International moving companies

When it comes to moving abroad, one of the most important questions is which international moving companies you can trust to move your worldly possessions when you relocate.

While many of us have at some point experienced a house move, moving internationally is a very different matter. In many cases, especially if you’re leaving the UK, you will have to cross a sea or an ocean, which brings into consideration added complexity.

How international moving companies can help you plan

Moving home internationally can take a lot of time. This includes the preparation and planning as well as the logistical element of the moving itself.

International transit can be both expensive and take a lot of time. Therefore it is something which should never be rushed. As the old saying goes, proper preparation prevents p*ss poor performance, and the same is true with international removals.

When you are moving for work, always ask your company whether they have recommended relocation specialists who can assist. Many international companies have extensive relationships, and in some cases internal resources, to help you make the transition as easily as possible. Even if they’re not paying, the chances of being able to get advice from your colleagues is not only high, but also invaluable.

Minimising the cost of the international moving company

One decision you need to make is what possessions you intend to take. The simple approach is to simply say you’ll take everything, but before making the decision you should consider several key factors:

• How replaceable
• Cost of insurance vs cost of replacing
• How long you can live without the item

Part of international removals is waiting. If you are travelling overseas, international moving companies will transport the larger items in a container on a ship, which takes time - potentially weeks, if not months. And that’s assuming everything goes smoothly.

Once you’ve established the scale what you intend to take, it’s time to consider which international moving company is going to assist your move.

How to choose international moving companies

When it comes to choosing an international moving company to help you move, cost is definitely a factor, but cost effectiveness is what you should really be thinking about. After all, getting your possessions to your new home is only one aspect. Getting them there in one piece, without losing anything is something quite different. Similarly having a company with specialists in assisting with relocation will help minimise your stress as well as giving you additional reassurance when you move.

Research is an essential part of choosing the right company for you. While it might sound obvious, it’s something that many people underestimate the importance of. Create a shortlist of companies, around five should do, before starting to investigate further.

Incorporated in your research you should include recommendations and testimonials from friends. When seeking the recommendation, make sure you ask questions around punctuality, clarity of communication, customer service and also facilities for tracking. It’s quite rare for international moves to be 100% error free, but it’s important to know if something went wrong, how the company overcame the issues and how they communicate.

Once you’ve got your shortlist, you need to start refining. As a starting point, companies will provide an initial quote. However, the final cost is likely to vary significantly from this figure once they have sent a surveyor to evaluate the full scale of the project.

Finally investigate the insurance which is provided by the company. No move should ever be conducted without insurance from the international moving company. Ensure you know the outcome if the worst was to happen and ensure that you’re covered for every eventuality.