International moving is one of the most stressful events in a person’s life, and it can be overwhelming both emotionally and physically. But if you learn how to move efficiently, you’ll reduce some of the stress and have a smooth transition. And with our tips and tricks, you’ll stop asking yourself, “how do you move efficiently” and make all arrangements on time.
No matter what your reasons to move are, whether you are relocating abroad alone or with family, the process of moving internationally will be similar. From figuring out how to live in another country to packing your entire life, it can be a daunting experience. But with little planning and organizing, you’ll be able to perform successful relocation in a blink of an eye.
When Moving Abroad, You Need to Do Some Research First
Before you start packing your entire house, you must first research what belongings you can bring with you. Because even if you are relocating to some of the best places to live abroad, you still have to know all about the rules and regulations that countries have when it comes to importing things. Even some US states have different regulations, so relocating to Hawaii brings its own restrictions, especially if you are relocating with a dog or some other pet. You can visit the US Department of State website and find out all about importing and exporting regulations of the country you are planning to relocate to.
Gather All The Documents You Need
While you are doing the research about rules and regulations, it is also the moment to gather all the documents you need for travel. If you are relocating for a job, you’ll have to ask your employer all the questions about work visas or work permits. Is this something you need to acquire, or is the paperwork filed by your employer? Depending on the country you are relocating to, you can either get a visa once you enter the country or apply a couple of months earlier. If the latter is the case, make sure you start this process on time because of administration.
How to Move Efficiently – Get Organized
The best way to move abroad is to create a good strategy for the entire process. That’s because, aside from the hard work on breaking the language barrier, you’ll have other things in mind once you relocate. And even if you are relocating to some of the friendliest countries in the world, adjusting to new surroundings and culture shock can be quite overwhelming. And believe us – you do not need problems regarding relocation added up to the list of stressors you will have. That is why it is crucial to do all the preparations before relocation so your adjustment can be much smoother and easier.
Book Your International Moving Company On Time
Relocating across the world is nearly impossible without an international moving company. So once you decide where you are going to live you should book a moving company. But before you do that, assess everything and see what kind of services you require. Will you be shipping your car overseas? Are you going to relocate your entire household or not? Depending on the number of belongings you plan to bring, you can choose two types of shipping service – shipping by air and sea.
Shipping by air is faster, but it costs more, and the number of belongings you can bring is limited. While shipping by sea can take longer, it costs less, and you can bring all your possessions. So decide on the options before you contact your movers and your belongings will arrive at your new destination in the shortest possible time.
Deal With the Clutter
So you took the first step, contacted your movers, set the date, and now they should come to your home to give you an in-home estimation of your move. This estimation is done so you can get a precise quote for your move. So before they arrive, it would be good to decide what to pack and what to get rid of. There are probably tons of belongings you don’t require or want to bring with you. Create a list of belongings you plan to bring it will be useful not only for estimation but also for the customs.
Get rid of all the belongings you haven’t used in more than two years. When dealing with fragile items, keep only things you know you will use. Downsizing for a move is a good way to reduce your relocation stress and cut some expenditures. You can either donate unwanted belongings or sell them online or on a garage sale.
Create a Layout Of Your New Home
While you are deciding what to keep and what to get rid of, it would be good to know how your new home will look. To be precise, it would be good to have the measurements of your new abode. As you know, relocating to Argentina may come with cheap rent, but the houses and apartments are probably a lot smaller than you are used to. In fact, even if you move to one of the best European countries to live in, you will probably end up in a smaller home. So ask your real estate agent or landlord to give you the measurements of your new home. This way you will know what pieces of furniture to bring and what to leave behind. If you have a layout of your home, your packing and planning will be much easier and efficient.
Get The Right Packing Supplies For Your Items
Once you know how many belongings you are bringing with you, it is time to purchase some high-quality packing supplies. If you hire movers for packing service, you will probably skip this step because most reputable movers will not charge for these supplies. On the other hand, if you decide to do the packaging yourself, you will require the following items:
- Medium-sized boxes,
- Labels and markers,
- Bubble wrap,
- Paper,
- Plastic wrap,
- Cushioning,
- Duct tape and duct tape gun,
- Blankets for furniture.
