You are moving overseas! As the initial excitement washes away, you may also feel a bit of concern about all the details involved in such a big endeavor. Having experienced professionals help with your move is one way to ease the stress involved. If you have never moved overseas before, you may be unsure what questions to ask your international moving company, so here are some tips.
Do You Provide Door-to-Door Service?
This may seem like a no brainer, but some companies are simply shipping companies and will book passage for your belongings overseas. An international moving company that is licensed by the Federal Maritime Commission, like AW Transportation, is able to handle all aspects of shipping by sea and air by providing all steps in the process of moving overseas, from packing and transporting your goods from your home to having those goods clear customs and show up at your door in your destination country.
Are you Licensed and Insured?
You want to make sure that your moving company is experienced and reputable, and one clue is whether they are licensed and insured, as well as if they offer insurance for your move. Follow up questions to ask your international moving company about insurance is what specifically is covered (loss/breakage, theft) and if the amount of insurance completely covers the value of your belongings.
Can I Pack My Own Belongings?
Packing your own belongings may be an option at some companies, and this could be a cost-saving measure for you. However, another of the questions to ask your international moving company is whether your belongings will be insured and will clear customs if you self-pack. A manifest/packing list is required in most overseas moves to clear customs and a company may be unwilling to take a risk if they are uninvolved in the packing process to see what is packed and how safely the items are wrapped.
