Everything You Need To Know About International Moving Companies

Ross Sapir

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International relocation, regardless of where you’re from or where you’re going is never easy. Aside from taking care of the usual tasks required in the move – cleaning your entire home, packing your valuables and labeling all of your moving boxes – you need to adhere to the rules and regulations of the country you’re moving to. This might sound simple, but actually, it’s not. You have to ensure that your valuables are safe throughout the entire move and that you’re knowledgeable of the customs policies of the two countries. These are just some of the reasons why you should definitely hire international movers for your move overseas.

There are actually a lot of moving companies operating today. It’ll be easy for you to find one within your area or through the internet. However, since hiring one will require your hard-earned money, you need to be careful which international moving company you hire. To help you achieve this goal and ensure that you’ll be able to hire the best international moving company, follow these tips:

1. Get moving quotes from at least three international moving companies.

As mentioned, there are many international moving companies in the business today. While some of these are still new in the business arena, others have been operating for decades. To help you narrow down your search, get moving quotes from at least three international moving companies. Ask referrals from your friends and family and use the internet as a resource, too. Once you already have the names of these international moving companies, get their contact information and ask about their moving quote. Usually, international moving companies will offer free quotes so make sure that you utilize such service.

2. Require transparency from international moving companies.

One of the last things you want to experience when moving to another country is paying for unexpected costs and fees. If you’re not financially prepared, you’ll end up being in debt or falling into a financial turmoil because of your international move. A simple way of preventing this from happening is by asking from the international moving companies about the different fees you’ll possibly pay. Is customs clearance included in the fee or are you going to pay for this separately? What is their timeframe for the move? When you have answers to these questions, you’ll have peace of mind because you know how much to prepare.

3. Are they accredited by FIDI?

Planning a move and actually executing it are two different things. While the former is simpler, the latter will require a lot of things from you. You’ll need to pour in time and effort in order to effectively move from one country to another. The convenience you’re going to experience from international moving companies is one of the reasons why you hired them in the first place. And because there are many international companies operating today, it’s essential that you hire one which is accredited by FIDI. This is the largest global alliance of international moving companies and earning an accreditation from this body can signify the expertise of the moving company.

4. Determine who will provide the service from the other end.

When you hire professionals for relocation services, you also have to think about the service you’re going to experience from the other end. For example, if you’re moving from Saudi Arabia to the United States, you need to think about the personnel who will take care of your moving needs once you arrive in the US. After all, you’ve paid for a complete international moving service. To properly set your expectations, ask the representatives from the international moving company about this matter. As a customer, you should receive the same quality of service between these two locations.

5. Inquire about other international moving requirements.

You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to know how stressful an international move is. Aside from ensuring the condition of your valuables, you also need to work on the documents which might be required by the country you’re moving it. Most international moving companies are diverse, offering different services to make your move easy and fast. If this is your first time to move to another country, ask the international moving company if they can assist you with immigration requirements, currency transport, and unpacking services. As much as possible, you should hire an international moving company which works as a one-stop shop for all your global moving needs.

6. Put everything in writing.

It’s common to hear stories of how customers were scammed by different companies. The story would usually go the same way: a company will offer cheap rates in exchange for promised services, only to end up for the customer to get nothing. Surely, you don’t want to experience any of these, right? For you to avoid falling victims to these scams, make sure that the international moving company provides a legal contract. This should be one of your requirements before choosing which to hire. With a contract, you’ll be knowledgeable of your duties as a customer, and you’ll also know what to expect from the company.

It’s Easy When You Know How

Having several moving companies to choose from can be advantageous, but on the other side of the coin, it can also be overwhelming. You’ll likely experience the latter if you haven’t had a chance to hire a moving specialist in the past. Steer away from this direction by using this article as your guide. Once you know what to look for in an international moving company, your upcoming move will be stress-free and easy!