Sometimes international moving calls you like a siren. The idea of moving and living in another country is too hard to resist! Whether you’re moving for work, school, or just moving for a change of scenery, moving internationally is no easy task. Between shipping and packing and the little details, international moving can be overwhelming! Grab a pen and a piece of paper, and start taking notes! Your international move is counting on it!
General International Moving Tips
- Start organizing your international move several months before you get moving. Your best bet is hiring an international moving company. As professionals, they can help you help with all the details of international moving.
- Packing for international moving should be done by professionals because your belongings will be wrapped, crated, and shipped for an extended period of time.
- Research! Every country has different customs, visas, passport requirements and important papers you must have for international moving. Contact the US embassy to find out what requirements and papers that you have to meet to get moving there. Also check with your doctor to find out what vaccinations you might need.
Make International Moving Easy
Once you’ve got the general idea of international moving, it’s time to start getting into the details of international moving.
To ship or not to ship… that is the question. The cost of international moving is determined by the volume of your shipment which is measured by cubic feet or weight depending on the final destinations of your international move. Also consider the amount of time your belongings will take to ship can be from a couple weeks to several months depending on where you are moving internationally.
- Is it worth shipping your furniture for moving internationally? It might be more cost effective to donate your old furniture and start anew.
- The same goes for appliances and gadgets. Some countries have different plugs. Rather than buying converters, it might be easier to just buy a new appliance from your new country rather than dragging your favorite blender or hair dryer all the way to Paris.
- If there are some things you cannot bear to part with, consider getting storage for international moving.
Communication is important in international moving. Become familiar with the country you’re moving internationally to before you get moving there. If you’re moving to a country with a different language, learn key phrases in order to get basic necessities. Remember to learn about cultural differences as well.
A translation dictionary, guide book, and a couple maps come in handy when international moving. Also remember to consider how you’re going to keep in touch with your family and friends. With the advancements in technology, you can keep in touch globally online through social media like Skype or facebook, but it’s important to have some form of telephone line at all times to keep in contact with your international moving company.
Not sure about something you read here about international moving? Call up and talk to someone from NorthStar Moving® at (800) 275-7767 or tweet my brother Zippy: @northstarmoving. He’ll be able to answer all of your international moving questions!