SELLING Everything We Own & Moving to Portugal! … But What Do We Keep? (Moving Abroad Vlog)

We’re tackling the massive job of sorting through our garage as we prepare for our big move to Portugal. It’s quite overwhelming looking at all the boxes and items we’ve accumulated over the years, but we’re determined to get organised.

Our plan is simple but requires a lot of work. We’re dividing everything into different groups – items to sell at a garage sale, things to give to family members, rubbish to take to the dump, and a small selection to take with us to Portugal. Some of Brett’s tools will be stored at the plumbing shop until we decide on our permanent housing situation there.

Key Takeaways

• We’re organising our garage into sections for selling, keeping, and discarding as we prepare to move to Portugal.

• We’ve successfully opened a Portuguese bank account which required proof of funds and address verification.

• We’re setting up a garage sale system right in our garage so buyers can browse items without us having to move everything outside each time.

Garage Organisation and Decluttering

We’re tackling the garage today and going through all our boxes. We’ve got items heading to different places – some going to family, some to sell, and some to the dump. We’re trying to decide what we need to sell and what we’re taking with us when we move.

Most of our belongings won’t be coming with us. We’re boxing up power tools and other items to store at the plumbing shop. We’ll probably buy new tools when we get there rather than transport everything.

Grouping and Sorting Items

We’ve been emptying boxes and organising them into different spaces throughout the garage. Each area serves a specific purpose for our sorting process.

Our sorting system includes:

• Items to keep and take with us

• Things to sell

• Belongings for family members

• Items heading to the dump

The first box we packed is going to Portugal. We’ve got empty boxes ready for packing up items or reloading them back onto the racks. We’re making steady progress even though it doesn’t look like much at first glance.

Organising Children’s Items

We’ve gone through all the children’s shoes and sorted them into categories. This took quite a bit of time but was necessary.

Our shoe sorting process:

• Packed up shoes they’re keeping

• Pulled out shoes for summer wear

• Set aside shoes for selling

The kids have also brought items into the garage that need clearing out. We’re helping them decide what to keep and what to let go of as part of the whole process.

Creating Selling Displays

We’ve set up our selling station like a little shop in the garage. Instead of hauling everything out onto the drive each time, people can come and browse in the garage itself.

We’ve organised items into display areas:

• Shoe section – all footwear for sale

• General items – other household belongings

• Tools – separate area for equipment

This setup lets us have a garage sale by simply opening the garage door. We’re also taking pictures of items to list on marketplace for online sales. Our basketball net was one of the first items to sell this way.

Tool and Equipment Storage

We’re being selective about which tools to keep accessible. We’re taking one tool bag and a couple of drills in case we need them at the rental property.

Our tool organisation plan:

• Keep essential tools in a portable bag

• Store remaining tools at the shop

• Retrieve tools later when we buy a house

All the boxes of screws, nails for nail guns, and other hardware are being stored rather than sold. The value of replacing these items would cost more than storing them temporarily.

We’ve organised tools so everything has its place until we decide on our permanent location. The people buying the house are helping by taking empty boxes to use for their own move.

Getting Ready for Our Move

Choosing What to Keep, Sell, or Store

We’re tackling the garage today to sort through all our belongings. It’s quite a task, but we need to decide what comes with us and what stays behind.

We’ve created different areas for our items:

• Items to keep: Things we’ll take to Portugal

• Items to sell: Everything that goes to our garage sale area

• Items to store: Tools and valuable items we’ll leave at the plumbing shop

The children have loads of shoes we’re going through. We’ve packed up the ones they’re keeping and pulled out shoes they’ll wear this summer. The rest are going in our selling pile.

Our sorting system looks like this:

• Empty boxes for repacking

• A selling station set up like a little shop

• One special box marked “going to Portugal”

• Storage boxes for the plumbing shop

We’re making the garage into a proper selling space. Instead of dragging everything onto the drive each time, people can come browse in the garage. We’ve got a little shoe section and displays for different items.

Preparing Items for Storage and Transport

We’re getting organised with our packing strategy. All the empty boxes are going back on the shelf once we’ve sorted through them.

For our tools, we’re planning to:

• Take one tool bag with us

• Pack a couple of drills for the rental property

• Store everything else at the plumbing shop until we buy a house

We reckon the cost of shipping our tools and supplies would be more than what it would cost to replace them. Things like boxes of screws, nails for the nail gun, and other hardware are worth keeping in storage.

The items we’re storing include power tools and equipment that would be expensive to replace. We’ll probably need tools eventually, but we might buy new ones when we’re settled.

Supporting the New Homeowners with Their Move

The people buying our house are coming tomorrow to collect the empty boxes. They can fill them up and start loading their belongings straightaway.

We’re helping them by:

• Providing empty boxes for their packing

• Letting them use our storage solutions

• Trying to reduce their storage costs

They mentioned having to pay for storage, so we’re doing what we can to help them avoid that expense. It’s a win-win situation since they’re letting us stay here for a few months.

