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Sydney Bound Feb 2013


Plentymech

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Well the time has finally come after more than four years of ups and downs, we’re finally making the move (well I am initially).

I’m planning on flying out February 2013 and will be taking a months holiday I’ve saved up and the plan is I’ll spend this time seeking out a rental property and start the job search in earnest. I tried last year but again and again all I got back (on the rare occasion I received a reply from the agents) was that I’d have to be very fortunate to secure a position in my industry (I.T.) without being in country for face to face interviews. Fair enough I thought. I interview people here for my team quite often and I don’t think once would my superiors would for one moment contemplate someone still overseas unless there was such a unique skill we could find in the candidates we get in here in London.

 

Anyway, my company are going to allow me to work remotely for a month or two following the month holiday which takes some of the pressure off immediately and is a great help. Once I’ve found a decent three bedroom rental and moved in then my wife and my two children will make the jump.

 

I’ll be looking around the Northern Beaches (Beacon Hill, Cromer etc) area and I know four weeks to find a rental isn’t a long time and will have to work on a contingency plan if the going is tough but I was wondering from people’s experiences on here, what if anything I can do from here now in advance. I’ve mailed several property agents advertising properties in that area but after a week I’m still waiting for a reply from any of them. Will have to phone them this week.

 

I’ve been fine up to now but now the date almost set in stone, my knees are starting to knock and the teeth are starting to chatter!!

 

Thank you for any advice, it’s gratefully received.

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The rental market is very competitive. Give them a ring like you said. Be prepared to visit quite a few places. Make sure you have as many forms of I'd as possible, if you go to a few properties with the one agent get talking to them and explain your situation. Have bank statements and pay slips to show you can afford the place. If you are renting here in the UK take a reference.

 

bear in mind, like I said its very competitive. It's not like in the UK where if you like a property you tell the agent you will take it, they do the checks and you are one. You will need to fill in the application forms, submit them to the agent, the the owner will choose who they want in there.

 

Good luck with the move.

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It's very different here. There are usually more ppl looking for rental properties than available. I agree with wakeboard, have as much copies of paperwork. References are good, but unfortunately I was told I could have a suitcase full of them, the real estate wouldn't follow them thru with the UK. Google real estate in the area and Email them before you leave, tell them what you Are looking for and ask if they can tell you about viewing times for suitable properties for when you arrive. Be prepared they may ask for additional rent upfront. ie 3/6 mths. good luck with the move, the area is a great place to raise kids with beautiful beaches etc. it's an exciting journey so don't be nervous, relax and enjoy it. There's always this forum to reach out to fellow Brits for help.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi. A British friend of mine has got IT jobs in Sydney through an employment agency called Candle IT. That might help with the employment issue. Perhaps you should consider arranging short-to-medium-term furnished accommodation for your arrival so you can assess the employment situation, find a job, bring the family out, then look at the suburb options with your wife before you commit to one place. Loads of great choices, but housing is a significant cost. Might help to think about the kind of school you want the children to attend (the new school year starts end of January) as another point to start your suburb search. Three systems of education to choose from: the state system, the Catholic system, the independent system. Choice will depend on budget, education priorities (i.e. do you want a sport school or a more academic one?) and catchment area you move into. Happy to help further. Cheers, Anne (relocate-east.com.au)

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There really is no point looking at rentals before you get here, you will only stress yourself out by not getting replies. Rentals fly off the shelf here, there are always more people than rentals and no agent needs to consider somebody that is overseas. Wait until you get here and then get yourself very, very organised in terms of paperwork.

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Remember, of course, that there is a difference between the long-term rental and the short-term rental markets. They are very different beasts – the latter being much easier to track down. Yes, it is hard house hunting remotely over the internet when you are trying to navigate your way around a strange city with a very competitive rental property market. Which is why, if you don't have friends to stay with on arrival, the short-term rental market is worth considering until you find your feet. That way you don't have to add "homelessness" to the list of challenges you confront on landing in Sydney and you don't end up living in a suburb you hate during your often emotionally taxing first year away.

SydneyAnne (www.relocate-east.com.au)

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