So you’ve spent a bit of time in The Bahamas, you’ve realised Bahamas vacation rentals are stunning, and you’ve finally made the decision to move here so you can experience the beauty of this place every day. While your move to this incredibly beautiful part of the world could be the best decision you’ve ever made, there are a few things you may wish to know before you get here.
The Cost of Living is Quite High
The cost of living in this part of the world is quite high. For example, electricity can be very expensive, and if you’re not careful your monthly bill can be almost as high as your rent. When you’re looking for a place to live, one of the best things you can do is ask how much electricity tends to cost. Knowing how much you will need to pay will give you an indication as to the size and type of property you can rent.
The good news is that you can keep your electricity bill low if you know how to manage your air conditioning unit properly. This can take a bit of practice, but once you’ve acclimatised to the hot weather, you may find that you don’t need to use your A/C unit as much as you once did. One trick is to try to keep all of your curtains and blinds closed on hot days as this can help to keep your home cooler, and will, therefore, save you money on your electricity bill.
You May Need a Degree
If you plan on living and working in The Bahamas, you should be aware that there’s a lot of competition for jobs, especially if you’re not native to this part of the world. If you want to be in with a chance of getting a job, you’ll need to prove yourself. This means you should ideally have a degree that’s somehow related to the area of work that you want to be in.
You may also want to think about getting some valuable work experience in your chosen profession before you come to The Bahamas. If you already have experience in your chosen profession, you may be in with a chance of finding work.
One of the best things you can do before you move to The Bahamas is to find work. This is because you will need a work permit and your future employer will have to apply for one. So start looking for work as soon as you can, and you’ll be in with a better chance of finding a job.
Furnished Rental Properties
Not a lot of people are aware that rental properties in this part of the world tend to be furnished. This ultimately means that you won’t need to bring all of your furniture with you unless you really want to. If you don’t want to rent a furnished property, you may have to search long and hard for somewhere unfurnished, as they can be quite few and far between.
If you do manage to land yourself an unfurnished property, you may want to think about bringing your furniture with you, or purchasing new furniture from the United States. This is because you’ll have a lot more choice, and some American companies are happy to ship furniture to The Bahamas.
If you do decide to ship things from the United States to The Bahamas, you will have to be prepared to pay customs duty. When you’re filling out a customs form, itemise anything and everything you have purchased as this can save you a bit of cash. You may also need to hire someone in The Bahamas to help you move the belongings that you bring with you. The good news is that hiring a removal service doesn’t tend to cost too much, but this all depends on what you’re bringing with you, and how much.
Gaining Permanent Residency
If you would like to go the whole hog and gain permanent residency you will need to prove that you can support yourself financially, without having to work. For some people, this may mean that they will never be a permanent resident of The Bahamas. However, if you are fortunate enough to own a property that is worth at least $250K, you can apply for annual residency. If you own a property that’s worth at least $500K, you will instantly be eligible for permanent residency. Lastly, if you own a property that’s worth more than $1.5 million or you have invested in something that’s valued at $1.5 million your application process will be sped up.
Sending Children to School
If you are bringing your children to The Bahamas with you, you may wish to know that some government-run schools are considered to be quite basic. If you would like your children to get the best education possible you should consider moving to Freeport in Grand Bahama or New Providence in Nassau as some of the best schools are located in these areas. Alternatively, you may want to consider homeschooling your children as this could assure your children of a good education.
As you can see, there are quite a few things that you need to consider before you move to The Bahamas. Although this may seem like a lot for you to deal with, the sooner you deal with all of these issues, the better as you’ll then be able to sit back, relax, and enjoy life in The Bahamas.
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