Remember to trim your trunk!

I hope “Yule” find these top ten tips really “Yulesful” (ha ha) As far as I am concerned, Christmas isn’t Christmas without a real tree. From going to the forest and choosing it, to bringing it home and lovingly decorating it. But how do keep your tree in tip-top condition and get it to last the festive period? Here are my top ten tips:

1. First and foremost, pick a really bushy tree that doesn’t drop its needles, ideally a fir. Although they cost a bit more, they are worth it. If you can find one with a rootball, so much the better, as this will last longer.

2. Trim your trunk! Freshly cut Christmas trees need to drink straight away, so chop off an inch or two and put the tree in a bucket of water overnight before decorating. Contrary to popular belief, drilling a hole in the bottom of the tree trunk does not mean it will take water up any quicker, so don’t bother.

3. Put your tree in a suitable container, making sure it stands firm. Christmas trees easily topple over when laden with decorations – I speak from first hand experience!

4. Make sure you can water your tree easily and remember to top it up every day because it will dry out quickly. Start off with at least a gallon of water – Christmas trees are very thirsty.

5. Did you know it is beneficial to add some sugar to the water? But don’t do what flower arrangers do and add some aspirin – save that for a hangover.

6. Although it may be tempting, don’t put your fresh tree in soil or sand. This might seem a sensible thing to do, but it actually blocks the pores in the tree bark and will prevent it from drinking.

7. Don’t put your tree too close to any heating, for example a radiator or an open fire. This will make it dry out even quicker – and can be a fire hazard too.

8. Although it might be tempting as this is an easy option, don’t buy a Christmas tree that has already been set in a block of wood as the tree can’t drink. It will drop its needles and die very quickly.

9. Turn the tree lights off at night.

10. And finally, when the New Year comes, be environmentally friendly and recycle your tree for mulch.

In Cyprus, the Forestry Commission has trees on sale at all the stations around the island. They are open Monday to Friday from 8am to 2pm up until 22 December. Pine trees, two to three metres are either eight or ten euros. Fir trees - which are the best – are around 50 euros for one to two metres.

The Paphos station is in Yeroskipou. You can call them on (00 357) 26 30 62 66 for further information.

Oh, and if you are looking for logs for your fire, the Forestry Commission will be able to help you with those too. Sometimes you can even cut your own.

And finally, if you really love trees, why not contact your local municipality in the New Year? There is a service now whereby the municipality staff will give come along to your property, supply and plant a tree for you free of charge. All you have to do is agree to maintain it.

Merry Christmas


Jackie
The Overseas Guides Company
http://www.Cyprusbuyingguide.com

It’s behind you!

Two village idiots were assembling something. One said, “When I nod my head, you hit it." It gets worse. “What did Cinderella say when the Chemist lost her photographs? Someday my prints will come!” You’ve guessed. It’s time to forget your inhibitions, let your hair down and realise that it’s perfectly acceptable to become a five-year old again.

“Oh no it isn’t … oh yes it is!” Okay, okay, enough is enough. I’m sure you realise by now that the traditional pantomime is alive and kicking in Cyprus – and how fabulous that there’s more than one production to see.

You can “boo” and “hiss” to your heart’s delight, no matter what age you are, nobody cares. And in fact, the more you “boo” and “hiss” the more the actors love it - and the better the pantomime becomes. The atmosphere is always electric and it’s fair to say you’ll probably leave utterly exhausted - just as I did last weekend! Ah well, the big kid in all of us has to come out sometimes.

But that’s not the only entertainment available for you in Cyprus at Christmas. It’s endless. There are beautiful shows, gala dinners, special exhibitions, wonderful concerts, fabulous dinner dances – the list goes on. One thing is for sure, you certainly won’t be bored.

At Christmas time, Cyprus is beautifully decorated with striking displays of twinkling lights, Santa, reindeers, elves, sleighs and more. The town and surrounding villages come alive and are very picturesque when darkness falls, offering great opportunities for budding photographers.

Beautiful poinsettias are now in abundance, with most households displaying these outside their front doors. Of course, the weather here makes that possible. Oh, and the roses, I mustn’t forget the roses. They are now all out in full bloom in everyone’s gardens and the scents are quite incredible.

At Christmas, roses here smell like the old-fashioned English versions, and these, combined with jasmines, fill the air with the most amazing fragrances. Because mountain air is so fresh and clean, the scents are stronger than you would ever find in the UK. Fortunately, I live in the mountains, so get to experience this first hand.

While we are talking about scents, there are also those of the oranges, mandarins, clementines, lemons and grapefruits. I go walking in the mountains every day at this time of the year and as I pass by these groves, I often pick a few on the way to take home. Nothing could be fresher, their taste is superb.

The pomegranate trees are currently laden with fruits the size of small footballs. The almond groves are almost harvested now and by the way – freshly picked almonds are delicious. Once you have tasted these straight from the trees, you will never like the packet versions again. Although the almond trees look very dark and sparse now, when they flower again in the spring the sight is spectacular, with seas of pink and white blossom everywhere.

Finally, at this time of the year, temperatures are still between 20 and 25 degrees with beautiful blue skies.

It’s no wonder Christmas shopping hasn’t really started!

See you next week

Jackie
The Overseas Guides Company
http://www.Cyprusbuyingguide.com

An Ex-Pat View of Christmas in Cyprus

Just imagine. You’ve left the grey, cold, wet, windy and freezing days of the UK behind to be in Paphos, where at Christmas time the sun is shining, you still wear shorts and sandals and temperatures are usually around 20 degrees. But what is it really like here at Christmas?

Well, apart from being a very traditional and religious family time, in reality there’s only one word – fabulous!

Let me tell you why. First and foremost, nobody in Paphos is ever by themselves at Christmas, particularly the elderly. Refreshingly, traditional family values apply, and communities are such that not only does everyone know each other, but they also care about each other - and locals do tend to “adopt” ex-pats. So no matter who you are, or where you are, you’ll always be guaranteed an invitation from someone.

A few years ago, anything to do with Christmas in Cyprus was always left until quite late. However, this year for the very first time - shock and horror - Christmas trees were up in a large local supermarket on (can you believe it) 3rd October! Was I really in Cyprus? Was this really happening this early? The answer, unfortunately, was “yes”. I guess it’s a sign of the times.

But despite this early arrival of all things festive, Christmas here is still very much a last minute affair, because - thank goodness - no one takes much notice until far later on. And it’s easy to see why.

We are currently experiencing the hottest November since records began. While I am writing this, it is 27 degrees and there’s not a cloud in the sky. I’m not complaining!

Mind you, searching for presents on Christmas Eve in Cyprus and getting into an absolute panic because you can’t find what you want can be a bit stressful, so perhaps a little forward planning does help.

I think my sister-in-law has the answer. To save any panic, she buys all her Christmas presents, Christmas cards, wrapping paper, birthday cards and birthday presents for the coming year in the January sales. She saves a fortune, sometimes as much as 75%. She then simply stores them away until the appropriate occasion arises. Not a bad strategy when you think about it - particularly in the current economic climate.

Seriously though, when the sudden realisation that Christmas is just a few days away, it does tend to cause chaos. Most people in Cyprus go absolutely crazy when they suddenly realise the deadline is looming. And it can be quite tiring if you are one of the last minute shoppers and have to face the queues that inevitably form.

But the shopping atmosphere here is very different to the UK and as usual, the laid back attitude always comes into play.

So what’s the secret? Do what the locals do. Read a newspaper while you are in the queue waiting with your trolley load of goodies - and just relax. At the same time, get yourself a coffee or just phone your best friend and have a chat.

Eventually you will get to the checkout.

That’s it from me for now.
Best wishes.

Jackie
The Overseas Guides Company
http://www.Cyprusbuyingguide.com

Thinking about renovating a property in Cyprus?

Wellington boots on in August and almost falling down an open man-hole wasn’t much fun. But when your drains are completely blocked and not exactly smelling like a bunch of roses, what do you do? Smear your nose in vapour rub, roll up your sleeves and just get stuck in!

Yes, that’s just one of the joys of renovating in Cyprus - and I can speak from first-hand experience. Renovating an old property is certainly a challenge, but really worth it in the end. If you buy at the right price and do an excellent job, you won’t have any problem finding a buyer. And boy, are there some bargains to be snapped up at the moment!

Where do you start though? Once you have bought your property, getting to know good tradesmen is a first - that’s always difficult wherever you live in the world. There are good and there are bad, so word of mouth is almost always the best route. Speak to your friends, neighbours and get advice from Expat forums.

When we renovated our villa, we did most of the work ourselves, but sometimes you do need to bring in an expert. Just make sure you know what you are paying for and remember; working days for tradesmen are usually shorter here so the job will take longer.

Top Tip: Keep all your official receipts for the project – every single one, even if it is for a packet of nails. You will need to offset these against your Capital Gains tax when you eventually sell the property. Make sure they are receipts, as estimates and quotations are not accepted by the tax office. A good lawyer should tell you this when you are thinking about purchasing a project.

How about building materials? Well, these are cheaper in Cyprus, but it depends what you are buying. You can get top of the range, or cheap and cheerful, it’s up to you.

There are plenty of builders’ merchants and most of them speak good English. Once they know you, you can open an account and then you will get the materials you need at a discount. You will find that the prices will start to fall after a while and you will get close to what they would charge a local. It takes a while to get “local” prices in Cyprus.

