Relocation or moving home furniture internationally is a complex process that is difficult to decide. No matter the reason you are moving – for work, study, or personal reasons- it can be challenging to transport your furniture to a new country. The good news is that with the right approach, it can be a relatively pain-free experience. In this article, we’ll cover all the basics to help guide you through the process of moving home furniture internationally, from the decision to ship to comfortably settling in with your new furniture at home.
The Big Decision: To Ship or Not to Ship?
The first decision that must be made before thinking about how you’ll transport all your furniture is whether it is viable to take your furniture with you or if you should buy new items. Several factors will influence this decision, including:
- Sentimental Value: He says that if the furniture is sentimental, then the time and money spent on shipping it across the world are well spent. Personal belongings that can be indispensable are also family heirlooms, favorite chairs, or a favorite dining table, and such items have to be shipped.
- Furniture Condition: Ask yourself whether the furniture you’re storing is still good enough to be used when you move into your new home. If it is damaged, lost, or outdated, it will actually cost less to buy new ones.
- Replacement Cost: International shipping of furniture is usually expensive. This is because some furniture may be considered heavy or bulky. Consider the cost of buying all your furniture when you get to your new country of residence. In some instances, the price people pay for having their goods shipped is much more than the value they will get by holding on to them.
- Space Constraints: If you are moving from a small house to a large one, it becomes impractical to transport large furniture to your new home. Sometimes, this means you have to let go and get smaller pieces instead of hoping to be able to make bigger ones again.
Shipment Opportunities of Your Products
When you have already decided to transport furniture, it is high time to consider what shipping can offer. International furniture transport is mostly done using sea and air transport modalities.
- Ocean Freight: International moving of furniture, especially large furniture, is usually done through the sea since it is cheap. Usually, furniture items are taken into shipping containers, and a cargo ship is used to transport them. Although the method takes more time than air freight, it is cheaper and suitable for large products such as sofas, wardrobes, and dining tables. However, the major disadvantage of this mode of transport is the long time taken for the transport occasion, which ranges from weeks to months, depending on the distance.
- Air Freight: For those people who need to transport goods quickly, air methods are more effective but cost more money. Transporting furniture by air also will not take too many days as it will take through some other means like rail or road transport. However, the most suitable means of transport for the above cases is air transport, which is preferred for small shipments or for moving valuable furniture requiring special handling. Due to the high cost of air freight, the need for speed comes with the extra cost in mind.
Selecting the Perfect International Mover as Our Partner
When moving your furniture across the globe, you should hire a reputable international moving company to deliver your property safely and efficiently. Hiring a professional mover will take time and effort off your hands and deal with you with all the intricacies of international shipment. When choosing the right company, keep these factors in mind:
- Experience: Choose a moving company with previous experience in furniture transportation across borders. This is because a company that has transacted in international moves before knows the move’s rules, regulations, and industry practices.
- Licensing and Insurance: Make sure that the company you are choosing is authorised to practice international moving services. This will shield your furniture and guarantee that it is in safe hands with a genuine business.
- Services Offered: Various moving companies provide various services, so it is essential to choose a company that offers the required options: packing, storage, customs clearance, etc. Some companies, for instance, International removal company PSS, deal in everything related to international removal services, including packing services.
- Cost Transparency: Ask for a detailed invoice each time you employ the services of any moving company. This completely eliminates any chances of having to deal with charges that are not mentioned while using the company’s services. Still, you have to ask about how much it will cost for insurance, the package, and, of course, the services you may require.
How to Get Your Furniture Ready for Its Trip
To this end, every necessary measure must be taken to ensure that the furniture you purchase will not be damaged before it gets to your home. Here are a few tips for getting your furniture ready for the journey:
- Disassemble When Possible: Many large pieces, such as beds, desks, bookcases, etc., should be put in separate boxes, as it is cumbersome to move them around, and they are likely to be damaged. You should strip your furniture of any removable parts, including legs and drawers, so you can easily pack them.
- Protect Every Inch: Furniture should be covered with fragile materials such as bubble wrap, moving blankets, or foam padding. These materials will protect your furniture from getting scratched, dented, or damaged when moving to another place.
- Fill Empty Spaces: Moreover, it is advisable to take additional measures; this can be done by filling all the gaps you might find in furniture, for instance, drawers or cabinets, with soft solutions like towels or clothes. This will help avoid a scramble of the items when the articles are conveyed.
Customs Clearance: Navigating the Bureaucracy
When sending furniture to another country, you must clear your consignment through customs, which can be quite a task. It’s important to discover what permits and paperwork are necessary, as waiting for them is among the major causes of delay.
- Inventory List: For customs clearance, a list of all your furniture items is necessary. The list should, therefore, provide a detailed description of each item, its value, and its condition. Be as detailed as possible.
- Proof of Ownership: Sometimes, customs authorities may wish to be sure that you actually own the furniture you are transporting. This would be done using receipts, photographs, or any other form of paperwork that shows the products belong to you.
- Restricted Items: Customs regulations worldwide may vary regarding the allowed and prohibited items to be brought in. Some products, such as antiques and those manufactured from endangered species, are prohibited or may require the importer to secure special permits. Before traveling to any part of the world, make sure you have checked the regulations of the country that apply to customs.
- Insurance: Even if you engage a moving company that insures the moved goods, you also need to add your furniture by getting additional insurance coverage in case you lose the furniture or it gets damaged. Make sure that the insurance you have takes account of the carriage of the goods from the point of origin to the delivery point.
Settling into Your New Home: The Final Stretch
Once your furniture arrives at its destination, it’s time for the final phase of the move: settling in.
- Inspection: When you get to your new place, make sure that you check all the items carefully to see if they were damaged in the process. If you ever experience any of these problems, ensure that you contact your moving company or your insurance company promptly.
- Reassembly: Return the items to the respective places, as arranged by the moving company or as earlier advised. You might require help with big parts like the bed or wardrobe,” he said.
- Unpacking and Arranging: Last, take out your belongings and organize your furniture according to how you want it in the new house. Don’t rush when placing every item, and try to make a pleasant realization that the house you bought is now a home.
Conclusion
Moving home furniture while relocating internationally may not necessarily be as overwhelmingly tough as it may seem at first. So, when choosing your options, working with professional movers, and taking proper precautions to cover your furniture, you will be confident that all your items will reach the intended destination safely. International moving is not a complicated process; however, knowing about available transportation options will help make your move easier and relieve some of the stress.
