Relocating abroad can be just as daunting as it is exciting, especially when it comes to moving your belongings overseas. Those who have underwent a lengthy move before know that choosing the right international moving service can make all the difference in how easy the moving experience will be. To make things even easier, below is a list of planning and packing tips that anyone moving internationally can appreciate, starting with the most important:
Less Is More
The most helpful tip that individuals moving internationally can receive is to leave their “stuff” behind. This isn’t to say that you should leave everything. Individuals should perform an audit of the things they are planning on bringing. Toss out or donate anything that you won’t need, isn’t valuable or has no significance to you personally. Larger items may be best sold and then re-bought after you have settled into your new location rather than paying to have them shipped.
Carry the Essentials with You
No one should move to a new country empty handed. There are some items that you should keep on your person rather than leave in the hands of a standard international moving service. This includes
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Prescription medications (It can take days if not weeks to find a new doctor in you new location. Bring a couple months’ worth of prescription medications with you)
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Toiletries
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Towels
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Bed sheets
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Shoes
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Clothes
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Laptops
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Cell phones
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First aid kit
Gather Your Supplies Well In Advance
As soon as you decide to make an international move, start gathering supplies and packing away items your international moving service will be relocating for you. Some of the must-have supplies include:
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Numerous boxes of varying sizes
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Packing tape
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Labels
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Pens
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Cushioning material (i.e. foam packing nuts, bubble wrap, etc.)
Light Items in Big Boxes, Heavy Items in Small Ones
As tempting as it may be to load everything up in one big box, if the items are too heavy then your box will not last. Clothing, towels and other light items can be placed in large quantities within larger boxes. But for heavier items such as books, place them in smaller boxes and pack them in smaller quantities.
Make a List as You Pack
You’ll want to keep track of all of the items that you’re packing into boxes. That way, you can be sure that they haven’t become lost when the international moving company handles your item. This can be most easily done by moving from room to room and making a list of all of the items you want to pack. Then as you pack and consider items, cross off or add to the list as you go.
