By Brett Corlett | Soft Landing Podcast – Episode 2
Why Planning Matters When Immigrating
Welcome back to the Soft Landing podcast blog! If you haven’t read or listened to Episode 1 yet, I’d encourage you to check it out first it gives you context on who I am, why I’m doing this, and what we as a family have gone through during our immigration to New Zealand.
In this post, I want to talk about the critical importance of having a project plan when you’re preparing to move countries. It may sound a bit formal, but trust me when you’re trying to uproot your entire life, a structured approach will help you stay sane.
Why You Need a Project Plan
When I got the job offer that would bring our family to Auckland, everything suddenly became very real. That job offer triggered a massive to-do list. From selling our home and vehicles to sorting out pensions, kids’ schooling, and even buying a car in New Zealand there was just so much to think about.
We quickly realized that we needed to treat this move like a project complete with tasks, timelines, dependencies, and a risk budget.
Key Areas to Plan For
Selling Your Home
- We listed our house before the job offer came in.
- Once it became official, we pushed to close the deal quickly.
- We negotiated hard especially to avoid ‘subject to sale’ conditions from our buyer.
- ✅ Tip: Consider including furniture or appliances in the home sale to simplify your logistics.
Vehicles & Big-Ticket Items
- We sold our boat early to reduce pressure during the final weeks.
- Kept one car until the day before we flew out, we sold it through a trusted dealer.
- ✅ Tip: Build strong relationships with dealers early, and explore flexible options for last-minute sales.
What to Take With You
- We opted for a half-container and prioritized sentimental and irreplaceable items.
- Everything else beds, fridges, electronics, we sold or donated.
- ✅ Tip: Sentimental items can help you and your kids adjust more easily once you arrive.
Managing Money
- We cashed in pensions, savings, and investments gradually.
- Worked with a financial advisor to align our cash flow with our plan.
- Kept emergency funds accessible via South African credit cards and overdrafts.
- ✅ Tip: Create a risk buffer for unexpected costs (you will have them).
Renting in New Zealand
- Friends helped us view properties remotely.
- We secured a rental while still overseas, but it got flooded before we arrived.
- ✅ Tip: Book a short-term rental or Airbnb first, then secure a long-term place in person.
Buying a Car in NZ Before Arrival
- We bought from a dealership and had friends inspect it.
- The dealer delivered the car to our hotel; it was ready the day we landed!
- ✅ Tip: Avoid Japanese import models unless you’re familiar with the tech/language differences.
Booking Flights
- We flew business class due to limited availability, it cost us a lot.
- ✅ Tip: Don’t book flights until your visas are confirmed.
- ✅ Bonus Tip: Try to land in NZ during the daytime to avoid late-night arrival chaos!
What Went Wrong (and How We Adapted)
– House buyer almost pulled out, we had to renegotiate quickly.
– One of our luggage bags was mistakenly taken at Auckland airport, stressful, but labeling helped.
– Our pre-arranged rental was flooded just days before our arrival. We had to scramble for new accommodation.
– Our daughter’s first-ever flight was 30 hours long… and we landed exhausted at midnight.
But here’s the thing: We made it through all because we had a plan, a backup budget, and support from friends.
Final Thoughts
Immigrating is not easy, but with the right planning and mindset, you can give your family a much softer landing. Here are my closing tips:
- ✔️ Build a project plan with task streams and deadlines
- ✔️ Track your budget including a generous risk buffer
- ✔️ Accept that things will go wrong and stay flexible
- ✔️ Lean on your support system and do your research
- ✔️ Download my Free first 30 day in New Zealand checklist https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfgyKOW9nEyQis7FmVjJ_6mFaZ5P1LglbNAytOLDYpI8miduQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=112837948330544769666
Listen to the Full Episode
🎧 Soft Landing Podcast – Episode 2
Soft Landing Podcast
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