Moving to Singapore

[Movingout]

Can anyone give us some advice?

My husband has been offered a job at Stansfield College starting in September 2010. Neither of us has ever been to Singapore and the prospect of moving is daunting. The College is in Middle Road, which is District 7 I think.

Where would be a good place to look for rented accommodation - bearing in mind we have 2 cats which we will be taking with us? We will have some furniture to take, but will probably need something either partially furnished or non- furnished. As I said we really don't have any idea and time is passing.

Any and all advice is welcome.

[Strong Eagle]

You really should spring for the cash and come look at what you are getting into. It's a great place to live and far more different than you can imagine if you have never seen it.

You will do yourselves a service by coming over on a fact finding mission prior to your final transfer. You'll learn a lot, maybe meet some folks that can help.

Finding a place remotely is hard enough when you know the city, rental agent and how things work. I could not imagine moving to a city and securing accommodation without having seen it first.

[Splatted]

Finding a place remotely is hard enough when you know the city, rental agent and how things work. I could not imagine moving to a city and securing accommodation without having seen it first.

too many horror stories, to try and attempt this remotely.

I personally would be asking the employer for assistance. They may organize (or have ideas about) temporary accommodation until you get settled and find something suitable.

[irvine]

Do make a trip to Singapore first and visit Stansfield (as well as potential housing) before uprooting and moving here.

[x9200]

Do make a trip to Singapore first and visit Stansfield (as well as potential housing) before uprooting and moving here.

It always help somehow but on more realistic ground how likely is it that she will discover something really important for them to decide? Hot unbearable weather maybe? Uprooting is a strong word but this is what majority of the expats experience moving here on local terms. I also don't know why everybody assumed they have to decide where to live before they actually come to SG. If this is the case then this would be very weird as a common practice is to place such newcomers in some temporary accommodation typically for a period between few days to one month. This is enough to find something reasonable if one did some homework before coming and looks like OP is doing it. So IMHO if there is time and money the trip may only help but if not possible to come it should not be a tragedy.
My 7 cents.

[irvine]

I mean uprooting as moving everything and everyone all the way to Singapore for a job. In any of such case, it better be for a good job.

And a visit to Singapore, especially if the couple hasn't been here before, is a good advise if they can afford it.

That being said, the underlying meaning is... it is not nice to uproot, come here, get disappointed with things not working out as it should be, and go back again. I'm saying this in general, not specifically to any individual or company.

[x9200]

Irvine, I understand this I simply doubt whether you will find the answer to your questions during such visit.