Tips on making a successful move to the Alps

Not everyone who buys a property in the Swiss and French Alps is doing so with just holidays in mind, for some the move is a permanent one....If you’ve decided to make the move to the Alps you’ve probably got hundreds of practical questions. It’s an exciting decision, but one that requires quite a lot of thought and planning to pull off successfully – read on for some of our tip tips on moving to the Alps!

Declutter while you do it

It’s rare for us to ever be afforded the opportunity to declutter in such a way as a big house move allows, and you’ve got the best excuse ever to get rid of trinkets, ornaments and items of furniture that don’t get used.

Keep what’s important to you and get rid of the rest – Switzerland and France have IKEA too, so you can pick up bits of furniture once you’re installed in your new home, giving you a fresh start and saving you money on removal costs.

Putting the children first

As stressful as a move is for anyone, if you’re moving countries with kids then they’re going to find it pretty tough. The younger your little ones, the more easily they’ll pick up a language – under fives will probably be very happy in a local nursery school or childminder’s.

For older kids you might want to consider enrolling them in an international school to help their integration and language schools – you can always transfer them to a school where the local language is spoken at a later date.

Think about visits home

When you’re choosing a location for your move to the Alps, think about location. Not just where you’d like to live, but where it’s easy to access the place you have previously called home should you plan to go back for visits, whether it’s by air, rail or car.

It’s always nice to make sure your friends and family can visit easily and vice versa, especially when you’ve got young children who parents and family are sure to want to see often.

If you’re looking for a chalet or an apartment in the Alps, take a look at our wide portfolio of property in ski resorts including Chatel, Meribel, Courchevel, Megeve , La Tzoumaz and Haute Nendaz.

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