Sunday Times, America, and The Red guide to buying Property in America and is regularly consulted by journalists and broadcasters. His consumer web guides have received numerous accolades.
Andrew was a Senior Government Official for 20 years before relocating to Florida several years ago where he was headhunted to set up specialist British property and relocation teams for Coldwell Banker and Remax - America’s largest estate agents. He then established a uniquely impartial and independent relocation and property briefing company working between Britain and Florida. He has written a number of watchdog style articles on overseas property and emigration selling techniques.
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How to emigrate to Florida and avoid the pitfalls.
Independent, impartial advice?
Solutions from independent relocation expert Andrew Bartlett - writer and advisor on Florida lifestyles for The Red Guide to buying property in Florida, Florida Magazine, Going to America, Escape Magazine, Place in the Sun, The Sunday Times, The Guardian.
Nobody wants to be pressurised or cajoled into making the wrong decision. Unfortunately the way overseas emigration is sold can often lead to feeling pressured, rather than being guided with impartial information to achieve your dream.
Emigrating is a major lifestyle and financial investment, involves a great deal of your time and money and requires the necessary research and impartial advice.
There are very few experts available with in depth experience of the systems in Florida and Britain who can provide a comprehensive, impartial no nonsense consultancy service specifically for British buyers, sellers and would be emigrants. Andrew Bartlett and Associates is a unique independent and impartial Property and Relocation service.
We feel it is imperative as a first stage to go through all the implications in a realistic way for your family and give you the facts both good and bad prior to going further down the emigration route. Our long experience as Relocation Consultants, working with many families who have relocated to America, has confirmed our view that each and every move has different requirements, depending upon the families priorities and reasons for leaving the UK to move to America.
It is essential to have an independent overview from the very beginning without the emphasis on selling you or pressurising you down a direction, which may not be suitable and indeed can become confusing.
Emigrating
These are common mistakes that have been made by Brits emigrating to Florida that have in some cases cost them thousands of pounds and in a few cases their life savings.
- Not examining all the family implications prior to the move.
- Not being accurately briefed about life in America as opposed to holidays in America.
- Letting the dream overcome rational thought.
- Not understanding the logistics – putting these in the right order, which will depend on your circumstances – visa – the business – the location – the school – the house.
- Assuming all business brokers – relocation companies etc – have the family’s interest at heart.
- Not selecting the specific companies with the best track record – i.e. Visa – Attorney – Business Broker – Currency – Real Estate – Removal.
- Not realising all the implications of one-stop shops covering all services.
- Assuming one-stop shops actually provide the services they say they do.
- Getting timing wrong.
- Not organising their finances in a timely way for the various stages.
- Papers being incorrectly prepared for the American Embassy, subsequently being rejected and then going to the back of the queue!
- Taking short cuts.
- Removal companies - this is a really major area that is so rarely covered.
- Not being accurately briefed for those first few weeks in America.
- Schooling a minefield.
- Paying too much for a house.
- Buying a house through the wrong type of agent.
- Buying a house in the wrong location.
- Not understanding the way home inspectors reports work or indeed dont work in Florida.
- Not understanding the full implications of the mortgage they have been persuaded to take out.
- Paying too much for a car.
- Taking out inappropriate medical cover.
- Failing to understand the American psyche.
Many of the people who reported the problems above had found obtaining that all important independent advice nigh on impossible - there seemed to be problems in amassing the necessary impartial information via traditional routes
- The American embassy provides limited advice but that does not include the in depth individual advice on many of the areas that need to be covered.
- One stop shop Relocation Companies should provide a full service including legal, visa application, currency transfer, business brokerage, property brokerage. However, some can be very sales orientated as a number of the services they provide pay substantial commissions, which can lead to selling pressure and sadly, sometimes poor advice.There is an interesting article from a Florida Attorney highlighting concerns with some of these companies.
- Real estate agents generally provide a localised service and are usually only paid in the event of you buying a property. Thus, they tend to champion their own area, which may not provide you with a balanced perspective of other areas.
- There are a number of books to be read some of which we contribute to, however several months can elapse before they are printed and circumstances change, as indeed they have in a big way over the past six months. Again, books cannot be personal to your circumstances.
- Searching the internet can be a lottery and again all may not be as it seems.
- A UK based agent may not have up-to-date day to day experience of living in America, again the differences are important
- A US based agent may not appreciate the practical differences between living in Britain and America.
- Trying to fly over and do it yourself raises the questions, where do you start looking. Particularly if fitting the trip in over a short period and the costs per person are likely to mount up.
The areas that we cover include
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The reality of living in America – from a practical perspective – the good the bad and the ugly. America is not for everyone and we feel it is important to be given realistic and impartial advice about the reality. This area includes options that are so often glossed over from the cost of living, how the move may affect your children, gremlins that can crop up, what are the implications of different areas, etc. What are your worries, crime, hurricanes, pets, etc – What is it actually like to live in the USA and above all the reality, not just the shine.
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The advantages/disadvantages of different locations in America.
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The options regarding different types of visas – which are best for you – why sometimes you may be guided towards a particular visa that may not be in your best interest.