When your building materials are delivered, they often won’t unload the vehicle for you, it all depends on the driver. Bear that in mind, as you might need an extra hand on the day. I can remember once taking delivery of a large amount of roof tiles and the driver just sat there. He soon realised I was on my own at the time and reluctantly helped. I think it was more because he could see he would be there all night if he didn’t.

Solar panels are very cheap in Cyprus, around 175 euros each depending on the quality and well worth the money. They heat all your hot water FREE and you can even install a couple to heat your pool to extend usage during the winter.

The more panels you have, the more hot water you get - so the less your electricity bill will be. Some people use solar panels to run their heating systems too (yes, you do need heating in Cyprus in the winter).

If you need tools, all the well-known brands are here. But if only want something for a one-off job then the cheap and cheerful goods will probably suffice. There are some specialist tool shops that have very good service and repair workshops too. Hiring tools and equipment is becoming easier.

Patience is a virtue when renovating a property in Cyprus - but when your dream home is finally finished, it’s a wonderful achievement!

Best wishes

Jackie

The Overseas Guides Company
http://www.cyprusbuyingguide.com

Thinking of renting in Cyprus?

With Christmas and the New Year looming, it may be the time to reflect about what you really want from life. With the weather at its worst in the UK, why not consider renting a property in Cyprus? To help you, here are my top five tips:

1. Location
Where do you want to live? Think about this one carefully. If you don’t know Cyprus, then do plenty of research.

Do you want to be in a traditional Cypriot village; or in the mountains with spectacular views; or by the sea and beautiful beaches? Perhaps you would prefer to be within walking distance of local amenities, such as supermarkets, banks and other facilities? You may need to be near a hospital for medical reasons.

A key point is to decide whether you want to live within an ex-pat area, or with the locals.

Top Tip: If you have never lived overseas before, then pick an area where other ex-pats are because when you first arrive, you will need a support group around you. This is what I did. But once I was familiar with everything, I moved into a traditional Cypriot village with very few ex-pats.

2. Property type
What do you really want? Are you looking for a detached villa with a pool; a townhouse; a bungalow; a penthouse apartment; a traditional stone house or a luxury mansion? The list is endless; there is something for everyone and every budget in Cyprus. Think carefully about whether the property is just for you, or whether you are going to have a lot of visitors to entertain. This will help you decide how many bedrooms and bathrooms you need.

Top Tip: Remember, swimming pools are a luxury and quite expensive to run - but I wouldn’t be without mine in the summer.

3. Rent
Negotiate hard! There are an abundance of properties up for rent in Cyprus both privately and via letting agencies. Unfortunately, some landlords are very greedy and are asking extortionate prices. If a property is up for rent for 700 euros a month, then start at 450 euros. You can always increase your offer.

Top Tip: Never pay more than one month’s rent plus your holding deposit in advance.

4. Landlords
The good landlords will issue a contract you can understand. The bad landlords will shake hands with you, say you can have the property for as long as you like and then suddenly give you two weeks notice to vacate as they want the property back for their family.

Top Tip: Make sure you get a contract and have this checked by a reputable lawyer who doesn’t know the landlord.

5. Contracts
These can be anything from one month to several years. If you are renting long-term, and signing a contract, make sure you look out for the yearly rent increase clause -otherwise you could be in for a shock and find your rent goes up dramatically. Also watch out for notice periods, ideally they will be two months either side.

Top Tip: Don’t sign for more than six months initially, then you can move if you don’t like the property or the area.

Hope this helps – if you have any questions, just ask!

Jackie
The Overseas Guides Company
Have you been to the main website yet? http://Cyprusbuyingguide.com

An event I will never forget …

Have you ever seen a drag queen in full flight? I must admit I hadn’t - that is, until Saturday night – I still can’t believe what I saw. Nothing could have prepared me for the performance by “Veevette” (Keith Newman from Gay Pride). It was mindboggling – and utterly fascinating!

LH (lovely hubby) was best man on Saturday at Pauline and Robin’s wedding and to say they picked a cabaret with a difference was an understatement. Glitz, glamour, incredible make-up, unforgettable hair styles, heels as high as the Eiffel Tower, legs to die for and stunning outfits certainly lit up the expats club in Paphos. They’d never seen anything like it - and neither had I! …

The weather was perfect, 27 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. Weddings in Cyprus tend to be at their most popular in April/May/June and September/October/November. The summer months should be avoided as long dresses and temperatures in the high 40’s don’t really mix.

It’s very easy to get married in Cyprus. There are an abundance of wedding co-ordinators all ready and willing to help, you can do-it-yourself over the internet, or you can choose a travel agent who specialises in this area.

You can get married in so many places now, from churches to hotels, by the sea, in the mountains; Cyprus has some wonderfully romantic settings.

Top Tip: Remember though, if you want to get married on Valentine’s Day or at Easter, then you need to book really early.

Traditional Cypriot weddings are attended by thousands. LH and I are attending a Cypriot wedding ourselves next year in Nicosia in May. So far, 3,000 have been invited – yes, three thousand – and that’s only the start.

It is not unheard of for upwards of 5,000 to be in attendance, so you can imagine the size of the venue. And, in true Cypriot tradition, the bride and groom are given small white envelopes instead of gifts.

Why white envelopes? Well, they contain money from the wedding guests. Each guest usually puts around 50 euros in an envelope. I think this is a great idea, because you don’t have to mess around choosing from wedding lists and buying a present. The idea behind the envelopes and giving cash is to make sure the happy couple have a good start in life.

With 5,000 guests it’s not unusual to find the couple have 250,000 euros (wow!) – I think you will agree, that isn’t a bad start, is it? Buys a home, perhaps sets up a business and pays for a wonderful honeymoon.

OK. That’s it from me for now.

Best wishes

Jackie
The Overseas Guides Company
Visit the main website at: http://www.Cyprusbuyingguide.com

It was 6am on Sunday morning and I heard loud gun fire outside

On the morning the clocks went back, our usual peace and quiet in the mountains was totally shattered. I shot up in bed wondering what on earth was going on and immediately thought the worst. Half asleep and half awake, I had visions of a blood bath somewhere. But this can’t be happening in Cyprus! Then I realised – groan - it was the start of the shooting season.

After just double checking by looking out of the window to make sure no-one had actually been murdered, I tried to get back to sleep. No chance. When the men over here start shooting in the mountains, they are very excited and shout at the tops of their voices – so this, together with the gun fire means there is no rest for anyone else. The only choice was an early morning rise.

Amongst expats, the shooting season in Cyprus is a bit of a joke. Around 50,000 hunters go “game hunting” (can you believe this) for partridges and hares – and quite honestly, anything else that moves!

And not surprisingly, the result is they often shoot themselves too. The A&E departments of the hospitals are heaving on the first day that the season starts with all manner of accidents caused by guns. One of the most frequent injuries is shooting themselves in the foot. It’s probably best to say no more on that!

When you drive through the stunningly beautiful Akamas peninsula in Paphos, you will see “Game Reserve” signs. You can’t miss them. Each of these signs has been shot at – there are dents all over them or bullet holes right through them. It’s probably due to the lack of “game” around. The hunters get bored, so probably go for the signs instead.

The slight problem is that these signs are on the edge of the tracks, so if you are driving along on a Sunday or a Wednesday, just be aware.

If you are not used to shooting seasons being around you, this may all sound pretty awful - but it’s traditional in Cyprus, perfectly normal and happens year in, year out.

Of course, there are professional gun clubs in Cyprus which are run properly by people who take the sport very seriously and have extremely good safety records.

But unfortunately, not everyone belongs to them. There are still those who are very relaxed about it all, just grab a gun and go for it. Personally, I tend to keep out of the way – just in case!

Well, it’s autumn now. Can you believe it is still 25 degrees today and not a cloud in the sky. We are still eating outside. Without a doubt, it is my favourite time of the year. The pool is now 22 degrees, so a bit chilly to swim in - but the sea is perfect.

How I love this time of the year. Why not come over and experience it for yourself?

Best wishes

Jackie
http://www.CyprusBuyingGuide.com

What if I ever need to move back to the UK?

Even with best laid plains, sometimes a move back to the UK rears its head for all manner of reasons; often these are forced and can be quite sad. But if this happens, how do you begin to manage this huge upheaval? In Cyprus there are excellent shipping and removal companies but there are also the usual rogues. So first of all, approach with extreme caution – there are some who will promise the earth and deliver nothing – literally! Whatever you do, never, ever part with any cash up front. If you are asked for this, then that is your first warning sign.

So where do you begin? Well, much the same way as you did with your removal over to Cyprus. The process is very similar, but here are some useful hints and tips.

Make sure you ask around for recommendations. In particular, look at Expat websites where they have forums. Good shippers keep coming up again and again – and so do the bad ones. Look for companies who are regulated, for example members of BAR and FIDI – use these regulatory bodies to check them.

In Cyprus, most reputable shipping companies do not want any cash up front. Their surveyor will come and give you a costing and book your moving date. A cheque is sufficient on the day the container arrives at your property for packing.

Important Tip: Remember – there is nothing stopping you from employing a UK company to handle your move back. They will have a reputable agent in Cyprus who deals with the move at this end. What are the advantages? No language problems whatsoever and you can pay in sterling which may be preferable. Plus, once you have arrived in the UK, if there is a problem, it is easier to deal with on home ground.

