Putting Boots On The Ground

By this stage, you should have a good idea where you’d like to go and what you’d like to do there. Perhaps your attention has been caught by more than one destination, and you’re deliberating between two or three places.

The next step is to go to see each of them yourself.

In these 40 lessons, we’re walking you through the thinking, planning, and researching you need to do to prepare to launch your new life in Europe. It’s all here—everything you need to consider, every step you need to take.

Except one. At some point, you’ve got to get on a plane. We can’t do that for you in one of these daily lessons. That, the on-the-ground scouting, you’ve got to do yourself. And you need now to make a plan for it.

How will you choose, ultimately, from among all the choices for where you could reinvent your life? How will you know if any particular location suits you… or not?

You’ll just know. As soon as you’re on the ground, sometimes within 24 hours of stepping off the plane, you’ll know. In your gut. A place will feel right… or it won’t.

Pay attention to this instinctive reaction to anywhere you’re considering. It’s as important (perhaps more so) than all the research you’re carrying out. A place can make perfect sense on paper but appeal not at all in person.

That’s OK. That’s why you need to take a trip to go see each place you’ve identified as perhaps holding out the lifestyle you seek.

Today we want to walk you through how to organize your scouting expeditions.

In each country that you visit, you should:

#1: Meet With….

• As many real estate agents as possible. Certainly you want to meet with more than one. Remember that European property markets operate without the benefit of a Multiple Listing Service. To get any real idea what’s available that might suit you (for rent or for sale), you need to meet with more than one agent.

When we arrived in Waterford, Ireland, all those years ago, luggage and then 8-year-old daughter in tow, we had a very clear picture of what we wanted our new Irish home to look like. We wanted a big, old, Georgian-style house with land around it for chickens and a garden, plus stables where Kaitlin could keep a pony. We checked into the Granville Hotel in the center of town, where we intended to stay while we carried out our property search, and went around the corner to visit the estate agents at O’Shea O’Toole. There, we described for Mr. O’Shea what we were in the market to buy.

He responded to tell us about two houses that fit our description. Neither interested us, so we asked what else was available. Nothing, he told us. That was it. These were the only two properties available in all of County Waterford that might suit us.

How could that be, we wondered? Finally, it occurred to us to try another agent. We got in touch with estate agent John Rohan, who, likewise, told us of two houses available that might suit us, but, we discovered, these were not the same two houses as those Mr. O’Shea had shown us. Mr. Palmer, down the street, showed us three houses, none the same as those we’d seen with Mr. O’Shea or Mr. Rohan. Then Desmond Purcell told us about three old Georgian-style houses for sale, one of which was the same as one of the houses that Mr. O’Shea had shown us weeks before—but, in Mr. Purcell’s listing book, the price tag was 10,000 pounds greater.

This is what it’s like to shop in a market without an MLS… and it’s the reason you’ve got to speak with as many real estate agents as possible. This is true not only when you’re in the market to buy a piece of real estate, but also (as we strongly recommend you do at first) when you’re shopping for a place to rent.

You’re not going to commit to a rental (or, certainly, a property purchase) during this initial scouting visit. Rather, use it as an opportunity to begin to get the lay of the land. What’s available for rent and for sale where at what price? You want as much input from as many different sources as possible, including…

• At least one attorney experienced working with non-locals. You’ll need an attorney’s help if and when you eventually decide to invest in purchasing a home of your own. We also recommend that you use an attorney to help you with your residency visa application process (if you intend to relocate full-time and, therefore, need a residency visa). Use this initial scouting trip as an opportunity to interview one or two attorneys you might eventually want to rely on for counsel.

• As many expats already settled in the place you’re considering as you can find. Again, this visit is about reconnaissance. You want to speak with as many different people and to listen to as many different real-life stories and points of view as possible. What do the expats already living in the place like about their new lives? What frustrates them? Are they happy with their choice? Why… or why not?

• At least one banker. Even if you’re not ready to begin the process of applying to open the local operating bank account that you’ll need in your new home, take time during your scouting expedition to visit at least one bank and to speak with at least one banker. Ask for complete details on what would be required from you to open an account with that institution. Some banks will have a formal list or even an information package for foreign account applicants. Take this away with you for future reference.

#2: Be A Tourist…

Your initial scouting expedition to each place you’re considering for your new life overseas should be part research and part fun. Allow yourself time to enjoy and get to know the destination as a tourist would. Choosing a new home overseas is something like choosing a mate. You want somewhere that suits you practically and realistically… that provides for every agenda item and priority on your checklist.

But you also want someplace that gets your blood flowing and sparks your imagination.

Someplace both supportive and sexy.

To that end, you should…

• Take a city tour… a bus trip… a boat ride… or an overland adventure (depending on the destination)…

• Dine out as often as possible, both in places where locals eat and others where expats gather…

• Go to the museums, stroll in the parks, linger in the cafés, golf, hike, fish, snorkel, dive, spelunk… watch the birds… watch the people…

#3: Pretend You’re Already A Resident…

During your scouting adventure in each location, spend time acting like a tourist… and, as well, invest time pretending you’re a local, doing the things you’d do if you lived there… such as…

• Go to at least one grocery store… see what’s on the shelves… compare pricing with back home…

• Spend an afternoon at the local shopping mall (if there is one)… looking at things you’d normally shop for (clothing, shoes, home furnishings, linens, kitchen utensils…)…

• Take public transportation or taxis to get places you’d ordinarily want to get to… the grocery store, the bank, the movie theater…

• Read the local paper if you can… at least the local advertising….

#4: Connect With The Existing Expat Community…

Even if you know that your plan is to live a very local life (in a local neighborhood, with locals for neighbors, shopping at the local markets, eating in the local dives), you still should take time to connect with the existing expat community if there is one. This will be your primary support group following your move, the folks you’ll turn to for answers to your questions to do with finding household help, sourcing household goods, shopping for furniture, planning your Friday nights…

Specifically….

• Search for local expat groups online and through social media. You’ll find plenty of general groups in practically every place you’d go in Europe, but you’re also likely to find lots of niche groups for special interests. Get involved (you can do this ahead of time—the sooner you start, the better)…
• Read the local English-language paper (if there is one). This will connect you with the activities and the interests of the expat community…

• Attend a meeting of the expat social group (again, if there is one). This is a great way to make English-speaking friends and contacts…

Now, we’ll share two checklists related to your scouting expedition(s)…

First, things to bring with you (in addition to the things you ordinarily bring with you on any international trip)…

Second, questions to ask while you’re in-country…