Dear all,

After five years here, we're moving home. Didn't think this day would come so quickly...some questions:

1. Worried that we're going to have trouble getting our security deposit (2 months rent) back from our landlord. This is our money (not my company's). There's about a 2 week window between our moving out date and when we're leaving. If he drags his feet, puts up a fuss we may have no choice but to go, so time is on his side. Any tips?

2. Recommendations for shipping company back to the US? No furniture just a lot of boxes of books, personal items, etc.

3. We have about 2 weeks between leaving our apartment and leaving China. Looked into Grand Gateway and SH Center but neither accommodate stays < than 1 month. We have three kids so a hotel room is small and would prefer some sort of service apartment. Recommendations?

4. Any other tips about moving home and repatriating would be appreciated........

Thanks....not a regular poster but have always appreciated the community here.

It's pot luck on the security deposit. Some landlords are very reasonable, many are greedy and will screw you but I can't see what you can do other than withhold the last month's rent to minimise your exposure but it may be too late for that I guess.

3) Try this place http://www.apartotel.cn/home.asp?gclid= ... 4godZAlbwg AFAIK they do short term rentals

4) If you are returning to your comp HQ, you might asked them for repatriation consultancy... some big companies offer that in order to ease you back in to your daily live back home... since it is another culture shock. Just saying.

try La Residence, 98 Zhen ning Lu. Know some people who used this place for 2 weeks when they had family visiting from Europe. Understand they do short term.

shexpat4now wrote:Dear all,

After five years here, we're moving home. Didn't think this day would come so quickly...some questions:

2. Recommendations for shipping company back to the US? No furniture just a lot of boxes of books, personal items, etc.
Recommendations?

first buy 12 boxes 60 x 40 x 50 cm

pack everything in these boxes, make a packing list

then contact

Pat Belson
Moving Division Manager
Tel: ++86 21 5422 5488 x 22
Mbl: ++86 1390 1766 213

cost will be abt. 45 RMB/kg

restrictions: no food, no liquids, no washing powder, no cleaning products, no medicines, no glue, no batteries, ...

shexpat4now wrote:Dear all,

After five years here, we're moving home. Didn't think this day would come so quickly...some questions:

1. Worried that we're going to have trouble getting our security deposit (2 months rent) back from our landlord. This is our money (not my company's). There's about a 2 week window between our moving out date and when we're leaving. If he drags his feet, puts up a fuss we may have no choice but to go, so time is on his side. Any tips?

Just stop paying rent now.
When will the 2 week window start ?

realtrueblue wrote:Just stop paying rent now.
When will the 2 week window start ?

Our lease ends June 15th and we're leaving July 1st. So I guess we could just stop paying rent May and June and just hope he doesn't call the cops to come kick us out in those two months....does that ever happen?

realtrueblue wrote:

first buy 12 boxes 60 x 40 x 50 cm

pack everything in these boxes, make a packing list

then contact

Pat Belson
Moving Division Manager
Tel: ++86 21 5422 5488 x 22
Mbl: ++86 1390 1766 213

cost will be abt. 45 RMB/kg

restrictions: no food, no liquids, no washing powder, no cleaning products, no medicines, no glue, no batteries, ...[/quote]

Which company is this? Can anyone vouch for them?