Lost in Translation

As you begin packing your Rosetta Stone disk, your translator, and your valued collection of foreign films, the nerves of moving overseas, better known as “butterflies,” begin to float around your insides. Unfortunately, relocating internationally can cause major anxiety, especially the idea of committing simple errors. See, once you move internationally, retrieving anything you may have left behind will be extremely tricky. So here’s an explanation on how to avoid making those familiar mistakes when moving across country borders. 

The biggest gaffe you can make is to not hire a reputable and trustworthy movers. After all, you’re not moving down the street, so relocating yourself isn’t an actual possibility unless you own a cruise ship or private jet. Therefore, make sure that you hire a qualified moving company that’s capable of safely moving your belongings overseas. Do your homework before hiring anyone; remember that all moving companies will claim to specialize in international moving, so it’s imperative that you do your research on every company you’re considering and choose the one that better suits your needs.

Another common oversight is lack of preparation. You need to make sure that you give yourself proper time to distinguish between what the moving company will take, what you’re taking on the plane, and what you will be keeping in storage. Give yourself plenty of time to sit down and properly organize this list, because it’s not the type of thing you do last second. Moving internationally is serious and so should be your planning. As a matter of fact, pack everything at least a month in advance; this should be sufficient time to determine what you need to take and to pack your suitcases and boxes correctly.

People often make the error of not being in constant communication with your relocation company. This is pertinent because you need to continually discuss schedules and deliveries. Listen, things happen and your moving company may have to delay the arrival of your belongings for whatever reason. That being said, don’t allow it to amplify your stress, simply stay in communication with them and keep track of what exactly is going on. The more dialogue there is between the both of you, the more you can rest assured that your international relocation will go smoothly.

The final check point is to know all of the rules of international travel. That means you need to learn of the various policies and regulations regarding international shipping, imported goods, etc. Don’t allow your belongings to get stuck because you weren’t aware of particular regulations. Also ensure that you have all the proper forms of identity when traveling, such as your license, passport, and whatever else you may need. If you’re not sure about the rules related to overseas travel like shipping regulations, just ask your moving company; they will be familiar with these regulations. Keep track of everything and ensure that the moving services you paid for were provided efficiently and in a timely manner.