At least three weeks in advance of an international move, you should contact a mover to obtain a formal written relocation proposal. The moving agent at origin will perform a visual survey of the items you will be shipping. International estimates are not firm or binding figures and the actual weight and volume of your goods once prepared for transit will determine your final price, so be sure to show the estimator everything. Estimates of shipping charges do not include customs duties, taxes, quarantine related charges or demurrage. Additional charges can accrue if your shipment must be stored, delivered above the ground floor or to an inaccessible location. Coverage against loss and damage in transit should be requested and a premium for the coverage will apply. Political risk coverage (riot or war) may be excluded or offered only for an additional premium.

Moving vans are sometimes used for shipping larger loads of household goods to Canada or Mexico, but most overseas shipping is done in wooden crates called lift vans or in metal shipping containers.

Standard lift van crates are 7'X7'X4' in size and hold 800 to 1200 Lbs each. Loose goods are packed into cartons, furniture items are disassembled as needed then wrapped or padded. Everything is stowed into the waterproofed lift vans which are banded with steel straps and may be handled by forklift. The crates are usually yours to keep and if you plan a return shipment, you should hold on to them.

Shipping containers are freight boxes with removable wheels. They are usually either 20' or 40' in length and hold 7000 to 14000 Lbs respectively. You cannot keep these containers. As with lift vans, furniture items are disassembled, padded and stowed into the container which is then sealed and trucked to destination or to a shipping port.

A three bedroom home usually requires about three days of packing, preparation and stowing at origin. Since there may be many factors which affect the routing and scheduling of your shipment, it is hard to accurately determine a delivery date. The forwarding agent will normally advise you the 'average' transit time for your goods

Upon completion of loading and after obtaining the actual shipment weight, your charges will be figured. On shipments which are not billed to a domestic company, most forwarders require payment before the shipment leaves. When you get to your destination, it is advisable to call or contact the destination agent to introduce yourself and let him know you have arrived.

To keep your cost at a minimum, take only the most essential items. If you plan to return, you should store your non-essentials instead of shipping them - or have a garage sale. On most overseas moves the price is affected as much by the cubic volume of your shipment as by weight, so use dresser drawer space to pack clothing and soft goods.

If you are using a shipping container and it is possible your goods may exceed its capacity or if you use lift vans and have a weight allowance which you cannot exceed, request the agent to load 'BY PRIORITY'. High priority items will be loaded first. If you run out of space only the non-essentials will remain behind. If you exceed your weight limit, the non-essential items can easily be removed to meet weight restrictions.

Insurance Coverage
For Household Relocations