At the time of writing, the approximate cost of a full pack and wrap service for a 20-foot container is in the region of 3,700 to 4,000 euros. If you want to do-it-yourself and just want your goods loaded into a container for shipping you can usually halve this! Remember to add on the all important Total Loss Marine Insurance – don’t ship without it.

If you are shipping back a container, which has a car on board, the UK will now x-ray the car and at the time of writing this will cost you in the region of £50-£60.

Be very careful to check all the paperwork, particularly on part loads. The most important thing to look for is that the cubic meterage is stated accurately; otherwise you could be overcharged.

One of the most common problems shipping back to the UK is that the port can’t contact the owner of the goods being shipped. If the port can’t get in touch with you within seven days, then a charge is made of approximately £40.00 a day for holding your goods. The best thing to do is make sure you leave at least three contact numbers so this doesn’t happen.

Remember also that if a port is in dispute for any reason, they can legally hold your goods for 6 months. Fingers crossed that never happens.

Best wishes

Jackie
http://www.CyprusBuyingGuide.com

What happens when my container is delivered to my new home in Cyprus?

We had 256 large removal boxes, plus all our furniture and white goods to handle in the searing heat of August. I’m going to share my top tips and secrets on how to make taking delivery of your container as easy as possible, otherwise absolute chaos can rule the day.

Your handling agent in Cyprus will call you and arrange a delivery time. My top tip here is to make sure you are really organised for the arrival. Otherwise, you will end up in such a mess with boxes everywhere, all in the wrong rooms and you won’t be able to find a thing. It doesn’t need to be that stressful.

Once the container arrives outside your door, it’s all systems go. Don’t be surprised when the removal men handle everything inside at lightning speed – how they did it in the searing heat of August, I will never know. Temperatures inside the metal container reach over 60 degrees at this time of the year and higher. Rather them than me.

Why do they need to go so fast? The reason is because containers have to be delivered and returned to the dockside within a set time frame. Make sure you have plenty of water to give them, they really appreciate it – and a nice tip goes a long way too!

But why do you need to be so organised? Well, it’s you personally that has to check the boxes as they come off the container against the inventory.

The best thing to do is look carefully at your copy of the inventory given to you from the UK before they arrive. Put large numbers (1, 2, 3, 4 and so on) on each door in your new home. Then mark the same numbers against the relevant box on your inventory.

When the unloading commences, you just tell the removal men which room to put the box in. So, if inventory box number 54 goes to room 3, just tell them “Room 3”.

With the huge number of boxes we had, we systematically went through the list marking it up as stated. We put very large numbers on the doors of the rooms and as the men unloaded, a simple instruction was given for each box.

Everything went smoothly but it was very tiring. I dread to think what a mess we would have been in otherwise!

Best wishes

Jackie
http://www.CyprusBuyingGuide.com

What happens when your goods arrive in Cyprus

A huge thank you to everyone who visited me at Channel 4 Place in the Sun exhibition at the Birmingham NEC, it was really great to meet you at last! I’m so glad I could help with plenty of advice about moving to, living and working in Cyprus and renovating properties over here. As soon as I’ve finished talking about shipping, I’ll be covering the renovation project John (my lovely hubbie) and I completed in Cyprus.

Remember, I’m always looking for extra snippets to share, so please don’t hesitate to email me with your own experiences, hints and tips - I’d love to hear from you.

Before I carry on with shipping, I want to share some news about flights to and from Cyprus – it’s time to “bag a bargain” so there’s no excuse now for not visiting this beautiful island! Here we go:

Low-fares airline easyJet has just announced it will launch another brand new route from Edinburgh to Paphos later this year. Flights to Edinburgh, available from November 3rd (running twice weekly, Wednesdays and Saturdays), have fares starting at £31.99 (one-way). easyJet now flies from Paphos to London Gatwick, London Luton, Bristol and Manchester and from Larnaca to London Gatwick. All flights are available to book online at easyJet.com

Jet2.com has announced the launch of a brand new service direct from Manchester to Larnaca and Paphos airports. Jet2.com now operates six routes including East Midlands, Newcastle and Leeds to Paphos and from Leeds to Larnaca. Seats are on sale now for summer 2011 for all routes. Flights from Manchester to Paphos will begin operating on 6th April 2011, flying every Wednesday and Sunday during the season. Flights from Manchester to Larnaca commence 14th May 2011 and operate once a week on Saturdays.

British Airways spokesman confirmed they are suspending the Gatwick to Paphos route for the coming winter season as part of the airline’s strategy to reduce costs and remain competitive. Their summer schedule 2011, from 27 March-31 October will not be affected. Flights to/from Larnaca are not affected at all.

Right. Let’s carry on with shipping. Last week I said I’d talk about what happens when your goods arrive in Cyprus.

When and where do my goods arrive?

In Cyprus, containers arrive at Limassol (also known as Lemesos) docks. Your removal company will be working in conjunction with an agent in Cyprus. The agent will call you when your container arrives and arrange a mutually convenient delivery time.

What about customs?

The Agent will handle all the documentation needed to ensure your container clears Customs.

Prior to entering the EU, Cyprus Customs Officers often used to accompany the containers to their final destination - in other words, your new home. The seal would then be broken in front of them, and they would inspect whichever boxes they chose and usually you would end up with a bill.

Thankfully, this doesn’t happen now. Customs clearance in 99% of cases occurs at the dockside with the agent. The process is very straightforward - but you will sometimes still get a bill, so be prepared for this. Try to obtain details from your UK remover about how much this is likely to be before you leave, then at least you will have an idea.

Delays do happen, so be prepared. Your container may dock on say, a Tuesday, and you may not get clearance for over a week. It depends how busy they are.

The secret here is to stay relaxed about everything; people here work in their own way, at their own pace - and they will not be rushed. You will quickly learn that patience is always a virtue!

Next week, I will talk about what happens when your container is delivered.

Until then, keep smiling and be happy - it’s infectious!

Best wishes

Jackie
http://www.CyprusBuyingGuide.com

Getting Your Goods Collected For Shipping

Hello!

Well, I’m having a ball in the UK. It’s the night before I’m due to be on the panel in the seminar theatre at “Channel 4 Place in the Sun LIVE” at the NEC Birmingham. I’m very excited and looking forward to 11am when I have my first slot. I am a bit nervous!

Let’s move on. Last week I promised I would talk about what happens when the big day arrives and all your worldly goods are collected ready for shipping. For me personally, this was very emotional.

It’s strange really. I had been looking forward to emigrating for many, many years - but now it was happening, all sorts of things were going through my head. Was this the right thing to do? What if it didn’t work out, what would I do? What about all my friends and family?
These were all emotions I’d previously dealt with prior to moving, but suddenly it hit me. This was for REAL. There was no going back.

The hardest thing was to say “goodbye” to friends and family. Well, it’s not “goodbye” really – but they are not around the corner anymore when you need them, they are thousands of miles away.

I can remember I was in absolute floods of tears, so if you are, don’t worry, it’s quite normal. Friends and family will tell you how brave you are, but it’s not a case of being brave. This was a lifetime ambition. And hey, worst case scenario would simply mean a return back home.

I didn’t want to get to my later years in life wishing I’d taken the plunge (like so many people do) and wondering what it would have been like. It was now or never.

Anyway, the tears of sadness quickly turned to tears of joy – and the container arrived! Here’s my advice as to what do to when it does.

What do I do on the day?

Quite honesty - and it’s difficult - keep out of the way is the best advice!

Let the removal company do what they need to do. They are professionally trained and will take a lot of the stress and strain away from you. I made the tea and coffee and provided bacon butties – that went down well with everyone!

Pack everything you are taking yourself - including your suitcases - into your car into a safe place marked “DO NOT MOVE”. Make sure they don’t get packed away into the container!

Before the removers leave, check that nothing has been forgotten. It is your responsibility to see that nothing is moved by mistake.

If no-one is moving into your property immediately, don’t forget to turn off the power at the mains and drain/turn off the water supply. Make sure the house is secure and don’t forget to hand the keys over to your estate agent.

That’s it! The next step is when your goods arrive, so next week I’m going to talk about what happens when your container gets to Cyprus.

In the meantime, have fun, keep smiling – and see you next week.

Best wishes

Jackie
http://www.cyprusbuyingguide.com/

Preparing for the Big Move

Hello, how are you?

Well, I’m really excited! I’m back in London with my colleagues for a couple of weeks. It’s been ages since I’ve seen them.

What’s even more exciting is that I’m going to be at “Channel 4 Place in the Sun LIVE” in Birmingham at the NEC, 1st-3rd October. I’m on a panel in the seminar theatre at 11am each day answering questions about Cyprus. You can get free tickets, just call The Overseas Guides Company on 0207 898 0549 or go to http://www.blogger.com/www.aplaceinthesun.com. If you are around, come and say hello - I’d love to meet you!

Let’s get back to shipping and preparing for the big move. Remember to check forums for reliable shippers – forums are great sources of information and should help you to make the right decision.

I cannot stress enough that there are plenty of rogues out there – just take a look at my previous blogs to see where it can all go horribly wrong!

Right. Here are some more hints and tips to help you along the way:

What should I be doing 2 weeks before the move?