Most Efficient Way To Pack For Moving
No matter if you are relocating to Canada or an Asian metropolis like Bangkok, knowing how to efficiently pack to move is the key to a stress-free relocation. And if you followed the steps above, half of the job is already done. And if you wonder when should you start packing to move, the answer is at least three weeks before a date you set with movers.
Start Packing Room By Room
And now to answer the question of what is the most efficient way to pack for a move. It is to do it in stages. In what order should I pack my house to move, you may be wondering. First, go room by room and deal with the belongings you don’t regularly use (for example, winter clothing if you are relocating in summer). Then, categorize things to pack, like books, fragile belongings, documents, cosmetics, and others. Create a plan for when you will deal with those items. The best would be to do specific categories one day at a time.
Packing Boxes – Best Tips for International Moving
As you know, when relocating overseas, no matter what type of shipping service you get, your belongings will go through many hands and will be on a trip for some time. This is why it is crucial to seal each container in the right way before putting it on a truck so you don’t end up with something missing or damaged. First, reinforce the edges, bottom, and top of the container with duct tape. This will prevent the container from tearing apart. Also, place your clothing, bedding, and pillows in garbage bags before putting them in the boxes.
Learn How To Pack Fragile Items
When relocating abroad, you will have to take extra care of your fragile belongings. When dealing with dishes, use bubble wrap or paper and wrap each piece before placing them in the box. Put a layer of cushioning on the bottom of boxes and put another layer between each level of fragile belongings. What is crucial is not to leave any hollow spaces between the pieces, so they don’t get damaged by moving inside the box.
For your large and bulky fragile items, the best is to use pliable cardboard or cardboard sheets so you can create custom boxes for every piece. Lamps should be disassembled beforehand and packed separately – body and a shade. For flat TV, you should use a styrofoam sheet and bubble wrap. The sheet should be placed inside the screen for extra protection. Later on, you should all wrap with a cardboard sheet and create a custom container this way. Write the model of the TV on the box and where the screen is located.
Use Combination Of Labeling Systems For Your Boxes
How can I make moving easier, might be your question. The answer lies in good labeling. This will help you not only to unpack easier but also with customs. Write a detailed description of everything in each box and label it on every side of the box. This will make it easier for customs officers to let your boxes go without any additional checkups. Aside from the inventory list, you should also write “fragile,” “heavy,” or the room container is supposed to be placed in (kitchen or bathroom). Check this video for more tips on good labeling.
Moving Overseas Is Unimaginable Without Your Essentials
While you are packaging, do not forget to bring bags of essentials for each family member. As we mentioned, your belongings may be on a trip for some time, and you will want to have all the necessities with you at your new destination. Put everything you require to have a normal life and like you are going on a short vacation. Here are some items to put in your essentials:
- Clothing and underwear,
- Hygiene products,
- Hairdryer,
- Phones and laptops,
- Chargers,
- Dog food (if you have a pet),
- Bedding,
- Documents,
- New address,
- Cash,
- Credit cards.
Before You Head Off To Connect With Expats Communities
Last but not least, before you head off, it would be good to connect with some fellow Americans who are living in the destination country. They can help you in many ways. You can ask them all the questions you may have about living in the chosen country. They can help you to better prepare for a trip and give you guidance on what mistakes to avoid. And lastly, if you have some friends there, your transition and adjustment will be less stressful. There are websites that connect expats from all over the world. You can sign up there and ask all the questions you have, or you can read reviews of other people with similar experiences left. Just type Internations.org and find expat community at your destination.
Another thing you can do is to post on your social media accounts that you plan to relocate to that particular country and that you need guidance and advice. Who knows, maybe a friend of a friend recently moved there and can help you out. Either way, the whole transition process will be much more bearable if you have someone to talk to or someone who can fill you in on how things work in that country.Planning to relocate to another country but do not know where to start? With our tips and tricks, you will learn how to move efficiently and without stress.
