By Liz Shaw
Special to MovingQuotes.com
Moving underseas is a huge undertaking -- it takes more planning, resources, and
definitely more money. So it requires more of everything -- including more work
from you. Here are some major things to keep in mind.
Get Organized
If you have a house to pack up, get organized. If you are having some of your
goods put into storage while the rest goes overseas, be sure to clearly separate
what items are intended for which shipment. Use sticky notes; for example, you
can use different-colored paper to indicate which shipment belongs where.
Separate everything that must not be packed, like passports, medicine and other
important documentation. Irreplaceable items such as family photos and videos
should be carried with you also. On moving day, the packers will move quickly
and you might not notice if those kinds of things disappear from the kitchen
counter until your shipment is departing on the truck. Ideally, keep stuff that
will be with you during the move separate from the things you'll be shipping.
Hire a Professional International Moving Company
Unless your shipment is very small (in which case it could go by air), your
stuff will more than likely be shipped by ocean when moving internationally.
This means that your shipment will be placed in a large metal container that's
loaded onto a ship by a crane. There can be shifting inside the container while
it's being lifted, and also while the ship is at sea.
Items packed improperly won't be able to withstand the normal amount of shifting
that occurs during ocean transit. And that's where a quality moving company will
come in.
Hiring the right mover is the number one way to kick-start a successful move. If
it’s packed correctly, you’re more likely to have a damage-free shipment on the
other end. Ask your moving company how familiar they are with packing for
international transit. How many overseas moves do they handle per year? If they
don’t seem knowledgeable, choose a different mover.
Communicate
Keep a phone line that you will have access to -- whether it’s your cell phone
or landline -- connected through the time of your departure. Because you're
likely to be changing time zones, email is a great way to maintain communication
with your moving company.
Budget Plenty of Time
Leave enough time in between the last day of your move (when everything is
loaded on a truck) and when you are scheduled to leave the country. It is unwise
to schedule your flight for 4 p.m. just because you expect your move to be
complete by noon on the same day. Problems happen, so it’s best to leave at
least one buffer day if you can.
Also, ask the moving company about the approximate transit time for your
shipment. Realize that this is an estimate, and loosely make your plans based on
that.
Decide which non-furniture items are essential and bring them with you instead
of packing them in your shipment. Going to most overseas points, it’s going to
be several weeks before you see your shipment again. From the U.S. to most
western European points, it will be at least a month. To inland countries such
as Russia, it could be over two months.
But even with a transit time estimate, you have to bear in mind that customs
procedures and the business of the season could add days or weeks to your
shipment’s transit time. So if you’re debating whether to bring the family’s
winter coats in your suitcases, and you’ve been given an estimated delivery date
on the cusp of the season, bring them with you just in case.
Know the Home Country's Rules
Different countries have different rules. Review the regulations for importing
goods into your country of destination. Some countries prohibit the import of
alcohol or firearms. Generally, you cannot ship perishables. To learn more about
the regulations in your destination country, check with the moving company
overseeing your move. You can also check with the U.S. Embassy in your country.
Does the country you’re moving to require you to be there before importing your
goods? If there will be a delay in your travel plans, which might cause your
shipment to arrive before you do, find out the policy in that country. Having
the shipment sit at the port pending customs clearance produces hefty port
storage costs.
What documents do you need to proceed with the customs clearance of your goods?
Discuss this with your moving company and make sure there’s a way your moving
company can get in touch with you in case they need additional information to
clear your shipment.