International moves: how to prepare
-
This will take between 1 – 4 weeks on average (if moving within Europe)
-
You will need to be extra organized and coordinate the move AND the home finding process
-
Make sure you have storage options in case you are not able to find a home in due time
Follow these expert tips to get organised for your move:
What to take with you once you move
-
Go through your things and decide what you want to take with you. Take only those things that you deem are absolutely necessary and will give you a sense of ‘home’.
-
If you’re moving on a tight budget, start to drastically reduce the amount of stuff to take with you. Most countries have numerous second-hand stores, so you will easily find affordable furniture.
Select moving providers
-
Ask for at least 3 moving quotes and carefully analyse them. Negotiate! See if any of them has the option of placing some items in storage and at what cost.
-
Expert tip: To identify quality international movers, make sure they are a member of the International Movers Association FIDI, which provides the only worldwide recognised quality standard in the industry. All FIDI moving companies are independently audited by Ernst & Young.
If you decide to move on your own, know this
If you decide to handle an international move yourself, you should be aware that there are sometimes restrictions to the items you can import.
Additional need-to-knows
How to select your moving provider
-
Make sure all quotes contain this info:
Weight/volume
Inclusions/exclusions
Shipping mode
Expected transit time
Required documents for customs clearance
Insurance coverage and premium
Payment terms -
Check weight/volume estimates. If there are significant differences, ask why.
-
Do not only compare the price, look at inclusions and exclusions. If they are not identical, how do they impact the quoted price?
-
Check the insurance coverage and insurance premium. A small difference of 0.5% might make a significant difference when calculated on the insurance value.
-
Evaluate the professionalism of the surveyors, the information received, the timeframe between survey and quote and the overall impressions you have of the companies.