• Dismantle furniture that is not designed to be moved when assembled
• Organise gas, electricity and water meter readings on the morning of the move
• Arrange to have your telephone disconnected
• Ensure bills are forwarded to your new address
• Return any items that are rented, for example your TV and video
• Run down the fridge and freezer
  
  What should I be doing during the last week?
  
• Gather all your important documents, for example, birth and marriage certificates. Keep them safe in a wallet. Photocopy them all several times and carry them with you
• Check with the removal company that everything is going according to plan
• Organise some foreign currency for immediate use on arrival
• Empty any safety deposit boxes
• Pack suitcases with everything you need for your journey including things you will need to use prior to your goods arriving
• Keep all your valuables with you
• Don’t forget emergency supplies, such as medicines – make sure you have enough with you until you register with your new doctor
• Defrost fridges and freezers
• Disconnect kitchen appliances

I hope you find these useful. Next week, I’m going to talk about what happens on the big day – and I’ll be sharing my own experiences with you.

That’s it from me for now; hope to see you in Birmingham!

Have fun

Jackie
http://www.cyprusbuyingguide.com/

1 month before you move - get your tips here

Hello, how are you?

I’m really happy! At last, it’s cooling down in Cyprus and I can sleep again at night. Yesterday, we had a lovely breeze and even some cloud, it was absolute heaven. I know this is hard to relate to when you don’t live in a very hot climate, but how I long for rain. A really good downpour to clear the air, the dust – and clean my car!

OK. Since my blog last week, I’ve had quite a few emails about more horror stories when shipping. They really are quite shocking.

One story included someone paying in full for all their shipping and when it arrived at the other end; none of the port fees had been cleared. So their goods were held at the docks – and of course, each day they are being stored, the bill increases. What happened next? I bet you’ve already guessed. Yes, the customer had to clear the debt before anything was released to them. So they paid twice!

Here’s what to do to avoid this happening. Make sure you deal with a reputable company. Check the company out yourself; look for regulatory bodies which they say they belong to. Phone these organisations (such as BAR and FIDI) to check their membership and credentials are valid.

Very important: Check forums, ask for reliable shippers. The same names will come up again and again if they are good. Likewise, the same names will come up again and again if they are to be avoided!

Also, remember you can always deal with a UK company for your shipping wherever you are going in the world - and pay in sterling too. If you have any doubts, you do not have to initiate your contract with a local company overseas. And, if you pay by credit card, you have that added degree of protection. Be wary of anyone who asks for cash and says they will handle everything for you – go elsewhere!

Let’s not forget though, that thousands and thousands of moves overseas are successful. For instance mine, over to Cyprus. No problems whatsoever – but I used a very reputable company. They weren’t the cheapest, but you get what you pay for.

Anyway, I promised some more helpful hints and tips as to what you should be doing prior to your move.

What should I be doing 1 month before the move?

• Cancel any club memberships
• Notify schools and colleges
• Notify doctors and dentists
• Obtain copies of your medical records
• Arrange for your mail to be re-directed
• Organise to transfer/close any bank accounts
• Make a note to cancel milk, papers and pay any local bills
• Contact your local council for any rebate due council tax
• Clear out your loft, garage, greenhouses and sheds
• Dismantle sheds if you are taking them with you
• Take down any fixtures you are taking with you
• Contact your electoral office so you can continue your right to vote and ask for the relevant forms to be sent.


Remember the more organised you are, the easier your move will be.

See you next week, keep smiling!
Best wishes
Jackie

What to do prior to moving overseas

Hello again!

I hope life is treating you well.

A few weeks ago I talked about one of my readers who had a problem with shipping from Cyprus – they appeared to have no trace of where their personal possessions had gone. Well, the good news is that everything finally arrived - but the bad news is that most of it was damaged. Needless to say my reader was very upset about this.

I’m told the damage was due to the packing. It’s really important that you get someone to pack who knows what they are doing – a true professional. A good sign is a shipping company who advertises that they deal regularly with antiques, works of art, valuable china, and chandeliers. While this isn’t a guarantee that nothing will get damaged, usually packers for these companies are pretty good and have been properly trained.

Also, remember to check the packers are employees, not casuals. You don’t want someone packing your goods who has very little experience, that’s a recipe for disaster.

I think I mentioned before that I shipped over some porcelain roses I made in an evening class. They were fine when they were unpacked. Mind you, the size of the box they were in was mind-blowing! I remember watching the gentleman who packed them. It was amazing. He told me he was used to packing very valuable antiques, so they would be safe in his hands. And they were.

Anyway, I promised some helpful hints and tips as to what you should be doing prior to your move.

What should I be doing three months before the move?

• Obtain quotes from several removal companies
• Confirm your moving date as far in advance as possible
• Make a list of the fixtures and fittings you are leaving behind
• Make a list of all the main items you are taking with you
• Organise your vaccinations for the country you are moving to
• Make sure your passport and any visas you need are in order
• Look at the tax implications of moving to your new destination
• Make sure your driving licence is valid for your new destination
• If taking your car, check your insurance/road tax will be valid
• Arrange for export of your pets

Next week, I’ll continue with the countdown to moving with more hints and tips. Forward planning really does work!

Enjoy your weekend.
Best wishes
Jackie

Storing Your Shipped Goods

Hello again!

OK. So you’ve shipped all your goods to your destination. But what if you don’t have anywhere to store them?

What if you are renting a fully furnished property before you buy? There might not be any (or enough) space. This is where a good storage facility comes in. Of course, your original removal company will more than likely be able to help, but you may as well shop around. My readers tell me they’ve often found it’s cheaper to go to a storage specialist.

How about costs? Well, this varies around the world so you will need to spend some time researching. And again, I cannot stress enough - make sure you deal with a reputable company. You might want to look at self-storage too (this is the cheapest).

Before you sign up for anything, make sure you check where your possessions are going to be stored – remember the rogues are still out there! I heard of someone who put their trust in a “company” who turned out to be rogue traders. You won’t want your precious possessions stuck in a leaking container in the middle of a muddy field which you struggle to get to with your wellies on! Yes, you’ve got the message … this happened to one of my readers.

Ideally visit the site and check it has 24-hour security. A good storage company will always welcome this and be happy to show you around. You might also be able to check it out on Google Earth too - I find this absolutely brilliant!

Once again, you will need insurance, so don’t forget to check what this covers very carefully and remember to add it on to the cost of storage.

Right. That’s your possessions dealt with.

But what if you are shipping a car? Well, cars can easily be shipped. It’s quite normal for a 40-foot container to be split into two – one side for possessions and one side for a car. Your removal company will organise this for you, along with all the paperwork needed to clear customs.

Next week, I’m going to give you some helpful hints and tips as to what you should be doing prior to your move. It’s all too easy to forget something – but not if you plan ahead!

Ok. That’s it from me for this week.

Have a great weekend - be nice to someone.

Best wishes

Jackie
http://www.cyprusbuyingguide.com/

Marine Insurance Continued...

Hello again!

This week I’m continuing to talk about marine insurance.

As I mentioned in my last blog, the vast majority of removal companies who are not FSA regulated have to rely on their own standard or extended liability insurance. They can make a claim against this should the worst happen.

Important: This type of insurance covers the removers and not the customer.

If something does go wrong, you as the customer may have to pursue legal action against the remover in order to gain compensation. This can be very costly, take a lot of time and even if successful, may not result in appropriate compensation. Beware!

So what are the benefits of using an FSA authorised removal company?

Your possessions are comprehensively insured

• Policies are underwritten by major insurers providing complete peace of mind
• Professional policy documents are written with easily understood terminology
• Claims are professionally handled and promptly settled
• It is you, the customer who is insured – not the remover
• Claims are settled direct with the insurer
• Your goods are covered no matter where you are going
• The insurance is authorised and regulated by the FSA

Anyone shipping without their own quality marine insurance policy is asking for trouble.
Let me tell you why.

If the ship is in danger of sinking, the Captain often has to make a decision to offload containers. His priority is his ship, and he is thinking about the cost of replacing the ship versus the cost of replacing containers. There really is no contest; a Captain will always save his ship. So it’s not unusual to hear of this happening. What I am trying to say is there is a possibility your container could end up in the sea. If this happens and you have no personal marine insurance, you may have lost everything.

Also, be careful about which policy you choose. You should always have “Total Loss” which will cover you for the circumstances mentioned. Don’t underinsure either; it’s a big mistake.

Marine insurance isn’t cheap but I strongly advise you to purchase it. If you are using a professional removal company who are FSA regulated, they will already have good policies in place or access to them. Just be careful about what you are buying – read the small print closely and ask questions.

Ask your removal company what happens if you suffer a “Total Loss” and see how they answer you. How are claims handled? What happens in the meantime – you’ve lost all your possessions. Are claims settled direct? How long does the insurance company take to pay out? The list goes on.

I strongly advise you not to ship without a good insurance policy unless, of course, you are prepared to take a high risk.

Next week I’m going to cover putting your possessions into storage and moving cars.

Until then, keep smiling!

Best wishes

Jackie
http://www.cyprusbuyingguide.com/

Marine Insurance

Hello!

It’s hot, hot hot! The heatwave has returned to Cyprus, so I am on total meltdown yet again.

Let’s change the subject and continue with more about marine insurance. I stressed last week that you should never ship without this.

Not many people are aware that new rules were introduced in January 2005 by the Financial Services Authority (FSA), which mean that the UK’s removal companies have to be authorised by the FSA if they wish to provide bespoke removals and storage insurance; or they have to become an Appointed Representative of a firm who is authorised.

