As I was working on my taxes yesterday many questions arose about how I’m going to handle my future income from overseas. No answers yet, but I do have orientation coordinators and am supposed to be assigned a “buddy” to help answer my questions. I do not consider myself a worrier, but these seem like worry-type questions to me. Anyway, I figured keeping track of them here might be a good thing. So here goes…
How do I move money from over there to my bank here to cover the bills here? Do I need to set up a separate account so that someone else can have access to it here? Will I be able to fit the stuff I want to keep, but not share with renters, in my storage here? What about the things the kids still have here? Where do those go? Are they really excited enough about my adventure that they don’t mind not having this place to come home to? Do I disconnect all utilities for renters to reconnect or try to include utilities in the rent? (I am SO NOT a landlord kind of person!) As you read this, if you think of any others, please feel free to put them in the comments.
allaboardforadventure 
Feb 18, 2013 @ 15:45:40
Talk to Gann and Dale. They have rented their home and they also dealt with monetary issues, don’t have # handy but they are in Rec directory!
Feb 18, 2013 @ 18:38:01
Disconnect all of the utilities. It just makes things more complicated and gives you additional exposure.
Put everything you want offsite or behind a lock.
Realize that even nice renters will not treat your home with the same level of care that you do.
Realize that you are giving your children the inspiration to follow their own dreams and the realization that places are nice, but memories are more important and people are more valuable than any place.
Love the adventure.
Feb 19, 2013 @ 00:59:36
Shut off the utilities and have renters put them in their own name. You should have someone here that is able to handle problems…broken appliances, leaks in the roof…etc….things happen and someone will need to be “in charge” locally.
Invite your kids to visit you!! That would be so exciting!!
Is this for a year? or longer????
Have fun!!
Feb 23, 2013 @ 20:54:08
Hey, Meg! This is a 2-year contract. I have definitely put the invite out to my kids.
Feb 19, 2013 @ 01:05:59
Hi Pam, We were in the states during VS but kept our bank account in Chapel Hill and authorized our daughter to sign checks as well. We included utilities in the rent because we didn’t want them cut off and a bad rep generated by renters. The first few years one of our kids was also on the premises so that made a difference. We stored lots of stuff in the attic, but you still have to have a level of trust with your renters. Hope it all works out well for you – very exciting!
Feb 19, 2013 @ 01:39:29
Mom! We are so excited for you and your new adventures!!! You can’t stay in that house forever, and it’s true – the memories are more important than the place. You will always be home for us, wherever you are.