When should I Contact an International Moving Company to Organize My Move?

By International Sea and Air Shipping / February 11, 2020

If you already have a job in your new country, the likelihood is you’re pretty much on the way. Ensure to address the crucial matters well in advance, as bureaucratic obstacles can hinder your progress. For instance, is your passport current? Do your family members require a special visa as well? I am talking about your passport, birth certificate, and more!

A crazy number of countries won’t even consider official documents unless they are certified, so check the rules in your new country, and keep in mind when to contact an international moving company to organize your move as part of your early planning.

One of the most frequently asked questions when getting ready for a move is how long before the moving company should be hired? The short response is, it’s best to start calling international movers as soon as possible, especially if you’re planning a move during the summer months, the busiest time of the year.

It is advisable to allow yourself at least 8 weeks before your move to book a mover. So for international or national or across-state moves, start calling eight weeks before and no later than four weeks before you move. If possible, book 12 weeks in advance, especially if you’re planning a move during the peak season, such as summer.

Hire an Experienced International Moving Company

The logistics of international moving can get complex, so be certain your moving service provider knows how to navigate it all smoothly and professionally. They will also be able to instruct you on how to ship household goods or belongings in the most affordable way—though combining shipments may mean things take longer to arrive, so take that all into consideration when planning your moving timeline and arrival to your destination country.

Evaluate your moving quote. Once you have obtained a company to conduct your move, you will need to evaluate the quote that they offered you. Since you will be moving internationally, your expenses will likely be much higher.

You will need to look over your quote to see how accurate it is and if there are additional charges that might occur. Talk to your movers about the quote and see how concrete it is. This will help you gain a better idea of how much you will be spending on your move.

All Risk Marine Insurance

Peace of mind is so important when you move your belongings—your whole life—to another country. Protecting your goods is imperative! Ask your mover about all-risk door-to-door marine insurance coverage for your belongings, so they will be protected from the moment they leave your home until they arrive at your new one.

You have already made the life-altering decision to relocate across the world to another country, and that decision probably didn’t come readily; taking insurance should be the easiest one on your list.

8 Weeks Prior to Moving

Gather your personal papers. Please ensure you have all your essential documents with you, as you are relocating to another country. You may need to have your passport, I.D., and driver’s license on you. Before you get overwhelmed with sorting through your move, check everything off of this article.

Get to know your new home. When you move somewhere else, you are moving into the unknown. You will find yourself in a new location. So, clear about the local customs and language you must be. This will be more accustomed to the country for you.

Organizing yourself is crucial when moving to a foreign country. So, you want to be in conversation with your mover about a plan of action to ensure that things go smoothly on moving day. Determine the expected time of arrival at your home, how long it will take for your possessions to arrive in your new locale, and what delivery entails.

Get your kids into another school. Man, you’re going to have to locate a school for your kids. Determine what stays and what goes. Moving to a different country requires bringing only the essentials. To achieve that, you must eliminate any unnecessary items.

All electronics are incompatible in every country. Some countries have specific maximum voltage limits that may be lower than those of other countries. So, check your stove, fridge, and freezer to see if they stay or go.

Research your bank locations. The bank you currently use may not be available in your new country. You will need to decide what bank you will use once you move overseas. You would rather not be in a new country with no access to your physical bank.

4 Weeks Prior to Moving

Get a layout of your new home. Planning an international move thousands of miles away is a difficult task. Because of this, it will be beneficial to have a layout of your new home to help you determine what items will fit in the new space.

Specify a time for all your services to expire. Contact your cable, phone, and utility companies and arrange a time when they can come to your house and terminate service. Call the post office to learn about how you can have your mail sent somewhere else.

You may need to talk to the post office about procedures for forwarding mail internationally. Mail forwarding typically only lasts for 12 months. Therefore, you will need to contact banks, credit card companies, and other companies to have your address changed with them directly.

Get refills for all of your prescriptions. It may take some time to set up doctors’ appointments in your new country. Thus, you will need to get all required medications before you move. By doing this, you will have an adequate supply of your medications until you have visited your new doctor.

1 Week Prior to Moving

Moving internationally will likely mean that you will need to travel by air. So, at this time, begin packing all travel materials. Check the airline you will travel with to see what requirements they have concerning luggage.

Specify a time for all your services to expire. Contact your cable, phone, and utility companies and arrange a time when they can come to your house and terminate service. Call the post office to learn about how you can have your mail sent somewhere else.

Make sure you are present. Ensure that you will be home while the movers are there. They may have questions that you will need to answer. Being present will make the move run much smoother. Conduct a final walk-through.

Moving day will be filled with several tasks. After everything has been packed, walk through your home. Make sure that you have not left anything behind. See the movers off and prepare to head to your new home. Yes, moving internationally is a major life-changing event.

You will need to prepare properly and remain organized throughout this process. This international moving timeline will help you conduct a successful move to your new home.