It may not be the first place that springs to mind when one thinks about moving abroad from the UK, but Morocco, at a mere 3.5 hours away is becoming a popular destination with those looking to get away and avoid well-trodden places such as France and Spain.

Morocco is a country bursting with tradition yet diversity, and has a culture to match. It is where Bob Reed proposed to his now wife, Sandra. They had fallen in love with the country almost as much as each other and vowed that one day they would buy a house there so that they could always visit.

After visiting a property show in the UK, the Reeds put the wheels into motion when they came across the Overseas Guides Company. Sandra remembers: “When we came across the OGC we hadn’t heard of them before, but the guides were very helpful indeed, as were the weekly newsletters. They had advice on moving our money abroad, as well as helpful articles on things like removal companies and taking our pets abroad, all of which we would not have known where to start to research.

“When it came to organising our house deposit payment in Morocco, the OGC were on hand again to recommend Smart Currency Exchange, who took very good care of us indeed, even helping to save us money on the exchange rate,” adds Bob. “We would definitely recommend the OGC and Smart to anyone who is looking to move abroad, no matter where in the world they are thinking of going. The emigration guide is full of useful tips and hints, as well as things to look out for so that your move goes as smoothly as possible.”

When Bob and Sandra first decided that the time had come to buy a property in Morocco, they were able to go to the OGC for advice on finding an estate agent and lawyer, which meant that they could organise viewings of houses before they booked their flight, and with the agent coming on a recommendation, felt that they were being advised in the best way possible.

With the house – a riad in Fez - purchased it was time for Sandra and Bob to organise a removal company to take their things to Morocco. “Luckily, the OGC articles had warned us not to use a company that wasn’t BAR registered. The first one we asked wasn’t which means we had a lucky escape, as anything could have happened and we may not have been protected if our things didn’t arrive.”

It is important to get as much information as possible when you are planning a move abroad. Do this before you make anything official, that way, you will know what to look for and spot when something isn’t quite right, without feeling the effects of something going wrong.