Unknown Facts When Moving Abroad Alone

Moving abroad alone can be a nerve-wracking experience. There are new customs, languages, and laws to learn.

This makes it complicated enough, so the actual act of moving shouldn’t be something you have to stress over.

Use these tips to make sure you have everything you need to make your new house feel like home.

Know What You Need When Moving Abroad Alone

If you’re only moving temporarily, it’s often better to store your furniture and larger possessions.

Trying to move the entire contents of your home can be expensive and time-consuming. Using temporary storage is often easier and more convenient than moving everything.

For a permanent move, go through everything you own several times.

Sometimes, it’s cheaper to purchase new furniture and housewares at your new home than it is to ship your existing ones. This also gives you a perfect opportunity to match your possessions to your current style and life choices.

Depending on where you’re moving, many of your appliances and other electronic possessions may not connect to the new electrical system. The UK, US, EU, and many areas of Asia all use different types of outlets and varying voltages in their electrical systems.

Once you’ve eliminated everything you can live without, it’s time to start packing up everything else.

Organize, Organize, Organize

It’s impossible to overemphasize the importance of organization when planning an international move. You should go through everything you plan to bring several times.

The best way to begin is to create a master moving list. This lets you write down everything you need to bring with you and how it should be packed.

Once you’ve identified what you’re moving, you can begin sorting and packing things efficiently. This will make moving abroad alone a lot easier.

Personal items like clothes, laptops, phones, chargers, and medications that you intend to carry with you on your journey should be kept in a special location. This prevents you from misplacing them or accidentally packing them with other goods.

Find out from your chosen moving company how they will ship your goods. Oftentimes, international goods are crated rather than boxed. See if they can provide the crates ahead of time.

With a few days to work with, you can make sure all your goods are properly secured and efficiently packed.

Label each box or crate as you fill it. There’s nothing worse than arriving at your new home to a pile of unmarked, identical boxes.

Research Customs and Import Laws

Every country has laws that relate to the goods coming into them. This will often include a tax or import duty for specific classes of items or possessions over a certain dollar amount.

Most customs officials will require a full inventory of all goods being moved as well as documentation of their origin. Pay special attention to any rules on restricted items.

Many nations also have strict rules on what you can and cannot bring with you.

Any kind of agricultural good, such as plants or other objects, may be forbidden. Even a single forbidden item in your shipment can cause all your possessions to be tied up in storage or even rejected and returned to your country of origin.

Before you choose a mover, ask them what kind of customs services they offer. Reputable companies will be able to provide you with all the paperwork you will need to fill out. They will send you the documents you need to present.

There are even more forms to fill out if you’re planning to bring a pet with you when you move abroad alone. Most countries require proof of vaccinations, microchipping, and spay/neuter status.

Once all appropriate paperwork has been filled out and submitted, expect a temporary quarantine period of at least a few weeks for your furry companion. Having a beloved pet with you can make moving abroad alone much easier.

Choose Your Company Wisely

Hiring licensed, insured, and highly rated movers is one of the best decisions you can make when moving abroad. It’s important to understand every step of the process when making your choice.

The moving company itself will likely be just the first in a sequence of companies, customs officials, and shipping services to take custody of your goods.

Most goods being moved internationally will be shipped by plane, ship, or truck. Your household goods will be transferred from your chosen mover to a shipping company. Once they arrive at your destination they will be inspected by customs, and moved to a transshipment storage facility.

Here is when you will likely have to pay any customs duties, import taxes. or other fees your new host country chooses to levy. Once your goods have been released, a moving broker will then be responsible for hiring a separate company to get them to your new home.

A highly reputable company will walk you through all the steps of this process. Many either have relationships with moving companies in your new country, or have an international presence that can handle the chain of custody.

Make Preparations Early

Always allow at least three to four weeks for an international move.

It’s better to ship early and live for a week or two without creature comforts than to have nothing but the clothes on your back when you arrive at the destination.

This also prevents you from being charged exorbitant expedition fees. Giving yourself several weeks lets you shop around for the most reputable and cost-efficient moving company available.

If possible, try to secure a new home or apartment before your move.

It’s much easier to arrive and begin your new life than to keep your goods in storage and live out of a hotel. This isn’t always possible, but every little bit of preparation can reduce the strain from moving abroad alone.

Don’t Worry

The actual moving part of the process can make you rethink all your decisions. Remember though – with a reputable company and a little bit of research and planning, your move can be smooth and painless.

If you’re ready to take this step and want to work with an expert moving company, check us out to get a free quote online!