Are you gearing up for an international move? Needing help thinking through a moving method? It’s both exciting and stressful, and with so much to do, you might feel like a chicken with its head cut off at times. While moving on its own is stressful enough, international moving brings about an entirely new element. You can’t just toss your household into a truck and drive across the country. You now need to deal with going through customs, paying a premium for weight, and dealing with the delay of moving items from your current home to your future home. Don’t worry, though – the team at Winter Moving & Storage is here to help. Here are just a few of the best moving methods for an international move:

Start As Early As Possible

International moving takes significantly longer than moving within the country. There is more paperwork you need to deal with, and there might be some items you can’t take with you. It will take longer to sort through items as well, so you don’t want to put this off when thinking through your moving method. As soon as you know about your international move, you’ll want to begin planning. Also, give Winter Moving & Storage a call. They can give you a checklist of what you should do and when everything should be done before your move and your specific time frame.

Get Rid Of As Much As Possible

Space will be at a premium when moving internationally. Unless you’re moving to Mexico, Canada, or a few locations in South America, the chances are good that your household goods will either be shipped via plane or more than likely, shipped on a boat. Space is at a premium unless you’re willing to pay for more. To save money, you’ll want to sell off and get rid of as much as possible. You might love your couch or your bed, but there’s a good chance for the price it costs to ship it and move it, you’d save money by selling it and buying a new one in your final destination. Plus, the fewer things you have to deal with moving, the less stressful your move will be.

Document What You’ll Move

Another key factor in the international moving method is documentation of everything you’re moving. Winter Moving & Storage can help with this. You should also know what you can and cannot bring into the country. Some countries, especially island nations (and that includes more significant regions like Australia) are very strict with items made from wood and animal materials (like leather). You don’t want to pay a hefty amount to ship your great grandmother’s armoire only to find out you can’t import it. So look into this before moving.

Ship the Essentials

There will be some items you want as soon as possible. First, pack your essentials (like your favorite clothing and basic electronics). You should consider shipping other things you’ll wish to sooner rather than later. Now, don’t try and send the family library. That’s heavy, and it will be costly. Instead, look at shipping clothing and other lighter items.

Copy Your Documents

Make copies of all your documents. You’ll need several copies when working with the different shipping providers and at the ports where you’ll be picking everything up.

By following through with these tips and suggestions, you’ll avoid some of the more significant pitfalls associated with international moving. Moving out of the country is exciting, but it can also be stressful. Due to this, let Winter Moving & Storage assist you with your international moving method. The team of professionals will help you with your documentation as well as the packing and shipping. This way, you can focus more on moving yourself and your family to the new location and less on where your boxes are in transit. If you’re in the middle of international moving, or if you have questions about the services offered, Winter Moving & Storage is here to help.