Make sure you check this carefully; otherwise you could end up picking up the bill if something goes wrong during your move resulting in your most valuable and cherished belongings being lost, damaged or destroyed.

The vast majority of removal companies who are not FSA regulated have to rely on their own standard or extended liability insurance. They can make a claim against this should the worst happen.

Important: This type of insurance covers the removers and not the customer.

So, if something does go wrong, you as the customer may have to pursue legal action against the remover in order to gain compensation.

This can be very costly, take a lot of time and even if successful, may not result in appropriate compensation. So beware!

Next week I’m covering the benefits of using an FSA authorised removal company.

See you then!

Best wishes

Jackie

Shipping Security, Insurance and Paperwork

Hello again

Amongst my emails in the last few days were a few from readers of this blog about shipping. Two of them are quite worrying.

In a nutshell, both readers used a local shipping company in Cyprus to return their personal possessions to the UK. They contacted the company to find out why their goods have not arrived. Apparently this company were unhelpful - and don’t appear to even know where their consignments are.

Worst of all, these trusting customers say they handed over cash and were given no paperwork.

OK. There are a few burning questions here. First and foremost, I have only one side of the story. But why wasn’t any paperwork issued if they were a “reputable” company? More importantly, what about the inventory and insurance documents? And the most worrying thing of all – did the goods actually get shipped or have they “gone elsewhere?” Who knows? Your guess is as good as mine, but I hope it all gets resolved soon for their sakes.

This brings me nicely onto talking about shipping security, insurance and paperwork.

Apart from making sure you are shipping with a reputable company, always check your removal company has a tracking procedure in place. They should be able to tell you where your goods are at all times.

Sometimes ships do get diverted for various reasons and this can delay your shipment. So when you are given the arrival date for your container, please remember this is always “estimated”.

We waited an additional 3 weeks for our container to arrive in Cyprus as the ship was diverted at the time due to the war in The Lebanon – but we always knew where it was.

We were concerned, because at the time this was such a dangerous zone, but we made sure our insurance covered all eventualities by purchasing a “total loss” marine insurance policy. So worst case scenario - say the ship had been bombed - we would have received the sum we insured our goods for.

Let’s move on to marine insurance.

Should you buy this type of insurance? Definitely! I cannot stress this enough. Thousands of people ship their personal possessions without appropriate insurance. What does this mean? Quite simply, you are putting everything you own at risk and you could lose it all.

Please remember when you are moving house, things can - and do - go wrong.

I’ll talk more about marine insurance next week and reveal some information from an insider who works in shipping that shocked me!

Until then, have a great weekend.

Best wishes

Jackie
http://www.cyprusbuyingguide.com/

Packing and Unpacking Your Goods Overseas

Hello, how are you?

Well, it’s national holiday time in Cyprus for the next two weeks – and a good job too! We are experiencing the hottest summer since August 1956 with temperatures at 46.5 degrees and 97% humidity. Phew!

Let’s get back to shipping. This week I am covering packing and unpacking. It all sounds simple – just shove everything in boxes and away you go. But that’s not the way to do it when your goods are travelling overseas.

So how should things be packed? Carefully is the word I would want to hear! Joking aside, good removal companies do pack with the greatest of care, particularly when exporting.

Packing for exporting is completely different to packing for a UK move because of the shipping involved. It tends to take more time because the packers are more careful than usual, particularly with delicate items, such as china and glass.

It is very important that nothing moves in the container, so more wrapping than usual is used. Wooden crates are sometimes tailor made for special items that need more protection than usual.

I shipped over some very delicate porcelain roses, which I made in evening classes back in the UK. I never believed for one minute that they would arrive in one piece – but they did. The chap who packed them in the UK used a huge box, an enormous amount of tissue paper and assured me they would arrive safely. He was used to packing valuable antiques - so I guessed my roses would be safe in his hands and I was right.

Strong boxes are always used which are sealed with heavy-duty tape. Here is a helpful hint. Our move took place overseas in July, at the hottest period. When the container arrived, it was 60 degrees inside. Although all our boxes had been taped securely, when they were unloaded the glue on the tape had melted. As a result, very careful unloading had to take place. So make sure that your packers double tape every box, to avoid any accidents happening.

Our biggest fear was that our computer would be ruined because of the heat, but it was fine. It just goes to show how robust they are.

The removal company can also organise unpacking. We decided to unpack ourselves at our leisure. For us, this turned out to be the right thing to do.

How many staff will come to pack and load? Again, this depends on the amount of possessions you are taking; your removal company will advise you. It is always best to check that the removal company are sending their own employees, not sub-contractors. Permanent employees of the removal company tend to be more careful and reliable. Sub-contractors can often disappear overnight.

Oh, and remember, your removal company is also responsible for all the shipping paperwork in conjunction with their agent at your destination.

Next week I’m going to talk about two very important issues – security and marine insurance – so don’t miss it!

Well, that’s it for now; I’m off to cool down.

Keep smiling – it’s infectious!

Until next week

Jackie
http://www.cyprusbuyingguide.com/

Shipping - Loading Your Container

Hello, how are you?

Cyprus is going to be very quiet over the next two weeks. Traditionally, the island’s national holidays start on Monday. It’s perfect timing due to the heat.

Let’s continue with shipping. This week I’m covering loading your container. Depending on the amount of possessions you are shipping, the container may be loaded at your home. If you have enough belongings, it’s always best if you can do this, as you can observe the whole procedure from start to finish. You watch your possessions go into the container and you watch the container being sealed.

If you are shipping by “Groupage” – in other words a “part load” because you don’t have enough possessions to fill a container, you may find that a small van comes to collect your crates and boxes instead.

If this is the case, the crates and boxes are taken away to a depot and then they are loaded into a container, which you will share with others. This means you can’t observe the process and your possessions are double-handled - meaning the margin for error is greater.

If you feel nervous about this and need peace of mind, just ask your removal company for advice. A good removal company will usually let you follow the van to the depot and let you see your possessions being transferred to the container they will be sent overseas in.

But how do you know everything will be safe and secure?

Well, if your container is packed outside your home, the removal company will seal it in front of you. Each container has a security code number on the seal and this should still be in place when it eventually reaches you at your new home.

If the seal is not in place when it arrives, this means one of two things. Either the container has been broken into (very rare), or Customs have inspected it for some reason or another. The latter is normally the case.

Another question I’ve been asked is how long does it take to pack and load the container?

As this is dependent on the amount of possessions you are taking, your removal company will advise you. It also depends on whether you are packing your own possessions or the company are. If the removal company are packing for you, they will need to come to your home before the container arrives. This can often be a few days before. Then on the day, they simply pack all the boxes into the container and off it goes to your local dock to await shipping.

By the way, it’s quite normal to feel very nervous and often quite emotional when the container is finally driven away. Your new life is about to begin and mixed feelings will be felt at this stage!

Next week I’m going to cover packing and unpacking – there will be lots of hints and tips on how to make sure breakages are kept to a minimum.

Well, that’s it for now, have a super weekend

Best wishes

Jackie

Hints and Tips About Shipping Containers

Hello, it’s me again.

It’s 6am and I’ve just come out of the swimming pool, it’s so hot here.

It’s the only way to really cool down. In a couple of hours, I’ll have to jump in again. And that’s how each day goes at the moment. This week its reached 43 degrees and we’re not in August yet. I’m finding it really hard going, but, I just have to focus on September coming and temperatures dropping down to a more comfortable level.

Anyway, enough of me groaning on about the heat! I should be so lucky ….

Let’s carry on with some more shipping information. This week I’m giving some hints and tips about the containers shipping companies use to send your goods overseas.

OK. As your goods are going by sea, they need to be in a watertight metal container. These usually come in two sizes, 20 feet long or 40 feet long. Your removal company will advise you which size you need. If you don’t have a great deal to ship, your possessions will be shipped as a “part load” which means you will share a container; in other words, it won’t be exclusively for you.

You need to ensure your container is watertight. I can tell you are now thinking of course it will be. Well, this is not always the case. If the container is old and battered, the best thing to do is go inside it, shut the doors and if you can see daylight you know trouble is on the horizon because it will leak!

For peace of mind, if the container is old, it should have proper welded repairs, a clean interior and the two overlapping doors should be working and lockable.

Remember, your possessions are going by sea, so a leaky container is not an option due to rough seas and poor weather conditions.

A good removal company will always check the container and make sure it will remain dry; always be suspicious if it turns up looking in a sorry state - and ask questions!

That’s it for this week. Next week I’m going to cover loading your container and how to ensure your possessions are safe.

Have a great weekend and keep smiling – if you do, others around you will.

Until next time

Best wishes

Jackie
http://www.cyprusbuyingguide.com

More help with shipping

Hello!

I hope life is treating you well.

Temperatures continue to rise here in Cyprus; I’m in and out of our swimming pool several times a day now, just trying to keep cool! The water in the pool is currently 32 degrees, it’s like a bath.

I’ve had quite a few emails this week asking more questions about shipping, so I’ll carry on with some more help.

Right. After you have found a few companies you feel happy with, the next step is to get their surveyor round to give you a quote.

The surveyor needs to know what you are taking and what you are leaving, so think carefully about this before they arrive.

There are usually several different options for your move overseas:

Deep-sea shipping is the most cost effective transport method especially for bulky items like furniture and vehicles.

