Per-Move Visit 5/23

Not to step in on your post but I had the same question...

Our pre-move visit is on the 2nd of June. I've been thinking lately about what should be seen, who should be talked too, etc... A couple of questions to start. First, I know everybody who goes on the their pre-move visit looks for available housing, but I was wondering how many actually obtain their housing DURING their pre-move visit. I find it hard to believe that during the week of the 2nd a landlord will be willing to let me sign a lease for late September, am I wrong? I would also tend to think that the same goes for employers, where you may make contacts and connections, you won't be offered a position until you're permanintly on the island.

Next I am starting to create a checklist of things to do / see / checkout during the week, and I am open for any additions you may have.

*See the entire island and St John
*Banks
*DMV (Can I get my VI Liscence during my pre move visit?)
*Shipping companies
*Rentals & Job Openings
*Post Office
*Hospital
*UVI
*Marinas / Yacht Sales 😉

If anyone can think of any additions to this list please add them.

Thanks

Hello,
For most of the things you listed you will first need an address. I am moving in Aug. My husband is renting a one bedroom currently there until I move there. We need a three bedroom house/apartment. On my pre-move visit last weekend we did really well. You can find places that will be available later. We met with two different realtors/landlords. They showed us what was available now and told us what would be coming available in a few months. We found a three bedroom place that will be available in July which we might try to rent. It is a large step forward to come down on a visit and just get to know people, find answers to your questions, find out costs of food, and basically just find out how much money you need to move there and live there. We found it very productive and even made time to sunbathe in Magen's Bay. I found more information being there than I have time to write here. It is amazing how much you can learn in two short days being there than a month on the web. I mean, I found out that they carry the formula soy milk that my daughter needs and my Pantene shampoo. I would highly suggest a pre-move visit at anytime even months out from your move. It at least gives you time to save some more money when you find out how much you will need to live on when you get there.
My suggestion is to write down all your questions. When you get there, pick up an Island Trader and don't forget to have a cheeseburger in paradise (quoting Jimmy Buffett). Shipwreck in Havensight had good burgers! Good luck!
Teresa

Hello MLogan and Kyle,

Its a good idea to look at apartments while on your pre-move visit; you are coming to see if the islands are for you and finding an apartment you can afford and like is part of the settling in so definately check the housing aspect out. Even if you know you aren't moving for a month or two or five it gives you an idea of what apartments are like, neighborhoods, price range, whats out there. Kyle as far as signing a lease in June for late September... most apartments here are part of a home... most tenants give a little over 30 days notice... so likely the landlord of an available apartment in June will want you to pay for June, July and August if you want him/her to save it for you until September - I don't think its worth it for several reasons... you are out 4 months rent and if for some unforseen reason you postpone your trip well then its just a headache. Some condos and apartment landlords might know 4 months in advance their tenant is leaving but I don't think they would advertise it 4 months in advance but may; but again do you want to sign a lease and give deposits and then for some reason your trip gets pushed back a month or two. The huge apartment complexes that are found in the states with 500+ apartments in one development that have reps. that can show an example apartment all year round, with booklets/flyers with floor plans and sign leases months in advance... don't exist here. So I would say look, take names of areas you like down, take names and numbers for apartments you like- follow up with them in late Aug/Sept and see if the place is still open - it just may be and if not then once on island you can look for a place in the areas you liked.

As for jobs; depending on what the job is you may get a real positive response and a confirmation for a postion and be asked to follow up once you are back to stay and then you might also get not interested bye responses. Good to get out there though; seeing you in person will indicate your interest more than a fax or call and get you a more favorable response.

MLogan, UVI graduation is today so I am thinking the next couple of weeks the campus will be sparsely populated... before summer session gets started on June 14th that is. Not sure if you were interested in talking to professors and students or just walking around - but its something to keep in mind. You can still walk around, check out the classrooms, libarary ect.

Kyle, if you haven't asked Pam on the board 20 questions about yatching/marina/boat world in the VI you might do so. Depending on your number of days on island I would say think again about doing DMV/license unless you have lots of time (time to get an address which you need, to get the form and get it filled out at a physcian, go back to take the written...). UVI - same as above; you can look around but school will be out so you won't see many students or professors if you had been interested in talking with both.

Good Luck to both of you.

--Islander

MLogan and Kyle,

I just did my premove in April -- here's what I'd advise about your list of things to do on island.

Take researching shipping companies off of your on-island list. That can be done from the states by Internet and phone, and you're going to need to be near the belonging you wabnt to take in order to get a decent estimate. Be careful about the quotes you receive -- we started with an island-based company and got a quote back that didn't make sense at all given we were taking no furniture at all. We kept shopping, and three other bids came in at half of the first quote. There are a lot of companies here in the states that have relationships with on-island movers and can make door to door arrangements for you.

Research banks as thoroughly as you can before you go down, and use the tri[p to open an account instead. That way you'll be able to wire money directly into that account when you move, and will already have local checks and an ATM card when you arrive for good. Given that it takes a long time to cash mainland checks and money orders, having instant access to cash when you arrive will be invaluable for making phone and utility deposits, etc.

Add trips through the local grocery stores, KMart, and the Costs U Less so you can get a good idea of what they carrry and what the prices are. It will really help you figure out your budget.

Not sure why you couldn't get your driver's license on your premove, but it doesn't make sense to me to do so since you can use your mainland licesne for up to 90 days after you relocate. There's a lot ofrunning around associated with the test -- you get the form from DMV (for a fee), then have to go to a doc for a physical and eye exam, then take the form back to the DMV, where they give you the study book and schedule you for the written test. If you';re only there for a week, I think you'd be better off using that time to explore neighborhoods/areas where you want to live and potential employers, and save the DMV dance until you're actually moved..

I'd add trying out as many of the public transportation options as possible if you're not going to bring/buy a car. See if the cheap ones (like the safari taxi) run close to the neighborhoods you think you'd like to live in, and if you find them to be reliable. If you want to have acar on island instead, it may pay to check out prices for used cars on island and them compare them with the cost of buying used on the mainland and shipping (remember the taxes you pay in addition to shipping costs.)

We did secure housing on our pre,move -- bought a house two days into our trip -- but we're uncannily lucky and blessed by the fates and chose to go against the advice to rent before we bought. Will leave the real asnwer to that question to others. 🙂

Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy -- this premove trip is a very exciting part of the whole adventure!

HipCrip