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Using an attorney or a visa specialist – Which company may be an appropriate option in your circumstances.
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The options regarding business brokers – what to be aware off dealing with business brokers – different types of business brokers.
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Working in America.
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The education system in America v the UK and what to be aware of. Comparisons between the two systems – types of schools, the implications – what you may not be told and need to know about the system.
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How the move may affect the children depending upon their age and personality.
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Lifestyle implications.
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The practicalities of preparation, time framework.
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The housing system, should you rent or buy at first, commission payments and listing agents, what to be very wary of.
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Options for buying, the cost implications including the hidden ones.
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How to find the value of the house.
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How agents will seek to get you to buy.
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What you are very unlikely to be told about advertising boards, developers, the commission implications.
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Why huge discounts do not always mean a great bargain.
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Advantages/Disadvantage of different agents.
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Selecting an agent, why you need a particular type and the implications if you unknowingly select the wrong one, this can be a critical area that Brits often get wrong when they move to America.
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Developments.
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Legal
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The real bargains in a buyers market which are very often not identified.
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What you are not told about new build properties, pros and cons. The scandal of the off plan, new build properties than leave owners high and dry without their deposit.
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What you are not told about resale properties. In certain situations they can be a superb buy, how to track those properties down. However there are properties you should run a mile from. The problem is this information is not normally readily made available, we go through how to track it down.considerations that need immediate advice on arrival.
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The implications of the home inspection you are frequently not warned about.
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The mortgage system, how to obtain a mortgage when you have no American credit history. The mortgage scams to be wary of, the huge differences in mortgage costs that are often not identifiable or explained.
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Insurances including health insurance, property insurance etc what to be aware of.
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Currency options.
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Bank accounts, credit cards what you need to be aware of.
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Removal companies – why the lowest can end up being the highest - some practical tips based on experience.
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The driving system.
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When to buy a car.
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Settling in – reactions to expect.
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Working in the States - holidays.
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Doctors’ different ways of working - be prepared.
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Dentists’ what to be aware of – clients reported this section alone more than covered our fee!
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Implications of American services – water, TV, electricity, phone, how to make significant savings when you first arrive, not several months later through trial and error.
Further consultations can be arranged as issues crop up – we provide you with contact numbers in the UK and the USA.
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We offer these services
Emigration - retirement briefing - is America really for us? and if so what to expect and how to achieve it. (for those starting out)
A consultation to gain an impartial insight into whether America is really the route for you and the available options, what are all the lifestyle implications listed above? what are all the visa alternatives?, which companies can provide a good track record? why some visa companies are not all they appear to be? ie high charges, but a service that does not deliver or sometimes sadly is a 'scam' - what are the pitfalls etc? Above all those all important family implications. Sometimes families decide they may not be better of emigrating to the States, it is far better to realise all the pros/cons at the earliest stage. an indepth briefing that will help you decide if America is for you and if so the most effective way to emigrate there - and how to achieve it. This briefing is designed to help you decide if you really would be better of living in America and if so the various options to achieve it. Which companies have 100% success rates for visa applications being granted and which have a catalogue of complaints.
Emigration - retirement briefing - We have already decided we want to emigrate to America? - have visited before and are nearly ready to activate our plans. what are the options? what do we need to know? What do we need to be wary of?
A consultation and follow up for those of you that are familiar with many of the basic facts. You have probably been back and fourth to America over the years and now want a more permanent base. There are still many questions to answer including the latest position re visas, attornies, schools, healthcare, locations, property,healthcare, etc etc. briefing tailored to your specific questions and requirements.
Briefing on the EB5 - The points you need to be aware of and the implications not evident from the brochures
The briefings can be carried out in the following formats
Preliminary discussion - Up to thirty minutes on the phone covering the broader points and issues you would like to clarify. No Charge
In Depth Briefings.
Telephone Briefing - You usually need to allow about two to three hours - £375.
Airport Hotel Briefing - These can be carried out at various locations face to face when Andrew Bartlett is in the UK - £475
Bespoke service - Andrew Bartlett travels to your home or office to provide a half day face to face briefing on all the issues and unlimited follow ups via phone / email as required to guide you through the process. £675 (up to 2 hours travel time from London - price on application for longer distances).
Clients who have used this service have told us that it is absolutely unique in providing a range of impartial and practical information that is just not available from any other source and has saved them so much time and effort. (Comments below) Every family has different needs and experiences and we focus the information according to your familie's specific requirements.Clients who have used this service after talking to various emigration companies have commented that it was great to obtain impartial advice from us, covering the many implications of such a major move, rather than a focus on selling them a service.
