Moving Overseas? Simple Steps To Shipping

Moving overseas can be an exciting prospect, however having to move your entire residence might seem a bit daunting when it requires shipping via freightliner. However, this is actually a very efficient and fast way to get your belongings to your overseas destination where you will be able to make your overseas a home with all of your belongings.

This is the most efficient way to ship, but there are some decisions you will need to make before you start the shipping process.

First, you need to evaluate how many items you need to ship and how much space you will need. You have the option of a 20’ or 40’ container, or else a partial container for smaller items, so whatever you need shipped will be accommodated. A 20’ container generally has enough room for a vehicle an some of your smaller household appliances or else the contents of a two bedroom home.

If you need more space than that then you have the option of a 40’ container that can accommodate a vehicle and the contents of a two bedroom home or else just the contents of a three to five bedroom home. In the instance that you are only shipping certain items you can ship a partial container as well. Evaluate what you need to ship and the amount of space available and then either upgrade to the larger container if necessary or if you have too many items have a yard sale to get rid of some.

Next, when you begin the packing process there are several things you need to keep in mind regarding things you are allowed to pack and things you are not. Make sure when you are packing that you do not include any kind of food or food product, jewelry, important documents like birth or marriage certificates, seeds or plants, alcohol, open bottles, pressurized cans, and the like. The shipping company will provide you with a list of items not to ship, and if you don’t receive one ask before you begin packing.

Now that you are ready to begin the shipping process, you need to know to contact the shipping carrier at least seven to 10 days before the desired departure date if at all possible. Then, you will need to provide them with a full address in the United States as well as the full overseas address in addition to local and foreign phone numbers, your social security number and the like.

Finally, you will need to pay for your shipping costs. Most companies require that you pay a deposit before you begin packing the container and then the balance before the shipment heads out. Regardless, most all shipping companies accept a wide variety of payment options to meet your needs.

Article By Robert Michael

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Expenses Of Moving Overseas

Are you about to move abroad? Have you considered how hard it is going to hit your purse?

When we consider moving overseas, it is not just about the job and the opportunities. It is also most definitely about how your finances will be affected.

It is important to check out information like the Mercer survey. This helps to calculate which cities are the most expensive in the world to live in. These surveys can give you accurate information and can help you compare costs of living. An important aspect you may want to take into account is how your quality of life will be affected when you move. A higher salary does not necessarily mean a better quality of life. It is not guaranteed that you will be better off.

When you first arrive in a country you may need to be able to pay for things such as rent, set up costs, deposits, a car and others. It is a good idea to have a good amount of emergency reserves of cash for unexpected costs that might arise.

When I made a move from Korea to the USA, I was very thankful that I did have emergency reserves of cash. I needed to buy a car, put a hefty rental deposit down, pay for motel costs for a couple of weeks, deposit cash in order to open a bank account among other things. There are many and often unaccounted for relocation costs that come into play when you move. It is in your best interests to be as prepared as possible.

The best way to get information is to do your homework. Go online and look at some sites, especially expatriate sites. A useful tool is to go to the FORUM boards and see what people have said about living in certain countries. You might even want to start your own forum discussion. Expats are very willing to share their experiences and knowledge.

Once you have gathered your information, the next step is to do your math. Brainstorm with friends about what factors you need to take into account so that you do not miss anything. Factor in education, housing costs, moving and/or storage costs, transport, clothing, household goods and so on.

Moving abroad can have a severe impact on your finances. You need to take this knowledge into account before your move and not afterwards! How prepared are you for your move?

The World ' s 10 Most Expensive Cities

Source: Mercer Human resource Consulting, 2005 Cost-of-Living Survey

2005 Ranking

1 Tokyo, Japan

2 Osaka, Japan

3 London, United Kingdom

4 Moscow, Russia

5 Seoul, South Korea

6 Geneva, Switzerland

7 Zurich, Switzerland

8 Copenhagen, Denmark

9 Hong Kong, Hong Kong

10 Oslo, Norway


3 things you need to be prepared for when you relocate

* No one understands you

* No one understands you

* No one understands you


Tip of the week

What is considered enough money when moving? Maybe just a little bit more than you planned on.

Quote of the week

"Beware of the little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship." Benjamin Franklin.

Article3 By Kimbles

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Moving Overseas? Some Tips To Keep Your Move As Smooth As Possible

Moving to a new home is said to be one of the most stressful things in life. It's stressful just moving across town, worse when you move to another town miles away across country. How much more stressful must it be to move to another country thousands of miles across the ocean?

Well, it can be, of course, and there is a whole lot more involved in moving abroad. However, you can make things much easier for yourself by remembering the two Ps, Planning and Preparation. It’s like any other major undertaking really. If you plan it well in advance and try to take into account all the thousand and one things that could go wrong, most of them won’t! Careful preparation should take care of those that do by you spotting them in time to deal with them.

International removal is quite different to the usual local move. You will need to be particularly organised if all is going to go as smoothly as you would wish. There are so many more things to take into account and however long you think it’s all going to take, it will take longer than that. So the first thing is to start really early with your planning.

Just to ship all your worldly goods overseas can take several weeks so don’t pack anything you might need during that time. Keep it with you, but don’t forget that if you’re flying to your destination you will have weight and other restrictions to contend with. That’s something else you’ll need to be sure about in good time.

