
	I am moving from:

	I am moving to:

Overseas removals

Print this page

Pre Move Check List

Sea, Air or Road Freight

Terms Glossary

Packing Advice

Marine Insurance

Tools

Money transfers and foreign exchange

You're thinking of moving abroad...

Where do you start? Who do you contact? How well in advanced should you prepare yourself? these are only three of many questions that need answering. What we want to do here at removalquoation.com is help you on your way to a successful move.

While reading if you come across any unfamiliar terminologies please refer to our Terms Glossary on the menu to the left.

Having satisfied yourself of a companies credentials all that remains to arrange is a home survey to assess the size and individual requirements of your move (all home surveys should be free of charge and without obligation). A home survey can take up to 2 hours so allow for plenty of time and should be conducted by an experienced estimator who will go through every aspect of your move. It is vital you show the surveyor every item that is to be shipped in all rooms including garden sheds, gazeboes etc. The home surveyor will make an inventory list of all the items that you are transporting, ask the surveyor for a copy of the inventory list and make sure every item you are transporting is on this list. Try writing your questions down beforehand, you will find this very helpful. Do not forget to tell the surveyor any changes you have made to your home that will effect the packers taking out any furniture i.e. have you have changed a window or door that will no longer allow a certain piece of furniture out. Please find below some questions to consider asking the surveyor:-

Some questions to ask the home surveyor

Are they a member of any trade associations.

Are they available the day your planning the move.

Do they disconnect washing machines and other appliances from mains.

Do they offer marine insurance, if yes what is the fee and is there any excess.

Are there any insurance clauses if you pack yourself.

Can they dismantle any furniture and if so does it get reassembled at the destination.
How long will it take the removal company to complete the packing.

What items are prohibited for transport.

Will you be charged duty or tax for new items.

Can I store my shipment prior to or after shipping, as I may need some extra time.
Do you provide wooden cases for fragile items.

Are all my items unpacked, repositioned and packing materials disposed of at destination.

After the home survey you should receive a written quotation, read it carefully as it is important you understand what your quotation does and does not cover:-

Are there any additional fees you may have to pay at your destination.

Confirmed collection date(s) from moving address and delivery date to destination address.

Is your shipment arrival port only or delivered residence, if it is delivered residence and you live in an apartment on the fifth floor make sure it is delivered to the fifth floor and not ground floor only.

When you have gone through all your written quotations and have decided which removal company you will be using, book your move (international moves are usually booked 3 to 6 months in advance so be aware of this). At the same time of making your booking the removal company should arrange a date that is suitable to you for their mobile packing crew to arrive at your residence to pack all your items that are to be transported. The packing crew should be equipped with all packing materials they require to pack your household effects including any wooden cases you may need for fragile items (you will have to advise the surveyor of any fragile items you need casing). The mobile packing crew will want to go through the whole contents of your home again to make sure nothing is packed by mistake. A good idea would be to stick stickers on items that are not going, this would make a packers job allot more efficient. We have prepared a pre-move check list that will help organize your move (menu to the left).

If your move is to a European country or between bordering countries it is likely your household effects will be loaded in to a truck (road freight) at your residence. If your move is to a non-European or non-bordering country it is likely to be loaded in to a sea freight container at your residence.

If your volume is to small to have your own truck or container then its likely to go as a groupage (shared container or shared truck with other peoples shipments). If this is the case your household effects will be transported back to your movers warehouse to be loaded in to a groupage road truck or sea freight container. Groupage shipments are more cost effective, but you can if desired insist on your own sea freight container. Please check our transportation Section for further information.

On completion of packing and loading you will be given from the packing crew a numbered inventory list. This numbered list contains a brief description of all the pieces that are to be shipped. A numbered inventory list is important as you can check against this list to ensure all your pieces have arrived at your destination. This list is also used by customs for control procedures.

When your shipment arrives at its destination your mover or their local agent will contact you for final delivery details. Your mover or there agent will arrange a date for delivery and on delivery all items should be positioned to your satisfaction and all packing materials should be disposed of by the mover or agent. Remember this is when your numbered inventory list comes in handy! to check that all your pieces have arrived. Please refer to our Transportation section for further information (menu to the left).

Hints and Tips

You can store your shipment prior to or after shipping allowing you for some.

Your mover can tailor make wooden cases or crates for fragile items.

Ask your mover if they dismantle furniture, some movers do not for insurance reasons.
Check with the embassy of your host country for advise on work permits, visas, inoculations and other requirements.

Start organising your move as early as possible.

Some items are tax deductible, check with your mover.

Some new items can incur tax fees at your destination, check with mover or consulate.

sitemap disclaimer Web Marketing