An international move is a complicated process that requires lots of extra preparation and research to execute the move successfully. Shipping your household goods and personal effects can be a very frustrating experience. When you ship your goods overseas, you will want to ensure they are properly packed, properly and clearly listed on your inventory, and permitted in your destination country. The following tips will help you determine how to ship your belongings:-
Reduce your belongings
Shipping goods overseas is costly and more complex than transporting goods across the state. In order to simplify the process and save some money, it would be a good idea to reduce your belongings before your international move. Start by separating your items into three categories: ship, sell and donate. Only ship what you need, sell whatever you can and then donate the rest. When determining what to ship, remember that some items can be costly to import due to customs duties and other restrictions.
Use proper supplies
It is essential that you wrap and pack your goods with extra care because your belongings have a long way to go. Purchase professional moving supplies and pack your items in sturdy, high-quality boxes. Bubble wrap is important for protecting fragile glassware and delicate surfaces. Artwork or antiques require special handling like crating.
Separate your valuables
Valuable items like jewelry, electronic items, important documents, medicines, and anything you will need immediately upon arrival should be packed in your carry-on luggage.
Shipping Options
There are several shipping options available depending on how many things you want to ship and how fast you need your things overseas. Firstly, you need to know the dimensions of your cargo. Then, based on the size, you may choose to ship your things either by air, or by sea as FCL (Full Container Load), or LCL (Less than a Container Load).
Full Container Load (FCL)
Shipping your belongings in full container means that you need to determine the size of container which you are going to use. With FCL, you will pay a flat rate for the full use of a 20ft or 40ft container.
Less Than A Container Load
If you are only shipping a small amount of cargo do not have enough cargo for a full container, LCL is the more cost-effective option. This means that your belongings will share a container space with others.
Types of international moves
For international moves there are different shipping options to choose from and they are :-
Door-to-door – This option is the pick up and delivery of your cargo from your home to the door of your new home. The container will be at your doorstep for you to load your things. Choosing door-to-door service for international move is best to eliminate unnecessary logistical problems or stress that may arise.
Door-to-port international moving services means that your goods are picked up from your home and then delivered to the port. Upon arriving at the port of destination, your household goods will be waiting your collection. You will have to arrange to clear customs and collect your goods.
In order to ensure that your move abroad is as stress-free as possible, it is pertinent to choose an international moving company who you can trust to transport all your belongings to the new place securely. With so many international moving companies to choose from, the search can be rather overwhelming. This is where online shipping platform such as Shiply can help you to to connect to hundreds of carriers you know and trust at affordable shipping rates.
All you need to do is to submit the required information about your shipment. Once you have done that, you will receive personalized quotes from rated shipping companies within minutes. You can then start to compare all of your options in one place.