Groupage is extremely economical and the cheapest way to ship. It’s ideal if you don’t have enough goods to fill a container, so you simply share space with others who are going to your destination.

Full containers mean that you have sole use of a container that can be sealed and loaded at your home. This gives a fast, direct service.

Airfreight is the fastest method but the most expensive. It’s perfect if you can’t wait for important items to arrive.

Then of course, there are also several options for packing.

I would strongly advise you not to pack your own goods for shipping. You are not the expert. It’s different if you are moving within the country where you live - but remember a crane is loading your container onto a ship and if everything isn’t packed just so, goods have a far higher chance of getting damaged. Also, sometimes you cannot obtain marine insurance (I’ll talk about that later) if you pack your own goods.

I discovered that some removal companies have quite amazing services now. You can take out five-star packages, where you don’t lift a finger.

Sounds like heaven, doesn’t it, just being responsible for making the tea and keeping out of the way! Some companies even provide a handyman on the day - and even cleaners. This type of package isn’t cheap, but is by far the easiest way to move.

Well, that’s it for now – I’m overheating again and need to jump in the pool to cool off!

See you next week.

Best wishes as always

Jackie
http://www.cyprusbuyingguide.com

Contacting Your Removal Company Early!

Hi there, it’s me again.

How are you? Have you had a good week?

Here in Cyprus it’s really hot – and I mean really hot. Temperatures are sweltering; it’s over 40 degrees most days now, phew! Since I’ve lived here I have got used to it (sort of), but must admit I really do prefer the cooler months. It’s time like this when I am really glad we have a swimming pool, although even the water in that is reading 32 degrees today. It’s like a warm bath ….

Anyway, last week I started talking about shipping your stuff over to Cyprus, and as I have so much information on that, I though I would carry on sharing what I discovered.

A word of warning: Don’t wait until your house is sold before getting quotes - this is a big mistake and can cause unnecessary delays. Contacting your removal company early is very important if you are moving overseas. Why? Because they will need to book your container (which will hold all your possessions) and also the ship that will carry it. If you can give as much notice as possible, then the chances are you will have a choice of sailings.

It’s always best to telephone quite a few reputable removal companies and ask them to visit your home. They will come along and conduct a survey. These surveys are always free. If you are asked to pay for a survey, then walk away from the company concerned because that’s your first alarm bell ringing!

It’s a really good idea to obtain several quotations, as they do vary quite a bit for more or less the same service.

A comprehensive survey of all your household possessions – including anything buried in the garage and the loft – will be conducted. An accurate cost will then be sent to you with advice on all aspects of your move, including packing, wrapping and dealing with precious or delicate items.

Here’s another tip. Always ask the representative when the quotation will be received. If after a reasonable time you have not received your quotation and you have to chase the company, perhaps this is the first indication that they are not as efficient as they could be and this may help you in the decision making process for choosing your removal firm.

OK. That’s it for now. More next week, I’m off to jump in the pool and cool off!

Have a great weekend, relax and be happy.

Until next time.

Best wishes
Jackie
http://www.cyprusbuyingguide.com/

Choosing the right shipping company

Hello again from sunny Cyprus!

Last week I mentioned about how much I learnt about shipping when we moved to Cyprus and that as a result, I wrote two reports to help others – one specifically for Cyprus, and one that is generic.

Over the next few weeks, I’m going to share this information with you. So, if any of your friends are thinking about moving overseas, you might like to get them to become a follower. I’d be really pleased if you did.

Believe me; you have to be extremely careful about who you are shipping with.

First and foremost, make sure you employ a professional removal company. Beware of the cowboys, because they are out there - and they disguise themselves very well!

So what should you look for? Well, be very careful when you are obtaining remover’s details from the Internet as a great deal of these are not bona-fide movers. A website that looks good doesn’t necessarily mean you will be working with companies who have high professional standings. Some of these companies even ask for deposits on-line before they have visited you. Alarm bells should be ringing at the first sign of this!

Your safety net is to look for bona-fide professional memberships, which you can check out yourself.

BAR (British Association of Removers) have a Code of Practice, which is the only code in the moving industry that is approved and monitored by the Office of Fair Trading under its Consumer Codes Approval Scheme.

All members abide by the Code that dictates the standard of service you will receive, the quality of the materials used, the standards of vehicles and warehouses, staff training requirements and best of all – what will happen if something goes wrong!

Most importantly, the Code requires BAR moving companies to deal with you in a courteous and sympathetic way at all times. You also have financial protection.

The other memberships to look for are FIDI, a network of International Quality Removers. Most BAR members are members of FIDI, and often also members of FAIM (part of the FIDI group), HHGFAA (Household Goods Forwarders Association of America), EURA (European Relocation Association) and ARP (Association of Relocation Professionals).

I’ll carry on with this next week, but in the meantime, if you or any of your friends are emigrating, have a look at www.emigrationguide.com – you can get a free monthly newsletter packed with information about emigrating.

That’s it from me for this week.
Best wishes as always.

Jackie
http://www.cyprusbuyingguide.com

Our Property Purchase in Cyprus

Hello again!

I hope everything is ok with you and life is treating you well.

Following on from last week, we flew back to the UK so excited about our property purchase in Cyprus - but little did we realise how hard the new few weeks were going to be.

When I look back, how on earth we managed to do everything in 11 weeks amazes me. It was literally off the plane, put the house up for sale and start preparing for our big move.

The speed things progressed at was quite remarkable. We lived in a sought after area, so luckily, the house sold in 11 days. That was the first hurdle out of the way – or at least that’s what we thought. The sale ended up being fraught with problems as they often are. Not a surprise really.

It was the usual scenario, a solicitor not telling you what is going on, estate agents being careful with the truth – need I say more, you have probably been there yourself. It really was frustrating, to say the least.

Anyway, while all this was going on, we had to arrange our shipping. Having never done this before, we had a lot to learn very quickly. We really did not have a clue.

After we moved, I wrote an article about shipping to help others. It’s a minefield if you are not aware of what to look out for – particularly marine insurance.

I’m going to talk more about that next week.

In the meantime, have a great weekend.

Until next time.

Best wishes.
Jackie
http://www.cyprusbuyingguide.com

Finding a reputable Lawyer in Cyprus

Hello, how are you?

I hope you’ve had a good week and life is treating you well.

Following on from last week, having seen the bungalow we wanted to buy, the next thing we needed to do was find a reputable lawyer in Paphos. Not an easy job! You have to be very careful. Even we ended up changing our lawyer after the transaction had gone through, mainly because we found an English lawyer where we didn’t have any language difficulties. So do bear that in mind!

Having said all this, the lawyer we used initially was quite amazing. He was very helpful and laid back. When we first went to see him, we explained that we’d found our dream property to renovate, but the problem was, we needed a deposit in cash to put down to secure it. All we had was a credit card and we didn’t want to draw a substantial amount on that. Well, we couldn’t believe what happened next!

He’d never met us before, but he just asked how much we needed for the deposit – and he wrote us out a cheque for the person we were buying from there and then. He said “Go and buy your dream”. We couldn’t believe it! He just asked us to take our passports into the office the next day so they could be copied, and he would sort out the rest. I have to say, we were in shock. We couldn’t imagine this ever happening in the UK - but maybe it does?

Anyway, we were jumping for joy. Off we went with his cheque in our hands to the vendor – who was equally as pleased. This was on the Thursday. The deal was now secured for 30 days until we could send over a further sum of money, which we sent via Smart Currency Exchange, www.SmartCurrencyExchange.com to his client account.

Smart were great, they managed to get us a really good rate, and the money was with him in 2 days. We saved a fortune – the Bank rate was horrendous, we are so glad we didn’t take that route!

Two days later, as you can imagine, we flew home, both so excited - and started to plan selling our house and moving to sunny Cyprus.

That’s when the fun really began!

More next week.

Take care, have a great weekend.

Best wishes

Jackie
http://www.CyprusBuyingGuide.com

Purchasing Our Cyprus Property!

Hello, how are you?

Well, this is an exciting week. I’m going to tell you the story of how we bought our property in Cyprus and renovated it. Phew, that’s going to take some time, but I really hope you will enjoy sharing all the experiences!

It all started in 2006 when we came over to stay at a friend’s villa. Well, we fell in love with Cyprus instantly. Cyprus is like that, so friendly and welcoming.

We did the usual thing, booking appointments from the UK with agents over here to view properties. But due to such a buoyant market, by the time we arrived, almost everything we wanted to see was sold. And off-plan wasn’t for us - we wanted to buy a resale, something to renovate - this was our dream.

So, after spending a few days with agents, we decided to set off on our own instead. We had already found an area we really liked – it was Tala, in Paphos. So we headed off in the car, and driving up a quiet cul-de-sac, my husband suddenly spotted a tiny for sale sign in the window of an old bungalow. And that was it!

It was perfect. The price was right, the area was beautiful, there were no building works around it – and it had the all important Title Deeds issued in the current owners’ names.

We negotiated a good price - bearing in mind there was a lot of work to do - and shook hands on the deal.

This was on the Wednesday. We flew back to the UK on the Sunday, sold our house in 11 days and within 11 weeks – yes just 11 weeks – we were emigrating. I can’t wait to tell you all about that, talk about life in the fast lane!

More follows next week, so stay tuned, we’re only at the very beginning ….

