Moves within a continent can generally be done by truck or train whereas those overseas will almost always involve ships. The mode of transport will also determine the price you pay. Companies that offer pre-determined delivery days normally do so because they group shipments together which significantly reduces costs. While a custom option sounds like a no-brainer, just be aware that it can be a lot more expensive. Some can deliver goods on exactly the schedule you want and others will give you a range of options you can choose from. How long will the move take?ĭifferent companies will have different moving fleet capacities and capabilities. Ideally, you want to use as few modes as possible while also taking into account cost and speed. Moreover, the more times your goods are moved on or off a different mode of transportation the higher the risk of damage. The shipping method will affect both the cost and speed (see below) of your move. However, for more complex moves overseas it can involve truck to port to ship to port to train and back to a truck again. For moves just across the border it might just be a simple truck. It is important that you have a clear idea just how your goods will be shipped. Therefore, it’s important you know whether or not packing is included with your quoted price as it can add significantly to the cost.įinally, while unpacking is not required by customs, you might want to ask about it as well if you don’t want to unpack things yourself. If not they could be held liable for anything illegal you might be shipping. Moving companies can provide you with a declaration of household goods to speed your stuff through customs, but to do this they need to pack your goods for you. This is designed to help combat the movement of illicit or illegal goods. It’s that most governments require a manifest or declaration of household goods and effects to be included along with your possessions. The reason isn’t simply that moving companies are trying to get more money out of you (although it sure it doesn’t hurt). However, you’re generally advised not to do so. When moving internationally you might be tempted to save money by doing all the packing yourself. Or a policy might cover damage to your goods, but not theft and/or loss.įinally, always be sure to check the coverage amount, if the maximum amount of coverage is $10,000 USD and you’re moving $100,000 USD worth of household goods, you could be in for nasty surprise if something goes seriously wrong. However, it’s very important you understand what their insurance does and does not cover.įor example, if you go with a shipping company it might only cover your goods while in transit but not while being loaded/unloaded in port. All reputable movers will have insurance. If your moving company does not offer insurance, run. Movers on the other hand will take care of all this for you, for a price of course. Shippers will almost always look cheaper, but can be more of hassle as you will have to arrange getting your goods to and from ports. This is extremely important to know when comparing costs between companies. International movers should offer a complete door-to-door moving service, whereas international shippers may only offer shipping between two ports. While this might seem a bizarre question to ask, it’s actually one of the most important. Will my goods be stored for any period of time? If so, how? What kind of packing materials do you use? What moving associations and organizations does your company belong to? Do you handle the entire move or will it involve multiple companies?
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