What tips can you give to someone who needs to move internationally?
Preparing for moving day revolved around and advanced planning. We recommend thinking about your move six months in advance. Talk to international removals companies about the various shipping options. They’ll be able to guide you through the process from beginning to end. This will help you make decisions about whether you need a full/part household removal service, or maybe just excess baggage. For full sea freight containers you only pay for the container size you ship, part household removals you only pay for the container space you fill, excess baggage you only pay for the quantity of cartons you send. They can also help you with the packing and prepare the documentation needed for your belongings to pass safely through customs. You may not have six months to plan and shipping companies can work on much shorter notice periods. Give them a call to discuss the best way forward.
Have a good clear out well in advance of removals day. You don’t want to pay to ship things you aren’t going to use! Think about what you really need to take with you. There will be essential belongings but old clothes, furniture and books can all be donated to charity shops, or sold online. Most shipping companies will pack for you but if you’re planning on doing it yourself, preparation is key.
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What should I expect on removal day?
If you’ve pre-packed your own goods, a collection date will be agreed with the company, who’ll collect your goods, and prepare an inventory as well as listing and marking all items. One of the best ways of preparing for moving day is to be sure that your belongings are packaged and ready to load on the day. Goods will then be taken to a warehouse before being put into a container and shipped to your destination. If you have however chosen for the company to pack your goods, the process will be similar, although a team will come to pack your goods in preparation for removal the same day. If you have chosen to have your own sole use container, the packing crews will start pre packing either 1 or 2 days (depending on container size) prior to removal. The actual sea freight container normally arrives to be loaded by the crew on the last day of removal. If you are sending a part household your goods will be packed and removed on the same day.
What should I do if I’m not ready to unpack once abroad?
Shipping companies will be in touch with you prior to your goods arriving. Once your goods have arrived your shipping company will ask whether you would like delivery or storage and this can be arranged very easily, so no need to worry or panic if your arrangements aren’t finalised. If you would like to take delivery of your goods but aren’t ready to have them unpacked upon delivery, all you need to do is contact your shipping/Removal company to advise them.
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What are the factors I should consider when choosing an international moving company?
Planning ahead will allow time to find reliable international removal companies that fit your requirement the best. Most reputable companies all work very similar however some companies will specialise in certain countries more than others. So it is always a good practice to find out how many years they have specialised in international removals and how frequently they load and ship containers to your chosen destination. Looking out for the following credentials and quality standards, which reputable removal companies should be members or affiliated will make preparing for moving day a lot easier. FAIM Accreditation, which is the only independent Quality Assurance standard for the International Moving Industry, Membership of the FIDI Global Alliance, which sets a quality benchmark for its members and Membership of the British Association of Removers Overseas Group. BAR OVERSEAS is covered by the I.M.M.I. Advance payment guarantee scheme for your financial protection.
What will happen when I arrive at my new destination?
Your removal company will be in regular contact with you and will keep you up to date with the arrival of your vessel, customs clearance. Once your goods have cleared customs your removal company will contact you to arrange a suitable delivery date. Depending on the service you choose your removal crew will arrive on delivery day to deliver your goods into the rooms of your choice.
How long does it usually take to receive my items when I arrive at the destination?
The transit times for the goods to arrive can vary greatly between countries and is dependant on whether you’ve chosen a full or part household removal. Goods being shipped or transported to Europe from the UK normally have an estimated transit time of between 5-28 days to your door depending on the service type you opt for and the country you are moving to. Preparing for moving day will run far smoother if you take this transit time into account beforehand. For example, if you’re moving from the UK to Florida the transit time is 2-4 weeks for a full container and 5-9 weeks for a part load. Goods usually pass through customs within 7-14 days, but customs clearance time frames may slightly differ during busier times of the year.
Our thanks to PSS Removals for their assistance with this article. PSS Removals are shipping experts offering friendly and professional moving solutions. To find out more about their services visit their website: pssremovals.com
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