Rather than just jetting off, there are certain things that you have to wind up before you go, such as:

• Electricity and Water – be sure that all the bills have been paid and that your providers have a forwarding address for you in case they need to refund any deposits.
• Landlord – make sure the place is spick and span, otherwise you may lose some of your deposit.
• Shipping – just as with when you initially arrived, the more notice you can give the removal/relocation company, the better.
• Sell your home contents – sometimes easier (and cheaper) than shipping them. The thing about New York is that it’s often just one big bargain bucket, so your trash is another person’s treasure. Check out www.craigslist.org or eBay as a good way to shift your gear. If you’ve got some outdoor space and the weather is nice you can even make a day of it and have a yard sale - these are very popular and it’s always fun to chat to people and tell them the stories behind your knick-knacks.