'Well we have finally made it and settled in, the sunshine is now the norm and the kids have adjusted brilliantly to their new schools. Thanks so much for all your guidance and advice. As you know when we first approached you, we had been chasing from pillar to post to find clear, straightforward and honest advice on how to emigrate. After being misled by a number of companies and then having an application rejected by the Embassy we were finally reassured after that initial briefing with you on a cold winter’s day- (at least cold days are now a distant memory!) We would thoroughly recommend your briefing service to anyone planning the big move, it was great to be dealing with someone who was such a mine of information and told it as it is, not the sales agenda we seemed to get before.’ John and Lisa Duggan( Ipswich now Venice)
' Your briefing session was a breath of fresh air, the half day you spent at our house was the best value service we have ever come across and that is to say nothing of all the follow ups afterwards when we bombarded you with all those questions. Anyway thanks so much Andrew, we would never have managed it without you and your fantastic list of contacts. We have joined the local British Club and hearing some of the stories relating to other families moves realise just how luck we were. You must come and see us when you are next over and please bring some English bacon! By the way you were right regarding the location, it was completely right for us all , even Dodger is now happy in his new home’ - Richard and Helen Morris – (Sidcup now Sarasota)
'Thank you Andrew, you are a mine of information and we really appreciate the honesty of your perspective. We realised after our briefing with you that Florida was not for us and are so grateful for all the information you pointed out too us. We feel your fee was the best money we have ever spent and a very small sum compared to what we could have spent if we had made such a big move without realising all the implications. Please feel free to include our thoughts on your web site – it’s nice to know that you provide a service that tells it as it is so to speak- (The Scott-Clarkes) Glasgow
'Andrew thanks so much, the picture you painted for us at the briefing has turned out too be exactly as has turned out, even the driving test matched your description, its certainly different here. We love it and thanks for all your recommendations, Jenny was a great help as our Realtor, Steve was a mine of information on the mortgage front, the removal service brilliant – no breakages and out two dogs looked none the worse for wear from the flight. The visa has turned out to be the right choice with the twins in the final year of High School (which has worked out very well) so really pleased you pointed all the implications out.'
Hilary and Ken Colman – (Northampton now Orlando)
'Although from England I have lived here in Myrtle Beach, SC for the past 16 years. Someone passed me on your recent Florida Newsletter I must say I found your Emigration Summary, Selling your property and Buying a property to be very accurate .
Living here in SC we do not have the as many Brits as in Florida so do not have the problems you mention. On saying that I do own two properties in the Orlando area and have a business interest there.
When I am there I get the chance to speak to many Brits and it always amazes me how many of them have been taken in, whether in obtaining a so called 'E-2 business venture' or buying a house. Very, very few have done any research and are just completely taken in by - in my opinion - the weather and the low cost of property and both of these factors seem to affect the normal workings of their brain!
I do think much of the problem is not only the lack of knowledge of the buyer but the unscrupulous behaviour of agents who seem to be concerned with lining their own pockets!! Keep up the good work and I wish you all the best with your honest approach to helping 'our' fellow countrymen who really deserve better.'
Best wishes Colin
'Andrew - Have just watched a programme on BBC last night highlighting the visa and property scandals you pointed out to us - very glad we had that meeting with you, it seems all to easy to be scammed when emigrating to Florida. Now we have our visa sorted can we arrange that final briefing you mentioned - can't wait to get over.'
Cheryl and Ralph Warren.
We have had a lot of very positive feedback from our briefings but perhaps some of the most telling is from a family who booked our troubleshooting briefing after living in The States for a few years;-
Dear Andrew
Thank you so much for the really fast response it has restored my faith in human nature. After how much we have lost financially we will have to live with that, the real cost is it has almost destroyed us as a family. What you are charging is nothing if we had contacted you when we thinking of proceeding down this path, we certainly would have saved ourselves 3 years of heartache and an awful lot of money, and maybe not the prospect of returning to Britain destitute.
Thank you for all your help and contact details we wish you well.
Andrew Bartlett an acknowledged expert on relocation in Florida, writes articles and answers readers’ questions for several British publications including Florida Magazine, Escape Magazine, Place in the Sun, Sunday Times, America, and The Red guide to buying Property in America and is regularly consulted by journalists and broadcasters. His consumer web guides have received numerous accolades.
Andrew was a Senior Government Official for 20 years before relocating to Florida several years ago where he was headhunted to set up specialist British property and relocation teams for Coldwell Banker and Remax - America’s largest estate agents. He then established a uniquely impartial and independent relocation and property briefing company working between Britain and Florida. He has written a number of watchdog style articles warning Brits planning to buy property in Florida or considering emigration about misleading and dangerous selling practices and advises Companies relocating staff to America.
If you would like a consultation please either fill in the form click here or telephone UK 0207 0961227 or USA 941 966 3426
Andrew Bartlett an acknowledged expert on property trends and relocation in Florida, writes articles and answers readers’ questions for several British publications including Florida Magazine, Escape Magazine, Place in the Sun, Sunday Times, America, and The Red guide to buying Property in America and is regularly consulted by journalists and broadcasters. His consumer web guides have received numerous accolades.
Andrew was a Senior Government Official for 20 years before relocating to Florida several years ago where he was headhunted to set up specialist British property and relocation teams for Coldwell Banker and Remax - America’s largest estate agents. He then established a uniquely impartial and independent relocation and property briefing company working between Britain and Florida. He has written a number of watchdog style articles warning Brits planning to buy property in Florida or considering emigration about misleading and dangerous selling practices.
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