Choose your contractor very carefully. Make sure that all the companies you get to quote for your move are experienced International movers. You should get and take up references in respect of all of them. International removals are a highly specialised business and you’ll need all the expertise you can get. It’s seldom the best policy to simply pick the cheapest. You want the best you can get.

Once you’ve chosen your International removals firm take heed of any advice they offer you. Remember, you’ve probably never moved overseas before. They’ve done it many times.

International removal means that all your treasured possessions are going to be loaded into a van, unloaded into a warehouse, then loaded into a ship. That ship is going to sail thousands of miles across stormy seas, rolling and pitching, through whatever the ocean throws at her to a foreign port where your valuables will be unloaded, probably into another warehouse. Then they’ll be loaded into another vehicle of some sort and carried to your destination, there to be unloaded and unpacked.

Remember all that when you decide whether to do the packing yourself or get the professionals to do it. There’s no contest really is there? Leave it to the experts! There’s another thing. If you do it the cases will have to be labelled on the inventory, “PBO,” (Packed by Owner). Customs officers are far more likely to examine the contents of boxes so marked. That can lead to extensive delays and additional costs that will considerably outweigh any saving you may have made by doing your own packing.

Sort through your possessions and decide which items you really need to take with you. Be ruthless. You don’t really want to pay shipping costs for things you hardly ever use now. Go through all your paperwork and arrange for things like insurance policies that you won’t need anymore, such as house insurance and car insurance are cancelled on the day you leave, though not before.

If you’re thinking of taking any electrical goods, first make sure they will work in the new country. Voltages etc. can be quite different and things like TV systems and DVDs too.

Make a list of all the people and organisations you’ll need to notify before you leave and make sure that’s all done. Make sure you fill in a form P85 for the tax people or get your employer or accountant to do it for you. You could lose out on a tax refund if you don’t.

See your doctor and make sure you not only have all the necessary vaccinations etc. for where you’re moving to but also have any letters or other forms your new doctor will need and a supply of any medications you might be taking to carry you over until you can get to your new doctor. At the same time make sure you have all the medical insurance cover you need in place before you go.

There’s still lots more to think about yet so do give yourself plenty of time. You’ll need to start all this at least twelve weeks before you actually leave, more if possible.

Article By Pauline Collins

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A Simple Guide For Moving Overseas

Moving from one country to another can be quite scary and nerve-wracking. But, just like moving across town or across the country, this can be handled easily with proper preparation and an expert international mover.

Think about your choice of movers. If you're relocating due to business, your company may have an international mover they would prefer you to use. Your company may even pay for most or all of the costs. If this is not the case, look for a mover as soon as possible. This part can be more complicated than a local move so don’t wait until the last minute to begin preparations. An unlicensed international mover can spell disaster.

A local or long distance mover is just that, a local or long distance mover and they can be very good at what they do, but they cannot legally transport your belongings overseas. For this, you must use a licensed international mover.

International moves require careful consideration regarding packing. Your possessions will be traveling on land, on sea and then on land again. There are a lot of steps to get your prized possessions from your home in the US to your home in your new destination country. For this reason you will want to take extra care in packing your items with many layers of protection. Everyone has a budget when moving, so discuss packing with your international moving company. They can pack your belongings for an additional cost or provide tips for you to pack yourself.

Before you move, think about what you're going to take, what you are going to need and how long you are going to be in your destination country. Is this a permanent or temporary move? If you take your household appliances, will you be able to use them in your destination country? Will you need an adapter to run your electrical appliances? Depending on the length of time you plan to live in your destination country, you may want to consider storing items that you cannot use, or do not need, and only take personal effects and items that will give you pleasure and keep you from being homesick. If this is a temporary move, research what it would cost to rent versus purchase items in your destination country or maybe rent a furnished residence. If your move is permanent, then you may want to take everything with you.

Check with customs to see what you can and cannot bring into your destination country. This will also help you to determine what you will bring. Normal customs clearance is generally included in your quote. This means there is a customs clearance agent that will facilitate your paperwork. It does not mean that duties and taxes are paid by the international moving company. Check to see what documents, duties or taxes you may be required to produce and or pay, if any. You may be exempt from duties and taxes depending on your status for entering the country. Each situation is individual and unique. It is your responsibility to have the proper documentation available. You should contact the consulate or embassy for the latest updates in regulations and requirements.

Once you know what you are taking, it is important to make a list. The international moving company will ask you to complete an item list. It is important to know what you are taking so the total volume can be estimated in order to provide you with a quote. The internet is a great tool and the item lists can generally be found on an international moving company website. They are usually very easy to use and once you enter the quantity of the items you are taking, the volume can be calculated automatically with the click of your mouse. International movers quote their moves in volume. Local and Long Distance movers quote in weight.

Once you have determined the volume, decided if you will pack or have the international moving company pack, the next item to consider is insurance. Insurance in optional but it is always recommended. Discuss the coverage types that are available. Loss and damage coverage is only issued if the packing is done by the carrier. You can still insure your shipment if you pack yourself but the coverage will be for loss only.

There is not one company anywhere in the world that owns or has offices in every city in the US, owns the ships and has offices in every city in every country in the world outside of the US. An international moving company networks and works regularly with agents who are trusted, licensed and insured in every location. Once your shipment is ready to ship overseas, your international moving company will advise you the shipping details for your shipment and the agent that will be handling your shipment in your destination country.

Enjoy, prepare, research, have fun in your new adventure and good luck with your international move.

Article By John Jo

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