Time.
We never feel like we have enough of it, right? And when you’re moving your family to a new country, there’s so much to do that you might wonder how you’ll get it all done in time. But you’re not doing it alone. You have a whole team of Crown experts to help you get your move arranged on your schedule.
Here’s their advice on what you can do to make sure that time isn’t the enemy of the new chapter in your life.
It’s never too early to start your move
International moves take more time than you think. The exact time frame depends on so many things: the country you’re moving to, how you’re moving from South Africa, what you’re moving, and so on. That’s why we tell customers that their move could take anywhere between 8 and 12 weeks.
Getting in touch with an international moving company sooner rather than later can ensure we get your move booked for your preferred date. We generally advise movers to get in touch three months before you want to move, sooner if you need services such as home search or school search.
We generally advise movers to get in touch three months before you want to move.
Know what you need from a school
Finding the right school for your children can take time. I don’t just mean looking at schools; the application processes can be lengthy too. For example, getting your child into a school in Singapore can easily take six months!
So if your children need to attend a local school, get in touch with plenty of time to spare. Tell our local experts what your children need and they can get to work finding the right school and getting the application process started.
Finding your home makes your move easier
The sooner you know where you’re moving to, the easier your move will be. Knowing the floor plan will help you figure out what you can bring and what you need to leave behind. And knowing the neighbourhood will help you settle in faster at the other end.
If you need help finding your new home, our home search service will put you in touch with a local expert who can help find properties and neighbourhoods that match your needs.
The sooner you know where you’re moving to, the easier your move will be.
A delay in your home sale won’t ruin your move
If the sale of your home gets delayed, don’t stress about it; you wouldn’t be the first person it’s happened to! If you do hit a snag in your sale, just get in touch with your Move Manager. They’ll work with you to figure out when your move needs to happen and reschedule the packing and shipping teams for you.
Make sure you can crack on when you arrive
Don’t worry about making sure your possessions will arrive at the same time you do. The truth is that there are too many variables at play: rough seas, traffic jams, mechanical failures, the list goes on. So it’s best to plan for the possibility that you may be without your possessions for a time.
Make sure you have the essentials with you when you travel. You can either pack them in your luggage (pay for extra baggage allowances if available) or send them via air freight to ensure they arrive when you need them to.
Don’t waste time on two moves
If you’re going to be living in any sort of temporary accommodation, whether it’s renting a property or an AirBnB, don’t rush to get your possessions delivered. What’s the point if you just need to move them again? You’ll just need to pay for a removal company (who probably won’t pack them as well as we do!)
We’ve got a network of storage facilities across the globe that will keep your things safe and secure, and we can take care of them until you’re ready to unpack them in your new home.
Get help settling in
We don’t drop your things on your front step and walk away; we’re here to help even after you step into your new home. After all, setting up your new life in a new country isn’t always an easy process! Even jobs like setting up a phone or Internet connection can be tricky when things are done a little differently.
Our settling-in team can take on jobs like this for you, helping you to find the nearest doctor or pointing you towards the local supermarket so you can get on with living your life instead of jumping through hoops to get your services in place.
We’re here to help even after you step into your new home.
Every move is different, so you’re bound to have more questions or concerns. Don’t worry. Your Move Manager will be with you every step of the way, from the moment you get your quote to the moment you step into your new home at your destination country and beyond.
Send us details of your planned move and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can, ready and waiting to answer all of your questions and make sure your move is as smooth as possible.
For more information, check out our moving tips on how to make your international move cheaper!
