Moving away is not easy. It is physically draining, emotionally exhausting and overall, stressful. If you are planning to make an international move, consider calling an international moving company to help you pack, store and ship your belongings overseas. This is a popular choice for international travelers who are looking to save money. International shippers work with reliable affiliate carriers (via ocean and air travel) to guarantee that your unharmed boxes will warmly greet you at your destination. But, before the carriers can ship your belongings, you will need to sign some documents including a Commercial Invoice and a Certificate of Origin.

Your country’s destination will determine the number of documents that you will need to sign. The first document to be signed is a Commercial Invoice. Prepared for you by the exporter, this is the foundation document for future documents, and is vital for shipping household goods overseas. The document should contain thorough information regarding your shipment including: a description of the goods, shipper’s address, and payment information. After the document is signed and dated, you are one step closer to making your big international move.

Commercial Invoice

Depending on the country, you may be required to sign a Certificate of Origin form. This document contains manufacturing information about each individual product you are shipping. Important information in this document consists of: importers and exporter’s information, contents in the shipment and country of original manufacture for each item. You will need to sign this document and have it notarized at your local Chamber of Commerce.

Other documents that may be requested include an Export Declaration (B13A form) and a Free Trade Agreement form. Before your move, find out in advance if you will be required to sign them. You will also need to learn more about duties and taxes that will need to be paid by first identifying the Harmonized System code for each of your products. This code is used for custom purposes. Shipping overseas usually requires tax fees so expect a bill for them.

This process takes a bit of time, so be prepared months in advance. But, once you have crossed the “T’s” and dotted the “I’s,” your things are ready for safe travels and will be waiting for you upon your arrival.

Get a quick quote today!

Moving away is hard. An international move can be even harder, which is why you need to pack all of your valuables securely so nothing gets left behind or broken. Shipping household goods overseas can be a nuisance if you do not take the precautionary first steps. If you do not want an international moving company to help you pack, stand equipped with a good permanent marker, a decent amount of duct tape, a lot of boxes and close friends to help you.

Having the right tools will make the moving process run smoother. First, make sure you have all the essentials: difference size boxes, scissors, knives, foam peanuts and rolls of tape. Keeping a notebook handy is also a great way to check-mark items or jot down notes. And, be sure to boldly label boxes.

Packing from room to room will ensure that nothing gets left behind and will be helpful during the unpacking phase. If you have breakable items, such as dishes or collectors pieces make sure you gently wrap them using crumbled tissue paper (or place them in foam peanuts) for safe handling. Beware of using newspaper: this could damage your goods if the ink bleeds on the items. Label the boxes as ‘Fragile’ or ‘Breakable’ to guarantee they are properly cared for, as well. Be sure to take batteries out of all electronic goods to guarantee that the batteries do not leak acid on your goods. It is also strongly advised not to pack too many items into a box. The box being too heavy to carry will be the least of your worries. If it breaks, say goodbye to your treasured household goods.  If you are shipping overseas, be sure to choose a reputable carrier. An international moving company will help you find the right carrier for your shipping needs without going over your budget.

With these helpful packing tips in mind, you are ready to make your move. Don’t forget to have on hand your passport, visa or any other important documentation.

Get a quick quote today!

USEFUL TIPS FOR SELF LOADING A CONTAINER

• Check with your local City Hall to see if you need a permit to have a 20’ or 40’ container positioned at your home or facility. Some trucking companies may require a copy of the permit prior to delivering the container. If you fail to acquire a permit where permits are required, any charges that incur will be billed to you.
• When the container arrives at your door, inspect it. Make sure there are no holes in the container BEFORE the driver leaves. Sweep out the container to remove any debris, dirt or dust.
• The container comes to your door 4 feet off the ground. There are no ramps or lifts to assist you when loading. You can make your own ramps, rent your own ramps or hire labor to help you load your container.Packing and loading your container well is the key to minimizing damage during transit. Start at the front of the container (opposite of the container doors) and work your way back. Load all heavy items on the floor and load all light items on top. To save space and load to the max capacity of your container, please be sure to fill in all the open spaces between your furniture with boxes, light items etc….
• There are several ways to secure your items inside the container: There are rings or loopholes throughout the container located on the container walls near the floor. You can use rope, ratchet straps, etc. to secure your items.
• The walls of the container are corrugated or have grooves. You can use plywood and 4’x4’s to make partitions or to keep things from shifting frontward or backward.
• The floor of the container is wood. You can nail items down to the floor or you can nail wood to the floor to keep things from shifting.

When you are done loading the container we do suggest using 2’x4’s or 4’x4’s to brace the back of the container. The key to a successful load is a tight fitting load. If your items can easily shift, damage is more likely to occur.

BEFORE the driver leaves your premises with your container, make sure to acquire the driver’s signature as proof that the driver has picked your container. Record the container# and seal# for your records.