International Moving by air, ship or trucking can be a big undertaking and it really pays to be organized to make the process as smooth and as stress free as possible. There are many tips that we can all follow and a lot of them are so obvious yet it always amazes how many of us overlook the basics that need to be included in a checklist.
Tips for moving overseas.
- Source good quality moving boxes that will suit. Consult an overseas moving company to find the most appropriate shipping cartons.
- Start in one room and get rid of all the unwanted items and start packing up those items that are not needed on a daily basis.
- Pack heavier items in the bottom of the boxes with the lighter items at the top to avoid crushing.
- Use bedding and out of season clothing items as additional packing for fragile items.
- Label each box as it is filled. Include the room that it came from and a list of what is inside. Take the time to make a separate list on a clipboard or notebook and add a duplicate to the inside of the box. The overseas moving company will have their own labeling with shipping software to track the moving boxes, but your own labels are for help with placement and unpacking.
- Do not include flammable items such as aerosol cans into boxes for shipping. Reduce the amount of these items to a bare necessity as they can be easily replaced at destination.
- Remove fuel from machinery such as mowers, blowers and trimmers. Check with your overseas moving company to see what their policy is with regard to this.
- Check to ensure that your effects are still insured at every stage of the proceeding as placing goods in storage does affect some moving companies policies.
- Ask about portable moving storage as this allows a moving container to be located on site for you to pack at your own pace and still keep secure. Look for additional shipping crates to help protect and stabilize the moving cartons and their contents.
- Check out overseas moving companies early as possible as long term planning can result in cost benefits from consolidating freight loads.
Taking the time to follow and implement these tips will pay off and make your international moving experience much less stressed.