Have a lovely weekend and keep smiling.
Best wishes
Jackie

PS: I forgot to mention, before we even thought about getting a property in Cyprus, we bought The Cyprus Buying Guide – check it out, http://www.cyprusbuyingguide.com/guide.htm. Without it, we would have made so many mistakes that could have cost us thousands!

How to Market your Property Abroad

Hello, it’s me again

I hope the weather is good where you are, it’s certainly hotting up in Cyprus. The smell of barbeques is everywhere now – the only problem with this is I feel constantly hungry!

Well, this week is the final week for ideas on how to market your property via your friends when you don’t live in Cyprus.

So by now, you’ll have found someone who can help you do your garden, clear your mailbox, air your property and look after your pool.

They can also help advertise your property too. At the beginning of my blogspot, I gave advice on how to prepare your own property details, so have a look at that, there’s lots of useful information.

Get your property details printed off and ask your friends and neighbours to put them up everywhere they can, for example in supermarkets. (See earlier blog for advice)

Also, ask them if they would mind putting advertisements in the local papers for you. These are very low cost and really work.

If you have your own “For Sale” sign up at your property and employ an agent too, you will find they might want your sign taken down when they are showing people round. This is because they don’t want the applicant to come to you direct, so is perfectly reasonable. Whoever is conducting your viewings will need to do this, to keep everyone happy.

If you look back on my previous blogs, you’ll find all the help and advice you need on how to promote your property, for example, which local publications to place your advertisement in – some are free!

I hope you’ve found this information useful, if you have, please tell your friends.

Oh, and if you become a follower (which I’d love you to do), you will automatically get my blog update every Friday – it’s really easy, all you have to do is put in your email address – here’s how.

You need to create a “google account” but that doesn’t mean get a “google” email. It just means you put your current email address in, and then a password. You’ll be asked for your birthday and to accept the terms and conditions and that’s it – you are then a follower, and can post a comment if you want to. I will respond!

Next week the fun really begins. I’m going to start to tell you all about our renovation project here in Cyprus. It took nearly 4 years, so there’s certainly plenty to talk about.

Stay tuned – see you next week.

Have a great weekend.

Best wishes
Jackie
http://www.cyprusbuyingguide.com

Friends and Neighbours helping with making your property look great!!

Hello again!

I hope you’ve had a great week.

On Monday it was Bank Holiday to celebrate the Festival of the Flood. It’s a fun time but you either keep out of the way or join in - because everyone gets drenched with water! My friends were absolutely soaked with hoses and water bombs. They said they had a great time with all the kids, but rather them than me; I took the quiet option and stayed at home by the pool reading a book.

Let’s carry on from last week when I said I’d look at other ideas for how your neighbours and friends can help you make your property look great for viewings.

They’ll need to make sure your mailbox is cleared regularly. In Cyprus we don’t have letterboxes in the door; we have mailboxes outside our properties. As well as post, they also get stuffed full of junk mail which doesn’t look nice and also shows the property is empty.

Something else to look at is your garden (if you have one). An overgrown garden is a dead giveaway that you are not there, and as an initial impression, doesn’t look good for potential purchasers.

Why not ask your friends to look after it for you? It’s a really good idea – especially as plants and bushes grow ten times faster in Cyprus than in the UK, and that’s no exaggeration. So for a small outlay every month, you could pay them to do this.

And if you have a pool, perhaps they could look after that too? Pools must be maintained. Or, you can place a cover over it, but when someone is viewing, I think it’s always better if they can see the pool operating as you are primarily selling a lifestyle. Of course, this isn’t a problem if you share a pool on a complex.

Also, your property will need to be aired regularly. Properties that are locked up in Cyprus smell musty inside if they aren’t opened for a long time.

Here’s what I suggest. Ask whoever it is you trust to do your viewings if they can take care of the whole property for you for a monthly fee. It really is worth it, and if they are also going to do your viewings, you know they will make sure everything is pristine for a potential buyer.

If they agree but won’t take any payment because they just want something to do with their time, then take them out for a very nice meal, or pay for them to have a weekend away in a hotel to say thank you. It’s worth every penny.

Next week I’m going to given you my final ideas, then I’m going to move on to tell you all about our renovation project here in Cyprus – from start to finish.

There are some hilarious stories along the way, (like the day I almost fell down the stinking blocked drain) plus all the inevitable frustrations there were with a project like this.

Finally, I will just mention though, that before we even set foot on the plane, we bought the Cyprus Buying Guide, http://www.blogger.com/www.cyprusbuyingguide.com%20 – it was invaluable and saved us a small fortune!

Ok, that’s it from me for now, see you next week.

Have fun and keep smiling!
Best wishes
Jackie

Make sure your Cyprus property looks it's best!

Hello, how are you?

Unbelievably, it’s been raining in Cyprus, but at least it’s been warm rain! There’s been a dust cloud here for about a week, so this will finally clear the air.

Following on from last week, I said I’d give you some help on incentives for neighbors or friends who are helping you sell your property because you can’t be here.

Why not pay them commission from the final sale? If you are selling privately, you won’t have agents’ fees to pay, so how about suggesting a small percentage?

You could also put viewings on a slightly more formal basis and pay them a small fee each time they show someone round for you.

That way, you aren’t taking advantage and you won’t feel embarrassed to ask again. Viewings take time, you want to make sure your property looks at its best - and this doesn’t happen in five minutes.

By the time your property has been unlocked, they’ve opened the shutters and curtains, taken dust sheets off the furniture and waited for the potential purchasers to turn up – and then shown them round too - I would say somewhere between 10 and 20 euros is money really well spent!

There are lots of other things your neighbors/friends can do to make your property look great for viewings; I’ll cover those next week.

That’s it for now, enjoy your weekend!

Jackie
http://www.cyprusbuyingguide.com/

Hints and Tips for Selling in Cyprus

Hello again

We’re having a heat wave! It’s been 40 degrees over the last few days and it’s time to get back into our swimming pool. Phew, it’s not normally this hot in May; this is more like August weather. Can’t complain though, blue skies, sunshine, everything you need to make you feel great!

Last week I said I’d help you with marketing your holiday home in Cyprus, so if you are trying to sell your property here from overseas and finding it difficult, these hints and tips might help towards getting that all important sale. Remember to share them with your friends too.

First things first, I can’t stress enough – get a website. Some people may say this isn’t the way to do it, but I can only speak from my own experience, boy did it work! If you have a website, then you can simply refer to this in all your advertisements and get potential buyers to come to you direct, which will save you paying an agent a huge fee. Without the agent fee, you will then also have some room for negotiation when you get that all important offer.

If you don’t have an agent, the next challenge is how to conduct viewings when you don’t live here. I have a solution. Ask someone who does live here to do this for you. Everyone has neighbours who are here permanently, so next time you are over, invite them round for a barbeque and ask them if they would be willing to help you.

Next week I’ll carry on with more hints and tips (including offering incentives to friends and neighbours to help you get that sale), so until then, I’m going in the pool now to cool down, relax - and enjoy life in Cyprus.

Until next week, see you then!
Best wishes

Jackie
www.cyprusbuyingguide.com

Tips for selling your Cyprus property

Hello again

Gosh, doesn’t time fly! It’s been a really busy week for me, how about you? The weather has been really weird in Cyprus over the last few days – we’ve had electric storms, thunder, lightning and heavy rain. Not really what we expect in May. Even the evenings have been a bit chilly; I had to put my socks on! It’s just not the normal pattern, but I guess that’s global warming and is affecting everyone around the world. I’m not worried though, because I know that in a couple of weeks we’ll be basking in the heat again.

Back to selling your property – are you getting more viewings? You should be by now if you’ve done everything I’ve suggested so far. Maybe you’ve even sold? Let me know if you have, I’d really love to hear from you.

Remember to take your posters with you wherever you go and also display them in your car as I mentioned last week - and try to get your friends to help you too.

Here’s a tip I forgot to mention previously. If you haven’t already had your “For Sale” sign made, get the printer to put a UV coating on it otherwise it will fade very quickly in the sun and you’ll end up paying for another one. It doesn’t cost much more to do this. I learnt the hard way because like most people, I didn’t know this was available - and my original sign faded after 3 months.

Finally, if you don’t live here but have a holiday home to sell and are finding it difficult, next time I’ll be giving some useful hints and tips on how to do this.

Have a great weekend.

Keep smiling, please tell your friends about my blog - and see you next week!
Jackie
http://www.cyprusbuyingguide.com

Use your car to promote your property

Hello again, how are you?

Well, this week has been really busy. That’s the problem with taking holidays isn’t it (did I mention I’ve just been Sri Lanka?) I’ve had a problem with my tooth as well which doesn’t help when you’re trying to get through things quickly and need to concentrate– how I hate toothache!

OK. So let’s get back to some more ideas on how to sell your property. We’ve already talked about using email. But how about using your car? Or even ask your best friends if you can use theirs too!

Put the posters you have designed in your car when you have parked. Make sure you always try to park in a prominent place so as many people as possible see the posters. Park in busy areas, where there are plenty of pedestrians going by – how about the harbour in Paphos, or The Paphos Mall? It works!

Well, I’m in a rush this week with loads of deadlines to make so I’ll have to go now. But why not take a look at my latest Cyprus Buying Guide newsletter http://www.cyprusbuyingguide.com. Hope you enjoy it!