We’re also organising everything so they can easily use the garage space. Once garage sale season starts, we can just open the garage door and have everything ready for buyers.

We’re taking pictures of items to list on marketplace as well. We’ve already listed our basketball net and someone’s coming to collect it. This helps clear space and gets things sold before we leave.

Preparing for Your Garage Sale

Setting Your Prices and Handling Bargaining

When we set up our selling station, we think of it like running a small shop. We practise our negotiations by imagining customers coming in and asking for lower prices.

For example, if we price something at £15, buyers might offer £3. We need to be ready to counter with £8, then settle somewhere around £4. This back-and-forth is normal at garage sales.

Key pricing tips:

• Start higher than your minimum price

• Be prepared to negotiate down

• Know your bottom line before you start

• Practice your responses to low offers

Setting Up Your Sales Space

We organize our garage so people can browse easily without us having to move everything outside each time. This saves us loads of work.

We create different sections for different items. Our shoe section has all the footwear we’re selling displayed together. This makes it easier for customers to find what they want.

Organization tips:

• Group similar items together

• Make clear pathways for customers

• Keep your best items at eye level

• Use empty boxes to organize displays

Posting Items Online

We take photos of our items to list on marketplace sites. This helps us sell things before the actual garage sale day.

We’ve already had success with this approach. When we listed our basketball net online, someone came to collect it quickly.

Online selling steps:

1. Take clear photos of each item

2. Write honest descriptions

3. Set fair prices

4. Respond to messages promptly

Making Your Items Look Their Best

We lay everything out properly so customers can see what we’re offering. Good displays make people more likely to buy.

We use empty boxes and shelves to create attractive arrangements. Each section looks organized and welcoming.

Display ideas:

• Use tables or shelves when possible

• Keep items clean and tidy

• Make price tags clearly visible

• Group items by type or colour

Cleaning and Safety

Power Washing the Garage Floor

We noticed the garage floor really needs a good clean. It’s quite dirty and would benefit from a thorough power wash. The concrete has built up dirt and grime over time from storing boxes and equipment.

A power washer will help remove all the stains and debris. This will make the space look much better for organising everything. We want to get the floor completely clean before we finish sorting through all our belongings.

Ensuring a Safe Environment for Children

We’re keeping a close eye on the children whilst working in the garage. The area can be dangerous with boxes everywhere and tools lying about.

Safety measures we’re taking:

• Keeping the children away from the drive

• Watching them carefully when they’re near the garage

• Making sure they don’t wander into unsafe areas

• Having them stay close to us whilst we work

Penelope wants to help, but we need to make sure she stays in safe areas. The drive can be particularly dangerous with cars coming and going.

Addressing Security Concerns

We’ve had some security problems recently. Someone tried to break into our car and smashed the window. This happened on a Monday evening when we went out for a birthday dinner.

We came back to find the car window completely broken. It wasn’t a great end to the evening celebration. This has made us more aware of security around the property.

The garage itself is quite exposed with all our belongings visible. We’re being more careful about what we leave out and when we have the garage door open for extended periods.

Daily Home Tasks and Life

Handling Family Duties

We’re working through loads of family jobs together. The children need to sort their belongings, and we all have different tasks to complete. Everyone brings their own stuff to organise, and we need to decide what stays and what goes.

All the kids’ shoes required proper sorting. We packed shoes they want to keep in one box and pulled out summer shoes they’ll wear soon. The rest went to our selling area.

Family Task List:

• Children’s belongings sorting

• Shoe organisation and packing

• Summer clothing selection

• Item categorisation

Setting up our Portuguese bank account needed paperwork from both of us. We had to show proof we had enough money and provide our address details. This took time away from other family tasks.

Choosing Key Equipment

We’re being selective about which tools to take with us. Brett’s planning to pack one tool bag and a couple of drills for any work we might need at the rental property.

Tools We’re Taking:

• Tool bag

• Two drills

• Basic essentials only

Most of our equipment will go to the shop for storage. This includes boxes of screws and nails for the nail gun. We worked out that buying all these items new would cost more than storing them.

All the power tools and specialist equipment will stay at the shop until we decide on our next house purchase. Then we’ll bring everything out again.

Organising Storage Systems

We’ve created different areas for everything. Empty boxes sit ready for packing, and we’ve set up spaces like a small shop display.

Our Storage Areas:

• Selling station – Items priced for sale

• Keep box – First box going to Portugal

• Empty boxes – For repacking items

• Display areas – Shoes and other items

The garage sale setup means we can open the garage door and let people browse without moving everything outside each time. We’ve made little displays so customers can see what’s available.

People buying the house will collect empty boxes tomorrow to fill with their belongings. This helps them avoid paying for storage whilst helping us clear space.

We’re taking photos of items to list on marketplace as well. The basketball net sold quickly after we listed it online.

Relocating to Portugal

Setting Up a Portuguese Bank Account

We now have a Portuguese bank account, which was quite exciting to get sorted. The requirements for opening a Portuguese bank account were quite specific.

