Packing for an international move

When considering an international move, there are two ways to move your household goods: by air and by sea.

It will take longer for your items to arrive if you choose to ship them, however this option usually saves money and is usually the best option for moving house hold goods.

If moving by sea, your household goods will be packed into large containers. The containers are seaworthy and are usually made of wood.

Once the containers arrive to the new country, they are unloaded and must pass through customs. Your Relocation company will be able to help you with the custom forms and are responsible for clearing your goods.

Moving household items by air has a much higher price tag than shipping but it’s a popular means of moving goods as it’s quick.

Heavy cardboard boxes are normally used to pack goods, although some air freight companies use containers.

Reducing the amount of items you move with will help you to be more organised, it will make it easier to unpack and may also help to keep the cost of moving your items low.

A month before moving, have a clear out. Throw away any unwanted, unused items and try to downsize on the number of items you will be moving with. Often we hold on to items we don’t need – if you have two of something throw one away and if you haven’t used an item for over a year then take it to a charity shop or sell it if it’s in good condition.

Write a list of everything you are taking and the room where each item is places. Creating a check list will help you to quickly locate your items when unpacking.

Document everything you own by taking pictures and make a note of its approximate value and where it goes. You may also want to record the condition of items that have existing damage or that need special care.