Going Overseas? Leave Your Home in the Care of Those You Trust

Going Overseas? Some years ago I accepted an offer to work in China for several years. The time I spent there ended up being among the most fun and personally enlightening experiences I ever had. To read some things I have written about China, including some of my adventures there, click here. The very fact that you may be considering working overseas is admirable in itself. You are to be commended. But before taking the big step "over the pond", it helps to be clear on a few things - so as best to be prepared for the ride.

Inevitable Change

Of the larger and more obvious things that traveling overseas brings is its uncanny ability for changing your life. After all, why would you traveling - other than for a needed change of some kind? By physically relocating to another place, the inevitable fact is that everything will change. Make arrangements accordingly.

Personal Arrangements

With this in mind, start thinking about making personal arrangements of all kinds. Depending on how much "baggage" you work with at your home, these arrangements could amount to a few words of instruction to a friend with whom you entrust your pet cactus, to a pages-long list of intricate instructions given to a lawyer and/or a legal executor to pay mind during your absence.

No matter your situation, this discussion is intended to give you a start on a few ideas relevant to your travels.

Flying Solo?

Being the solo pilot in your life may lend much to being able to travel abroad with relative ease.

On the other hand, if you leave behind numerous unresolved issues that will stick to you like a thorn, perhaps you should rethink the whole travel issue. For example, if you own a home on a large property filled with gardens that you would usually tend to, you have to consider what care (if any) you would need to arrange.

Is this best left to someone else? Or do you need to stay behind for a little while more to tidy things up?

Your Property Left Behind

Assuming you are open to leaving your home in another's hands, there is much to consider here, too.

While you may be open to putting everything in mothballs and shoving them into storage, leaving your home empty and unattended may be impracticable - let alone dangerous. If your home is located in a urban area, leaving it unattended - even if for a few days - is an invitation for trouble. Vandals, thieves, or even uninvited tenants may make themselves at home in your home. Chances are, they won't take very good care of your property.

After an extended stay abroad you would wish to return to see your home in good shape. It only makes sense to leave your property in the care of someone whom you not only trust, but is also fully capable of caring for your property.

Relatives as Caretakers

Despite her best intentions in offering to fill the caretaker's spot in your absence, leaving your frail elderly mother to care for your property may prove to be too great a burden for her body to handle. On the other hand, in spite of being unable to care for your property by herself, there is opportunity in this, too. She may find this a great opportunity to invite trusted friends into the home to help pitch in on the housework and in tending the garden property. Assuming she enjoys gardening and the company of like-minded hobby friends, this would be a great opportunity for some friendship in healthy communal exercise.

Trusted Friends & Business Associates

If this arrangement doesn't work out, you could have a good friend or trusted business associate tend to your property in your absence. For nothing at all, next to nothing as payment you make to them, you may be able to easily arrange this. You may even be able to have them pay you instead!

In this scenario, you may offer to have your friend or colleague live in your house while paying a nominal monthly rent. In exchange for tending the property, you may make an arrangement in-kind through a reduced rent.

In the absence of a known and trusted caretaker, you may be able to have someone arrange to screen for and accept renters of your home in your absence. There are certain risks associated with this, so discuss them and be prepared for them.

Be certain to make arrangements for emergency home repairs. Secure commitments from trusted home repairmen (or -women) and, if possible, secure fixed rates for repairs of certain kinds as a way to help keep household expenses within budget.

Have Fun!

By drawing up well thought-out arrangements ahead of time, you can hop over the pond with greater ease, unfettered by some of the worldly responsibilities you left behind.