Getting ready for an international move is daunting, especially if you’ve never done it before. The experience is brand new, and it involves much more coordination and planning than a domestic relocation.
How can you ensure you take the right steps to achieve a successful international move? Before you do anything, it’s crucial to be aware of what mistakes you should avoid. By being aware of common missteps, you can set yourself up for a smooth, streamlined moving experience.
Learn the top international moving mistakes you should avoid ahead of your move abroad with this guide.
As you prepare for an international relocation, one of the most important parts of the process is researching. Not only does researching help you with the task of moving, but it also provides you with the information you need about your new home. Without completing thorough research, you may be completely blindsided about what you should expect before, during, and after your move to your destination country. To prevent the risk of any unpleasant surprises or oversights, be sure to research extensively before you embark on your move.
Another significant aspect of international moving is planning. The process is complex, and planning can make a huge difference in combating these complexities. On the flip side, an international move without enough planning can quickly crumble, becoming a disorganized mess. Once you’ve completed the necessary research, planning as much as possible is the key to success. You will want to create a timeline, a to-do list, a budget, and an inventory of items to help you through the move. Although planning requires significant time and energy, it will save you a lot of trouble in the long run.
One part of international moving that makes it more complex than domestic moving is the necessity of paperwork. Completing the right paperwork for your relocation in a timely manner is critical to entering your destination country without any delays. If you procrastinate applying for your visa, this can create major issues, preventing you from moving on your projected date.
It’s no secret that moving to a different country can be an expensive venture. Budgeting is the best way to plan accordingly and identify areas where you can cut costs. When people make the mistake of skipping the budgeting step, this can quickly result in overspending and financial difficulties. Understanding the financial element of your overseas move will help you to anticipate the costs of each step and can even result in savings.
International moving can be stressful and tiring, and sometimes, people react to those challenges by procrastinating their moving efforts. Although putting these crucial tasks off might be tempting, it’s of the utmost importance to avoid procrastination and handle all moving preparations in a timely manner. Although it may feel difficult in the moment, completing your tasks according to the schedule will yield the best results for your relocation.
Saying goodbye to your home country is hard, and saying goodbye to your belongings on top of that can feel like too much. However, bringing all of your belongings without decluttering is a major mistake to avoid ahead of your international move. Decreasing the amount of items you bring to your new country can significantly reduce costs and will undoubtedly save time and energy on packing. Decide which items you no longer want or need, and declutter them accordingly. If you can’t fully part with an item but don’t want to bring it overseas, opting for long-term storage can offer a solution.
Professional international movers can make a huge difference in a move abroad. These international relocation experts have extensive knowledge and experience in overseas moves, and this allows them to understand the best ways to approach their many intricacies. However, booking international movers—especially during the busy season—can be difficult. To ensure your desired dates are available, aim to book with your moving company as early as possible. As an added bonus, booking in advance can sometimes result in savings, so aim to schedule early.
During international moves, protecting your fragile items is more important than ever. With longer journeys to endure, your items will need the appropriate protection to ensure they don’t sustain damage in transit. If you skip thoroughly securing your belongings before placing them in boxes, you may find various damaged items upon arrival. Instead, take the time to safeguard your belongings with sufficient packing materials, or opt for professional packing services to ensure your items are packed securely.
The international moving process takes time, and oftentimes, people underestimate how long it will take. This can result in a hectic relocation, fraught with unnecessary stress and rushing. Do your research to understand how long visa processes take in your destination country, and start moving preparation early to ensure you aren’t cramming to pack right before moving day. Overall, this will make your move much smoother.
By avoiding these nine common moving mistakes, you can set yourself up for a streamlined international moving experience.
Looking for a trusted international moving company to help you along the way? Choose Allied International, your dependable source for international relocation services for 136 years. Our highly-rated moving, packing, and storage solutions allow our customers to enjoy smooth, stress-free international moves with the help of experienced professionals.
We carefully and methodically pack and crate your items, ensuring their safe and secure arrival. We take pride in the expert packing, crating, and handling of your possessions.
Our aim is to have your belongings safely and quickly transported to your new location, with a focus on customer service and your utmost satisfaction.
We provide you with a personal moving coordinator. You can check in any time you wish, connecting to the same person who will be very familiar with your particular custom moving plan.
