If you are moving to a new house, we highly recommend you go through this checklist and consider these recommendations.

The pre-packing phase

• Schedule your move with our relocation agent. Are you flexible with your moving dates? If so, try to avoid the peak season for moving: the summer months. The last and first days of the month have also proven to be the most busy. If you have children, keeping them in school while you arrange everything ensures a more efficient and stress-free experience for all.
• Create a “moving file” to store all receipts, bill of lading, mover contact information, household inventory and any other papers that are related to the move.
• Give your new address (and temporary one) to our team. Also notify the following institutions/people of your move when relocating to a new town, city or country:
- Your doctors and dentists and ask for a copy of your records
- Schools
- The Civil Registry Office
- Inspection
- Insurance agents
- Your attorney
- Local clubs, gyms and organizations (cancel memberships)
- The veterinarian. Make sure you have all your pet’s documents.
- The bank
- The post office
- Your family and friends
• Finish or give away leftover food and perishables.
• Donate or give away the plants and stuff you aren’t bringing with you (or sell them at a yard sale).
• Discontinue your utility contracts.
• Make the necessary travel arrangements.
• Taking into account that your cargo will take some weeks to arrive at its new destination, separate and pack the luggage you will need to take with you to get by in the meantime.
Such essentials include:

- Your keys
- Electronics (phone, laptop, chargers and adaptors)
- Valuables (jewelry and money)
- Clothes
- Toiletries
- Sufficient medication and prescriptions
- Important documents including your passport(s), travel tickets and certifications.

• Consider the voltage used at your new destination to see if you need a transformer, and whether you should pack certain appliances and electronics.
• Check if you still have the original packaging of the appliances and devices you will bring along, as these will make packing easier.
• Take pictures of your valuables.
• As our team will be walking in-and-out of your home during the move, please ensure that your pets are not walking around freely, but instead are in a secure space. We want to keep them safe and not hinder the moving process.
• Are your pets traveling with you? Make all the necessary arrangements ahead of time to avoid last-minute stress, such as getting their papers (including health certificates and vaccination booklet) in order and arranging a kennel. Our team can inform you on the country-specific customs regulations regarding your domestic animals.
• Let us know ahead of time, if you need specific help with special items. For example, we have a pump to assist with waterbeds.
• Complete the high-value inventory list given by your moving specialist.
• Remove CD’s, DVD’s and tapes from your electronic devices.
• Remove liquids from your appliances and equipment: such as water from your steam iron and water cooker, and gasoline or oil from your lawn mower, heater, grills and generator.
• Remove all batteries from your appliances and devices.
• Remove all the contents of your fridge and freezer and defrost your freezer at least 24 hours prior to packing.

The packing phase

• Upon arrival, please show the team leader what needs to be packed, or transported and which items require special care.
• Mark the boxes, so you know what’s in them and which will need to be unpacked first at your new place.
• While our team packs and loads your belongings, we will need you to be available to answer questions and direct the crew.
• Let our team pack the fragile items, as we have the materials, skill and strategy to handle these with special care.
• Once our team is done, do one last walkthrough with our team leader to make sure you didn’t forget anything- check all the rooms, the garden, the shed, drawers, cupboards, closets and hidden nooks.
• Our team leader will then give you paperwork to sign; read it carefully and check that the inventory mentioned on it is accurate.

Packing no-no’s & rules

• Do not pack liquids; that means no alcohol (if you insist on importing alcohol, you may need to pay duties and taxes), no cleaning materials, paint or bleach.
• Do not hide anything within the freight. Customs will check it thoroughly.
• Drugs and narcotics are prohibited.
• In general importing firearms requires licenses.
Last to-do’s
• Turn of all the lights, lock the windows and doors.
• Check your mailbox.
• Take that last photo of your house as a memento.
• Hand in your house keys if need be.

The transportation phase

• Our team has the skill and experience to handle your belongings with care and will do everything in their power to deliver them in perfect condition. In the unlikely case of damage or loss of goods during transportation, we do recommend getting insurance, which we can arrange for you.
• Once your belongings are shipped, a destination agent will send you the necessary documents for customs clearance. Please check, sign and send these forms back to the agent before shipment arrival to avoid delays and additional charges at the destination port. If the shipment is not picked up within 3 to 4 days after arrival, detention and demurrage charges between USD 25-USD 100 per day will incur. The procedure and duration of the customs clearance varies per country, which we will inform you on.
• As soon as the shipment is cleared by customs and picked up, our agent will contact you to make the necessary delivery arrangements. Please give any and all information required to ensure a smooth delivery process. This includes confirming the correct address and where the boxes will need to be unloaded (which floor and room) and informing whether there is an elevator in the building, if there is parking space and which day/time the delivery can take place. Once all is delivered, you will need to check and sign the inventory list, delivery receipt and the quality report.

Import duties & exemptions

As indicated previously, the import duties and regulations depend on the country. In general though, you can request an exemption of duties if you have purchased your goods (including a motor vehicle) at least six months prior to the relocation. You must be able to prove that these goods were not bought to benefit from duty-free import. To do so, you must be able to indicate that these goods have been used before and show willingness to keep these purchases for a least another year. Our agent can prepare these exemption documents on your behalf. If you are not eligible for this exemption, you will have to pay import duties which will be calculated based on the customs declaration value: the blue book value including the ocean freight charges and the insurance premium.

Are you moving with kids? Click below for tips and tricks.