Sunseeker20

Hi Aussiebird so glad you have managed to make it to Oz and great news that the house has sold. Quarantine starts slow but it speeds up when you realise how much planning there is to do for freedom day! We ended up in Sydney after our flights to Melbourne were cancelled at the last minute (after we’d checked in!!!) and did quarantine there before travelling interstate to Tas where we had to self isolate for another fortnight. At least you’ve only got to do it once! Put your feet up and binge on Netflix. You deserve it xxxx

Yes with hindsight we were so lucky. We sold to the first person who viewed our house but they were in a hurry and wanted to move in straight away. It was a pain at the time to have to find a rental for a few months but I’m so glad it happened as I don’t think we’d be able to sell now without slashing the price. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you too. best wishes x

We are on the last few days’ countdown now; depart London on Thursday, arrive Melbourne on Friday. I should feel excited but it’s stressful! We are 3 citizens plus a 309/100 visa holder. I think we’ve got our plans sorted but the goalposts keep moving and the rules are confusing. However no going back now as we will be homeless once we’ve returned the keys to our rental. fingers crossed x

The property thing is more complex than we thought due to timings and the need for furnished vs unfurnished. We need to live in the catchment area for the schools pretty soon after arrival (I’m fed up having the kids at home!!). I Tried Airbnb but bookings not being accepted and “Proper” landlords want at least a 6 month contract. The apply-before-you-view thing it turns out is because of Covid and it’s the same for all the agents in the city we’ve approached: so not a scam. Thankfully I already have a job contract and when I explained my predicament and asked for help the new boss has been really generous. So I have “applied” for a couple of suitable properties and the manager will view them on our behalf. I know the area, I just haven’t been inside the houses. As a back-up option the boss has offered us their second home (not in school catchment though) fully furnished and for free until we get sorted. We should be able to avoid a second quarantine if we can show we have a residential address - residents can self isolate instead, which is a prospect we much prefer. A lease contract would qualify, I’m not sure how it would work if we were just staying in someone’s else’s holiday home. Just so pleased to be nearly on our way. Only 4 weeks to go

I hope you don’t mind me asking but who did you get travel insurance with? We can’t find any.

OMG there are 4 of us and we’ve got to quarantine twice. No way we can find an extra $20000 that’s insane! Is this a likely scenario?? That will literally end our dreams. Not having a good day. Our removals firm turned up With lorry this morning while I was at work....a month early!! I nearly had a heart attack that I’d mucked up the booking but it was their error. Doesn’t really give me much faith.... Also today have been sent an application form for a rental property we thought suitable. The agent wants us to send a complete application including a declaration that we will lease it if the landlord accepts us BEFORE they will arrange a (online) viewing!!! WTF is that normal? <<<stress>>>

Oh no I’m sorry. I don’t think for a minute that you an insinuating I am an idiot! I’m all ears to as much advice as possible it’s just that if I don’t follow it it’s because I’ve made a careful and reasoned decision....not because I am foolishly ignoring it. please keep your input coming Have you been able to get any further with your plans yet?

That’s not the plan but I would do this if I have to. We need somewhere to live and it’s got to be in the catchment areas of the schools we want - actually a very small geographical area. I do have the offer from a work colleague of them doing a viewing on our behalf if needed. Our plans are all so very far from ideal. I’m not an idiot and I can see the risks. However we are making compromises to achieve our end goal. Im always listening for helpful advice though!

Yes we have got to - no other way. However it will only be temporary for around 2 months - once our stuff arrives we will need somewhere unfurnished. I don’t see this as a great different to booking a holiday rental. I know the area we are moving to. If you don’t mind me asking what went wrong for you?

Yes we’ve already twigged the double dose of quarantine . However the tasgov website says they will permit self-isolation for 2 weeks instead of quarantine for those travelling with kids. (Obviously this is all after we’ve already done 2w quarantine in Melbourne). My new employer is also going to help me apply for an exemption as an essential worker - but that would only apply to me not the family as well. They’ve also agreed that once I’ve sorted a rental they will get the keys for me and fill the kitchen with supplies before we arrive.

We are flying out of Heathrow then via Doha to Melbourne. With Qatar. We haven’t booked on onwards flights to Tas yet. Couldn’t book a complete journey as we have to quarantine in melbourne. If we book those flights now we’ll only have to pay to change them if Qatar reschedule on us again. Another problem - we have no travel insurance. Couldn’t get any even excluding covid. Your kids are only slightly younger than mine; finishing years 6 and 8 here. The older one will be straight into high school but before she has to choose options. My younger one will have a few more months of primary school so maybe catch up what she has missed here. She’s quite chuffed that she won’t miss out on end of primary school celebrations after all! Still having a nightmare trying to get school refunds for cancelled trips. Its funny I hadn’t really considered the safety aspect of flying. I’m a key worker so the most dangerous thing I do is go to work! UK is probably more contaminated than anywhere else the Qatar planes have been and luckily we are a generally healthy bunch.

Welcome to the crazy world of moving during a pandemic! I’m desperate to get back to Oz now, I want the kids properly at school and some sort of a normal life again! Can anyone thinking about criticising us take a moment to consider how much planning goes into migrating. We started our plans in February...last year. Still tied into jobs until the end of June otherwise I’d be off tomorrow. We also sold our house just before lockdown so currently “camping” in a tiny rental. Most of our belongings are in storage. I’m hoping our quarantine hotel might be bigger than this house . We’ve booked flights and removals, both at seriously inflated costs; but have also noticed that rentals are dropping in price. Maybe if house prices also drop in the next 6-12 months we might recoup our losses. Good luck with it!

Helpful to know thanks. We want to fly but had the ferry in mind as a back up plan. Thought we’d buy a car once we arrived in Tassie but eventually we will need a second one so I’ll keep your advice in mind.

Thanks for the info. I’ll have more of a look on the Tas gov website.

We are using GMS. I’ve got to ring them later to see if I can change the date by a day. Our flights (Qatar) have been cancelled but we’ve been rebooked on July 2nd.