Moving abroad can be exciting, fun, and of course a little stressful. ShortTermHousing.com is here to be offer a guide and a shoulder to lean on during your move.

What You’ll Need

• Vital Records
• A Physical
• Financial Resources
• Registration

Money

Create a budget to figure out how much money you will need. It’s also a good idea to learn your country’s currency exchange rate.

A Place To Stay

Check out our rentals across the globe to stay in until you find a more permanent option.

Visa

Contact your destination’s country tourist board for residency and visa requirements. You should begin this process three to six months before you leave.

Your Current Furniture

Sell or give away the things you don’t need to bring with you. Craigslist, Ebay, and Garage Sales are all great places to do this. By getting rid of the things you don’t need, you lessen the hassle and stress of packing and shipping. Not to mention you will have a little extra money for cushion when you move.

Shipping Your Things

For the things you do want to take with you to your new home, you might want to contact an international shipper.

If you rent out your home, there will be numerous families staying with you that have small children. Chances are the family will be exhausted from travel (their guard quite possibly unconsciously lower), the children will be excited. Combine that with unfamiliar surroundings and the potential for accidents is much higher then it should be. You don’t need to panic,though. Just take a few simple steps to kid-proof your home. Short Term Housing has highlighted a few areas that tend to be trouble spots, and listed how you can make them family friendly.

Electrical Outlets

Install outlet covers on all outlets to prevent electrocution.

Pool/Hot Tubs

You can install a fence with locking gate around the swimming pool/hot tub. You can also install alarms ($5 - $10) on all doors from the house to the pool area, just remember to keep them set.

Doors and Drawers

Do not leave sharp knifes or anything else in the lower drawers that children can easily access. You can buy cabinet locks very inexpensively so both you and your guests and rest a little easier. It is also a good idea to purchase lever handle locks(also inexpensive) to prevent curious little ones from trying their luck turning the handle and exploring areas that have the potential to be dangerous.

Windows

Remove window blind cords that have loops which can cause strangulation. You can buy safety tassels or just cut looped cords in half.

Bathtub/Shower

Set water heater to 120°F (49°C) to prevent scalding; install anti-scalding devices on faucets and shower heads. Place nonslip stickers in bathtub and rubber guard over bathtub faucet to prevent injury. Place nonskid bathmat on floor to prevent slipping.

Living Room and Furniture

Make sure to remove any frayed or unnecessary extension cords. It is also a good idea to place bumpers on all sharp corners and edges of furniture and remove any glass top tables, and breakable items.

Phones

Post emergency numbers next to all phones. These numbers should include the poison control center, nearest emergency room, and pediatrician.

Stairs

Keep baby gates handy and easily accessible so that parents can use them when necessary.

Sometimes traveling can be accompanied by so many stressful things that you are unable to enjoy your trip. Because of this, Short Term Housing has listed a few of the most common and stressful travel experiences, how to avoid them, and how to deal if a situation if it’s simply unavoidable.

Lost Luggage

How To Avoid It

• Be waiting for your bags. Get to baggage claim as quickly as possible
• Lock your bag. People are far less likely to steal a suitcase or bag that is locked
• Rip off tags with old fight info on them

How To Deal With It

• Pack the essentials in your carry on bag
• Tape a card with your name and address to the inside and outside of your bags with a copy of your itinerary (there is a chance someone will read and return it during your trip)
• Report your lost bags immediately

Forgotten/Lost Passport

How To Avoid It

• Have a photocopy of your passport kept somewhere separate from your actual passport
• Email a scanned copy of your passport to yourself so you can pull it up at your embassy when they ask you to prove who you are.

How To Deal With It

• Get to your embassy or consulate
• Prove who you are with your hand copy

Frozen Credit Card/Unable to get your money

How To Avoid It

• Tell your bank and credit card company where you are traveling to, so your card won’t be shut down because they think it’s been stolen
• Ask your bank for an additional inactivated debit card that you can activate from the road, should you lose yours.

How To Deal With It

• Try a different ATM
• Email Money Orders
• Western Union

Getting Sick/Injured

How To Avoid It:

• Eat healthy
• Bring a travel medical kit
• Find time to exercise
• Get enough sleep
• Buy travel insurance and carry the card in your wallet

How To Deal With It

• Read this great blog about what to do if injured abroad by Monica Tan

As a landlord, we all know how important it is to properly screen a tenant. An important part of that screening process is checking the potential tenants references? But what sort of questions do you need to ask these references? What necessary information do you need to gather? Short Term Housing has created a guide to help you check the references of potential tenants and make the screening process go that much smoother.

First things first

When writing up your rental application form leave space to write in mane and contact information for the former landlord or management company and workplace references. The form should also include the applicant’s supervisor’s name and annual salary.

The Release

You must obtain written authorization from the tenant to complete a rental, employment, background, and credit verification. You can easily do this by including something along the lines of: “I acknowledge the information provided is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and I herby authorize ‘your name’ to use the information provided in order to complete a background check verifying renal history and employment.”

Questions to Ask the References

The Pervious Landlord Reference

• Did they pay the rent on time?
• Did they have any pets?
• Were there any complaints from tenants?
• Did they cause any major damage to the home?
• Would you rent to this tenant again?
• Have they been evicted?

The Workplace References

Workplace references are generally going to end up going to the human resources department of any larger company. Now the workplace will most likely be very limited on the amount of information they can give you. But you can request information such as:

• When did they employee start?
• What is their position?
• Are they part time or full time?
• What is their current pay rate?
• Do they show up on time?
• Do they call in sick very often?

Are you tired of trite travels? Are you seeking incomparable experiences? Then follow along as Short Term Housing guides you through our favorite unique destinations and activities throughout the world.

Amman, Jordan

Amman is the capital and the largest city of Jordan. Amman is a modern city with ancient roots. Built on seven hills, the city is sprinkled with sights ranging from Roman times to the days the Islamic civilization.

Top Unique Activity: Swimming In the Dead Sea

Found deep in the Jordan valley, the Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth, and the world’s richest source of natural salts. Because the salt content is four times that of most world’s oceans you can float in the Dead Sea without even trying. This is the only place in the world where you can recline on the water to read a magazine. This is a truly unique experience not to be missed.

Berlin

With low rent beckoning artists, musicians, and bohemians Berlin is in the midsts of an artistic explosion. Berlin’s culture is booming with performances, parties, and art work. Not to mention the history to be found there, Berlin

Top Unique Activity:Badeschiff (‘Bathing ship’)

A former river barge converted into a swimming pool anchored in the spree river. When night falls this funky swimming pool transforms yet again into an alfresco night club dotted with saunas casting a mystic glow over the club.

Dubai

Incredible, futuristic, creative, and daring are all words that can be used to describe Dubai. Dubai is a city of dreams in the future. This cities’s rapid growth has surpassed the world as a whole. Dubai is a world all of its own with architecture and possibilities that seem to be light years ahead of any other city in existence.

Top Unique Activity: Dune Rides

If you are the type of person that like adventure, then you will love dune bashing or dune rides on 4-wheel drive SUVs on the Dubai beaches.

Boston

Known for its vibrant neighborhoods and enriching history, Boston is one of the oldest cities in the United States. Boston is regarded as the unofficial capital of New England for its cultural impact on the New England region. Boston is also known as a center for both higher education and medicine.

Top Unique Activity: Whale Watching

Visitors can hop aboard the Boston Whale Watch, for a brilliant three hour experience. With three outside decks, cushioned seatings, a state of the art sounds system, and a gallery - whale watching is one of the most incredible experiences Boston has to offer.