ADVANTAGES OF FREIGHT FORWARDING
When you hire an international moving company, you may be under the impression that they will handle every aspect of your move from start to finish. While this is true for both the start and finish of the job, many companies will hire a freight forwarding company for the shipment process. Freight forwarders are a third party company that is certified to ship items by boat from one nation to the next. They also handle checking your items through customs in the country that you are moving to. There are a lot of benefits with using a freight forwarding company, and they can save you a great deal of both money, and peace of mind.
The major benefit with using a freight forwarding company is their ability to get your items through customs. Every country has their own regulations on what items will be allowed in, and any duties or permits that need to be taken care of. There is also a lot of documentation that you will have to submit to customs, and they can help you through that process. This is not the only benefit however. Freight forwarding companies are very meticulous on transporting items. They know how to pack items onto the boat safely, and will stick to their schedule rigorously. Because of this commitment, you can rest easy knowing that, barring unforeseen circumstances, your belongings will arrive to your new house precisely on the date and time that they have allotted for you, and your things will be unharmed. They specialize in making your life, and your relocation, easier on you.
Now that you know the benefits of using a freight forwarder, you might be wondering how you can find the right one for you. Luckily, many international moving companies will have certain freight forwarders that they have worked with in the past, and can recommend to you. If you have already chosen a moving company to work with, you might want to strongly consider their recommendations, because you will know that the two companies are good at working together on a job.
There are other steps that you can take as well. First-hand information is always a good tool, so if you have any friends or family that has hired a freight forwarder in the past, ask them what they thought of the company that they used. You can also use the internet to research the company and their track record. Use the same sites that you use for checking out other businesses, and check what affiliations the company has with different international moving agencies. Any reputable company will be happy to give you any information you need about their history, and can even give you customer testimonials to support their claims. You can also request pricing quotes from several different companies, including any insurance that you may require, and compare to see which one offers the best service for your price range.