We had to show payslips proving we had enough money to open one. The bank also required us to have money in our UK bank account to demonstrate we had funds to support ourselves for a year.

Required Documents:

• Payslips showing sufficient income

• Bank statements proving financial stability

• Proof of address from our current UK residence

We’re not entirely sure why all this was required just for a bank account, but these were the particular requirements from the bank we chose.

Meeting Residency Requirements

We’re currently preparing for our move whilst staying in our house for a few more months. The people buying our house are letting us remain here temporarily, which helps us get organised properly.

We’ve been sorting through all our belongings to decide what we’ll take with us. Most items won’t be coming to Portugal, but we’re carefully selecting what we actually need.

Some of our belongings will be stored at the plumbing shop until we decide where we’re buying a house. This includes tools and equipment that would cost more to replace than to ship later.

Organising Proof of Address and Finances

Getting our financial documentation sorted was essential for the bank account application. We had to provide proof of our UK address as part of the requirements.

The bank needed to see evidence that we could support ourselves financially for a full year. This meant showing both our income through payslips and our savings through bank statements.

We’re now working on organising all our possessions before the move. We’ve set up different areas for items we’re:

• Taking to Portugal

• Selling at garage sales

• Storing temporarily

• Giving away

This organisation helps us prepare for the transition whilst ensuring we have proper documentation of our UK residence and financial situation.

Local Food and Family Outings

Exploring the Italian Centre

We decided to visit the Italian Centre on a Sunday morning since it was the only place open that serves pastéis de nata. Brett woke us up early asking for these Portuguese tarts and a cup of tea. After having our showers, we headed out with Penny to see if we could get some fresh, warm ones.

We arrived around 9:00 AM hoping they would be warm and fresh. Usually when we go in the evening right before closing, they’re cold. When we got there, they had some out but we asked if they had any fresh ones. They packed us some that were just made.

Price: £12 for six pastéis de nata

The warmth was already a good sign. These looked really nice and much better than the cold ones we normally get.

Reviewing Pastéis de Nata

These pastéis de nata were definitely the best ones we’ve had. The fact that they were warm and just came out of the oven made all the difference.

We could feel the warmth on our faces as we held them. Brett originally wanted to get 12 but they only had five fresh ones available.

Rating: 11 out of 10

The warmth transformed the entire experience. When they’re fresh from the oven, you can really taste why these Portuguese tarts are so special.

Sharing Family Meals

We sat together at the Italian Centre enjoying our warm pastéis de nata as a family. Penny wanted to have one straight away, but we told her she had to eat her proper food first.

It felt lovely to take a break from all the garage work and enjoy something delicious together. These moments of sharing food as a family are important, especially when we’re busy with preparing for our move.

The Italian Centre became our Sunday morning treat spot. Even though we don’t normally eat out much, having these special pastéis de nata together made it worth the trip.

Progress and Reflections

Hurdles of Clearing Out

Getting through all our stored items has been quite the task. We’ve been working through boxes in the garage, sorting everything into different piles. Some things are going to my sister’s house, others need to be sold, and plenty is heading straight to the dump.

The garage floor needs a proper pressure wash and clean. We’ve also had to deal with our car window being smashed when someone tried to break in. That happened on my birthday, right after we’d been out for a lovely dinner.

Setting up our Portuguese bank account brought its own challenges. We had to show payslips proving we had enough funds to open the account. The bank also required proof that we had money in our UK account to support ourselves for a year. We needed to provide proof of address for where we live here as well.

Making Steady Progress

We’ve been at this for several days now, and whilst it might not look like much has changed, we’re actually getting somewhere. Day one brought us four empty boxes from sorting through all the children’s shoes. We’ve packed up the shoes they’re keeping and pulled out what they’ll wear this summer.

We’ve set up different areas in the garage:

• Selling station – like a little shop where people can browse

• Keep box – our first box that’s actually going to Portugal

• Empty boxes – for packing or reloading onto the racks

The people buying our house are coming to collect the empty boxes tomorrow. They can fill them with their belongings and start loading, which should help them avoid paying for storage. Since they’re letting us stay for a few months, we want to help them out as well.

Brett’s been organising his tools. He’s taking a tool bag and a couple of drills with him, just in case we need anything at the rental. Everything else is going to the plumbing shop until we decide where we’re buying a house.

Looking Forward to the Move

We’re setting everything up so that when garage sale season happens, we can simply open the garage door and have our sale ready to go. I’m also taking pictures of items to list on marketplace. We’ve already listed our basketball net and someone’s coming to collect it.

Brett’s got boxes of screws and different bits, plus nails for a nail gun. He reckons the cost of getting it all and buying it new would probably be more than the cost of shipping these items over.

We’ve organised the garage so people can browse through our items without us having to haul everything out onto the drive each time. There’s still the storage area up top that we built last year – we need to pull all that stuff out to sell as well.

It’s not the most exciting project, but it’s one that has to be done. We’re almost there now, and each day brings us closer to being ready for Portugal.