Guide
New to Bermuda: who you'll need in the first few months
Getting around, setting up the house, the professionals, and the everyday services — who does each and where to find them, roughly in the order you'll need them.
It's a who-does-what, not a guide to the rules. Anything about permits, licences, what you're allowed to drive or own, or Government processes is on gov.bm — this page names the office and links you there rather than telling you.
Getting around
Bermuda's roads are narrow, the speed limit is low, and most newcomers end up on two wheels first. The rules on who can drive what are the Transport Control Department's — start there.
A moped or scooter, and someone to keep it running
Most people new to the island start on a moped: it's what's available fastest and it fits the roads. Rent before you buy if you're unsure. Once you have one, a moped shop that services it matters more than the brand — salt air is hard on everything, and a bike that's been left to it won't start on a wet Monday.
A car, and keeping it alive in salt air
If and when you're in a position to run a car, the salt gets to it faster than you'd expect from anywhere else you've lived. A detailer for a proper wash and underbody, a parts supplier that stocks the makes that are actually on the island, and a garage you trust — worth finding early rather than after the first rust.
The house
Whether it's a furnished rental or somewhere you've bought, the first month is the same list. The moving guide covers the day itself; this is the settling-in.
Getting your things here and in
Shipping a container in is a mover's job at this end too — the customs paperwork, the collection from the docks, and getting it up the hill and through the door. Ask movers whether they handle inbound shipments; not all do.
Locks, cleaning, pests, AC
Same as anyone moving: change the locks the day you get the keys, have the place deep-cleaned, treat for pests before the furniture goes in, and have the AC serviced before you rely on it. If you're renting furnished, ask the landlord which of these are theirs and which are yours before you book anyone.
Internet, TV, the home office
The provider gets you to the door; a stone house with three-foot walls is what stops the Wi-Fi at the kitchen. An IT services business will cable it or place access points properly. If you'll be working from home for an overseas employer, get this right in week one.
Power, water and the tank
Two things that surprise newcomers: your water comes off your own roof into your own tank, and it needs cleaning periodically; and power cuts happen, so a lot of houses have a generator or are thinking about one. A plumber for the tank, an electrician for anything generator- or panel-related. Read the hurricane guide before June.
The professionals
The ones you'll want to have found before you need them urgently.
Insurance
Contents, the moped or car, health if your employer doesn't provide it, and — if you own — the house. Get a broker who'll explain what's actually covered in a hurricane; the answer varies more than you'd think.
A lawyer and an accountant
You'll need a lawyer for a lease review, a property purchase, or anything to do with your status on the island; an accountant if you have income from more than one country or a business. Ask colleagues who they use — Bermuda's small enough that reputations are earned.
Real estate
If you arrived in temporary accommodation and are now looking properly, an agent who works the parishes you can commute from will save you weeks. Be clear about budget and whether you need furnished; ask what your status allows you to rent or buy and let them point you at the rules rather than guessing.
The everyday
The services that turn a place you're staying into a place you live.
Childcare and school-age help
Nurseries, day care and after-school care fill up; if you have small children, this is one of the first calls to make, not one of the last. Ask about waiting lists straight away.
Pets
Bringing an animal in has its own rules — that's the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, not this site. Once it's here: a vet, a groomer, and someone who can board or walk it when you travel, which you'll do more than you expect.
Hair, beauty and the rest
You'll find your place. Meanwhile, the salon and spa category is where to start looking, and asking at work gets you a recommendation faster than any directory.
Someone for the small jobs
A handyman you can call for the shelf, the sticking door, the outdoor light. And a landscaper if you have a yard — things grow all year here, and fast.
Don't know who to ask yet?
Post the job once — say what you need and which parish — and businesses in the right trade can come to you. Free, no account needed, and nobody expects you to know the local names yet.