Advice and Tips for Moving Overseas

Whether you are starting a new life, exploring other parts of the world, satisfying wanderlust, a job transfer or other reasons, you now have to decide how to plan for your new adventure.
There are probably many thoughts and questions running through your mind. How do I get started may be at the top of the list. How much is this going to cost? How long will it take for your shipment to arrive? How far in advance do you need to place your order?

Decide how long you will be gone. Is this a temporary move or a permanent one? Do you want to take all of your belongings, furniture, keepsakes or just some personal items to bring a little of your old home and country to your new home and country? Once you make that decision, then you can concentrate on finding an international mover.

What services does an international mover provide? The two most common types of service are door to door and door to port. What is included with each type of service? Door to Door means your belongings are picked up in your home in one country and delivered into your home in another country. Customs clearance is included in this service. Door to Port service means your belongings are picked up in your home in one country and delivered to the port or terminal warehouse in another country and you will need to arrange for Customs clearance and to get your belongings from the port to your home.

(Note: Customs clearance means there is a Customs clearance agent included in the cost to take care of your paperwork. It does not mean that duties and taxes will be paid for you. Depending on how you enter the country you may or may not be exempt.) It will be your responsibility to find out. Your international mover can tell you how and where to get that information.

Other services to consider are packing and insurance. What kind of packing services are available? Are materials and or boxes included? If not, where can I purchase packing materials? Do I need special boxes? (Tip: you will want to use sturdy corrugated boxes) Can I pack my own things? Can I have the international mover pack everything? Can I have them pack some things? What is the cost? Can I purchase insurance? Is insurance mandatory? How much does it cost? What does it cover?

Make sure when you are comparing the companies that you compare the same services and that they are quoting you for the same volume. Otherwise you cannot possibly compare. For example: If one company is quoting you for door to door service but another company is quoting you for door to port, of course the company quoting door to door will be more expensive. The volume they are quoting will also affect the prices.

Are the people you talk to or communicate with by email helpful and understanding? Will the international mover you are considering keep you informed about the status of your shipment? Does your international mover have the proper license to ship belongings overseas? (Note: They must be licensed by the FMC - Federal Maritime Commission –- if they are not, they are not legally allowed to handle transport of your international shipment.) Price is an important consideration when choosing, but it should not be your only consideration.

Make a list of the companies you talk to, the services they provide and the quotes they send. Decide what services you want and can afford. Just remember the old saying, if the price sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Planning and the right international mover are essential for a successful relocation overseas. Take a deep breath, relax, have fun, and make good choices. You are on your way!

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Tips to Hire an International Mover

If you are moving overseas to pursue another career, study abroad, retire or any for any other reason it is desirable that you take your possessions with you. Everyone likes to be surrounded by their own belongings. There are a few ways to bring your beloved items with you. One of these ways is to bring them with you in your luggage when you fly to your destination country. Assuming that you are not transporting illegal items, there are limitations to the items that you can bring with you in this manner.

This can be an overwhelming task but not when you hire the right international moving company to ship your personal effects overseas. They will handle the tasks of packing, picking up, transporting, shipping filing appropriate paperwork and delivering your belongings overseas. There are a lot of international moving companies out there and not all are equal in quality of service nor have the ability to get the task done right.

How would you choose the best international mover?

The first tip when hiring an international moving company is to check whether they have the legal license to ship your belongings overseas. Some moving companies do not have the proper license required to move your belongings overseas. If you choose one of these companies, when something goes wrong, you will have no recourse and worse yet, may never see your personal belongings. To see if they are a legitimate international moving company, you should check out their license.

The next tip is to compare prices with other moving companies. Make sure you are comparing apples to apples. Are they offering the exact same service? Are they offering a quote based on the same volume? What are the normal costs involved in an international move? By gathering price information from the market, you will be able to save and plan your budget ahead of time.

Don’t wait until the last minute to place your order. There is a lot of paperwork and scheduling that goes into planning an international move and you cannot expect a professional company to handle your shipment properly if you give them a day or two days notice. This is a completely unreasonable time frame. The price quoted is based on the volume of your shipment. You can estimate your volume easily yourself. Your international mover can provide the tools and assistance for you to determine the volume of your shipment.

How does this moving company handle unexpected problems? Are they responsive to your questions? Do they answer you promptly? Do they advise you promptly if there are any additional costs incurred on the day of pick up? Maybe you didn’t pack everything and needed them to pack some items for you. Maybe you added some items at the last minute and this may cause an increase in your shipment’s volume. How will the international moving company keep you informed of the status of your shipment? Email is one of the best, most effective forms of communication today. This form of communication between you and the international mover who is handling your shipment is easy, inexpensive and quick.

Ask your international moving company about insurance. Insurance can provide you peace of mind. Purchasing insurance is generally recommended although it is optional. Insurance cost is generally calculated as percentage times your declared value. You assign a realistic, replacement value to the items in your shipment.

Relocating to another country is no trouble, if you let a professional international moving company take care of all of the details of moving your personal belongings from your home to your new home in your new destination country with care and professionalism.

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