Until next week – must fly!
Best wishes
Jackie

Using Email to Help Sell Your Property

Hello, how are you?

I hope your posters are finished and you are putting them up everywhere to promote your property. Remember to place your adverts in the local papers too - you will get a response.

Last week I said I’d talk to you about using email as a marketing tool to help sell your property. It’s easier than you think. Everyone who uses email has email addresses from somewhere. It could be friends, work colleagues, businesses, networking contacts - there are hundreds of sources.

So here’s the plan. Why not email them all with your property details? You can do this several ways. If you have a website, that’s the easiest way, because all you need to do is send a short message and include the link for them to click on. Or, you can produce a pdf file of your property details – just use your poster. If it’s not possible to do either of these, then don’t worry. Just send the description in the main body of the email plus a few photographs.

I designed a website, so it was easy for me. But – I really wanted everyone not only to read the email and click on the site, but also to circulate my email to all their friends too. So I offered the incentive of a financial reward. This would be paid in cash to anyone who sent me the lead that led to the final sale. Wow – that certainly worked!

The other thing to try is internet forums. Go on them and when you can, add your property details. You never know where these will end up and who will look at them – you’ve nothing to lose and everything to gain. You will be surprised how many people get to know about your property like this and it costs virtually nothing.

So, use email to the maximum and see what happens!

I still have more ideas, so until next week, relax, stay focused on that “Sold” sign and remember - don’t ever give up.

Best wishes as always
Jackie
http://www.cyprusbuyingguide.com

Selling Your Property In Cyprus

Hello again!

I’m hoping that you are now starting to get some viewings and are feeling very positive about selling your property. The secret is to keep at it – even in a difficult market you will sell in the end. Just look forward to how you will feel when it’s sold, and focus on that. I received this great advice from a dear friend - so every day I used to imagine a “SOLD” sign in front of my eyes - and eventually it worked!

By now, I hope your posters look good and that you are promoting them everywhere you can. Remember, stick them up at every opportunity – the more you promote your property, the more viewings you will get, so the more chance you will have of selling it.

You might also want to consider small lineage advertisements in the local papers. I found three really good ones that worked. The first is the local ex-pat daily paper, The Cyprus Mail. You can have around 40 words in the property section on a “buy four weeks, get one free week” basis for about 60 euros. This will appear Tuesday to Sunday every day for 5 weeks (there’s no Monday edition). This makes it about 70 cents a day to advertise in around 12,000 daily copies. That’s really cheap for island-wide coverage!

The second newspaper is The Cyprus Weekly. You can do the same again in this paper; it’s still cheap, but will only go in once a week.

Then there is The Paphos Post, which is a free monthly ex-pat newspaper. You simply send in a classified lineage advert no more than 25 words and it will go in FREE.

With a lineage advert, remember to put in the key features and your contact details. If you have title deeds, make sure you put that in the first line as this is really important. And this time – you DO need to state the price.

Well, I hope this will help you get to your goal of selling your property in Cyprus.

Next time I’m going to talk about how you can use email as a marketing tool.

Have a great weekend, see you next week.
Best wishes
Jackie
http://www.cyprusbuyingguide.com

Selling your Overseas Property Privately

Hi, it’s me again.

What a lovely day it is in Cyprus today! I hope the weather is good where you are too.

I said last week that I’d share some more hints and tips on how you can sell your property privately. By doing this, you can save a fortune in estate agents commission. So this time, I’m going to cover how you can use the local supermarkets to help you.

Some supermarkets have notice boards and they allow you to pin up things you have for sale, business cards, charity notices and so on. And it’s FREE! So all you need to do now is design a small, eye-catching poster and you can join in. It’s best if you try and keep this to A5 size rather than A4. Why? Because the larger A4 signs tend to get other items pinned over them.

Before you start designing a poster on your computer (or getting someone else to do it for you), remember it’s very important to have really good photographs. These will definitely help sell your property for you. I had a professional photographer take ours; it only cost about 70 euros and was worth every penny. Also, if you get the photographer to take both high resolution and low resolution, then you can also use them on your website if you are going to have one.

Make sure you have all the key details on the poster, and very importantly, have strips at the bottom that people can tear-off. The tear-offs should contain your phone numbers and your website. Big hint: Don’t make the tear-offs too small, and make sure the phone numbers aren’t too close to the top of the tear-off. Make it really easy for people to just grab one and phone.

The response from doing this was amazing. Oh, and keep a plastic wallet of your posters in the car, so each time you are out, you can put them up or replenish them if they have gone – they do tend to disappear very quickly.

I hope these hints and tips are helping. Next time I’ll talk about advertising your property in the local papers – it’s very low cost - and it definitely works!

Until then,
Best wishes.
Jackie
http://www.cyprusbuyingguide.com/

Help with potential buyers

Hi there

Well, the sun is shining and it’s a really lovely day here in Cyprus.

I hope you’ve been practicing your telephone scripts – its fun, isn’t it? Last week I said I’d give you some more marketing ideas on how to sell your property in Cyprus, but before then, let’s just finish off talking about what you need to do when your potential purchasers start to phone.

First and foremost, you need to find out who is a serious buyer. Otherwise, how will you know if they can proceed immediately if they fall in love with your property and want to buy it? So, don’t be embarrassed to ask “are you a cash buyer or do you have a property to sell?” Or, “is the sale of your current property dependent on you buying this one if you like it?” Or, “will you need a mortgage to proceed?” And very importantly “What is your budget?” It’s good to sort out how much they have to spend – or get an indication at least – before they view.

The reason I am suggesting these questions is because I used them myself to filter people out. Believe me, there are plenty of “buyers” out there who are NOT in a position to proceed and these few questions can quickly eliminate them. Then you don’t waste your time – or theirs.

It’s hard work keeping your property in show house condition when you are selling. Although I’m very house-proud, I have to admit sometimes it did become tiring. Like for instance when you’ve just stripped the beds – and the door bell goes. Or, you’re in the middle of washing all the floors, or hanging out the washing. But what can you do? You can’t risk a potential buyer going away – and never coming back!

Next week I’m going to talk to you about how to use the supermarkets to advertise - you’ll be amazed at the response you will get!

Bye for now, see you next week.
Have fun.
Jackie
www.cyprusbuyingguide.com

How to find your serious buyers

Hi there

Well, the sun is shining and it’s a really lovely day here in Cyprus.

I hope you’ve been practicing your telephone scripts – its fun, isn’t it? Last week I said I’d give you some more marketing ideas on how to sell your property in Cyprus, but before then, let’s just finish off talking about what you need to do when your potential purchasers start to phone.

First and foremost, you need to find out who is a serious buyer. Otherwise, how will you know if they can proceed immediately if they fall in love with your property and want to buy it? So, don’t be embarrassed to ask “are you a cash buyer or do you have a property to sell?” Or, “is the sale of your current property dependent on you buying this one if you like it?” Or, “will you need a mortgage to proceed?” And very importantly “What is your budget?” It’s good to sort out how much they have to spend – or get an indication at least – before they view.

The reason I am suggesting these questions is because I used them myself to filter people out. Believe me, there are plenty of “buyers” out there who are NOT in a position to proceed and these few questions can quickly eliminate them. Then you don’t waste your time – or theirs.

It’s hard work keeping your property in show house condition when you are selling. Although I’m very house-proud, I have to admit sometimes it did become tiring. Like for instance when you’ve just stripped the beds – and the door bell goes. Or, you’re in the middle of washing all the floors, or hanging out the washing. But what can you do? You can’t risk a potential buyer going away – and never coming back!

Next week I’m going to talk to you about how to use the supermarkets to advertise - you’ll be amazed at the response you will get!

Bye for now, see you next week.
Have fun.
Jackie
www.cyprusbuyingguide.com

Putting your property up for sale

Hello again

What a beautiful day it is today – not a cloud in the sky and temperatures are rising nicely. It’s really great to be back in shorts and flip-flops and getting a tan again!

I promised I’d give you some hints and tips on how to market your property yourself if you are selling privately in Cyprus – there are plenty of ways that cost very little and are really effective. Let’s start with the first step.

To make sure you get loads of viewings (and after all, that’s what it’s all about), have a “For Sale” sign professionally made – and ensure this is big enough for people driving by to see. And make sure the sign is coated so it won’t fade in the sun – unless you ask for this, you’ll find yourself getting a new one after a few months.

The sign should contain the main details of your property – for example, the type of property you are selling (ie detached villa), your contact details (mobile and home number), state whether it has Title Deeds (very important), the plot size (for example 560 sqm), how many bedrooms and whether it has a swimming pool or not. And remember to add your website if you have one. But whatever you do - don’t put the price on the sign.

Why? Because you want as many people as possible to phone you. This is when you entice them to view. The easiest way to do this is to have a script in front of you that you can read out. It sounds a strange thing to do, but trust me, it works. You need to make your property sound as attractive as possible over the phone and you need to sound really positive and confident. Practice (it’ll be a bit of a laugh at first) and you’ll see how easy it becomes.

Ok. So the telephone has rung and you have your first potential viewer on the phone (how exciting!) You have a great description of the property in front of you to read, but – to avoid wasting your time and theirs - you really need to find out what their position is before you show them around.

Tune in next week and I’ll give you some ideas on how to deal with this, also don't forget to have a look at my latest newsletter by going to: www.cyprusbuyingguide.com

Until then, have a really super weekend.
Best wishes as always
Jackie