Choosing International Moving Companies & Moving Out Of The Country

Moving out of the country is a huge step in one’s life. Soon, you will abide by new rules and that is a reason enough to give you the chills. Organizing an international move can make you feel overwhelmed. You may be excited about the new place, but there is a lot of work to be done. Moving to another city or state requires a lot less planning, whereas moving to another country requires more time, more finances and more organization. This is why choosing an international moving company is one of the top priority tasks you will have to manage.

Choosing International Moving Companies

International moves are more difficult to perform because there are a few parties involved. Choosing international moving companies to compete for your job is the first step to find the best ones. You should ask at least 5 international movers for cost estimates. While looking for an international moving company, pay attention to their credentials. Your overseas movers must be licensed by the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC). The Agency regulates ocean transportation intermediaries – OTIs. To perform an overseas move, a company should be insured and licensed by the FMC. You should start looking for international movers at least two months before moving day simply because leaving it for the last moment may add up unnecessary stress. Have in mind that the longer the distance is, the longer the move takes.

International Movers’ Reviews

Once you confirm that movers are authorized to perform international moves by the FMC, start checking their online reputation. The regulatory authority deals with negligence and serious safety issues but cannot guarantee an outstanding performance.

First, ask friends for referrals. Ask them about their move and they might give you a great piece of first-hand advice. You should also check the overseas movers’ ratings online. Movers who have a strong online presence and respond to their customers are usually dedicated to providing excellent relocation service.

When checking international movers’ reviews, pay attention to both the negative and positive reviews. Mind that it is really difficult to find an international company with a 5-star rating, that is without even one negative review. There are always one or two customers who are not satisfied with the service they got.

At My Moving Reviews, you can not only check international moving companies’ reviews and ratings, but you can also contact the reviewer and ask them about their moving experience. Here’s a list of more than 250 professional and licensed international movers which you can filter out (Location, Most reviewed, Last reviewed, Highest rated, and Lowest rated) to meet your criteria. So, what are you waiting for? Keep in mind that finding a trustworthy partner you can trust means the world when you’re planning on moving to another part of the world.

International Movers’ Quotes

After you narrow down your list of international movers, fill out an online quote. Online quotes should give you an idea of what you might expect price-wise. Do not make your final decision before getting written binding estimates after a home survey. A moving company representative should come and inspect your items before giving you a price estimation.

Factors that determine the price of the international move:

• Weight/amount and specifics of the household items
  The more items you have for moving, the higher the price will be. Mind that estimates for overseas moves are based on cubic feet. Moreover, moving expensive and fragile items will most probably add a few dollars as they will need special handling.

  

• Distance
  Moving to a destination far away will make the move not only longer, but pricier too. Moreover, most likely there will be a few parties involved, such as a trucking company, freight forwarder, storage company.
• Additional services
  Services such as packing, appliance servicing and hoisting are charged additionally. To survive an international move, sculptures and fine arts require special wooden boxes, wine collections require climate-controlled storage and so on.
• Type of move
  Your international mover will ask you whether you want a door-to-door, door-to-port, or port-to-door service. If you select the door-to-door option, be prepared to pay more.
• Insurance
  Either through your international mover or through a third-party agent, make sure your items will be insured all the way to your new home.
• Customs regulations
  When choosing an international moving company, make sure the company has experience and knows the destination country well. Most professional international movers offer assistance with the customs regulations. Despite the fact that the service will cost you more, you are strongly advised to take advantage of it. Each country has its own rules and not complying with the customs rules will prolong the move. What’s more, you might end up paying fines.

You will handle your international moving costs much better if you plan ahead. To avoid surprising fees, get to know all moving-related charges. Ask the international moving companies about their additional charges and be prepared to pay some fees for customs clearance.

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