Get started sooner rather than later
I’m going to start with my most important piece of advice when doing international moving: get started sooner rather than later.
Give yourself time to research the types of visas your destination country offers. Sometimes there are discounts available for certain types of visas, so giving yourself time to do the research can save money on that unavoidable paperwork.
Give yourself time to properly evaluate what you’re going to take and what you’re going to leave behind. It might take longer than you think to sell the sofa or to find a buyer for your car.
The principle that time is money also applies to shipping your possessions internationally. Generally speaking, the slower you can afford to ship something, the less it will cost you. Leaving your move to the last minute and sending everything by air freight will cost you much more than if you arrange everything sooner and send the bulk of your possessions by sea or road.
Finally, getting started sooner helps to avoid unexpected shipping costs. Such costs are an unpleasant fact of life, but many of them arise due to a lack of time. If you’ve got plenty of time before your move and something goes wrong, you and your Move Manager can work on a plan that won’t cost you much more and still gets you where you need to go.
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Move smart
The more you move, the more it costs.
It would be easy to tell you to move as little as possible. But you won’t be happy in your new home if all you brought was your toothbrush. The smart move involves leaving what can be left behind, bringing what you need, and leaving room for luxury items that make you truly happy.
So take this opportunity to declutter. But don’t feel like you have to get rid of everything.
Don’t assume that you’ll have to leave behind your beloved vintage car. Naturally, it will be cheaper to leave it behind. But your Move Manager is an expert in getting the job done while keeping costs low. If you’ll desperately miss your Sunday morning drives, tell them; you might be surprised by what they can do.
As much as we wish it weren’t so, we aren’t able to guarantee that your possessions will be waiting on your doorstep when you arrive. So make sure you have the essentials with you. Consider paying for extra baggage allowances so you can bring more essentials with you.
Your credit card might offer these allowances at no extra cost. If it doesn’t, and you’ve got a good credit score, consider taking out such a card just for the allowance. You can always cancel it after the move!
Choose the right services
We know you don’t have an unlimited pool of money. So make sure you’re spending it on things that will really help you.
If you’re someone who relishes the idea of researching neighbourhoods in your evenings to find a new home, you might be able to save money by finding your new home yourself. But if the idea of navigating another country’s school admissions process stresses you out, a school finding service is going to be worth every penny.
Tell your Move Manager what’s worrying you or which parts of your move you’re struggling with. They can recommend services or tools that can reduce your stress and make your move a better experience for your whole family!
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Ask us
Your Move Manager is there to make your move a positive experience and give you the best start in your new home. So, if in doubt, ask them. Each of us has loads of experience in helping families like yours start a new life abroad, so we have plenty of advice to offer and we’re ready to help.
Speaking of help, we know that plenty of our customers worry about time as much as cost. Many of our customers want to know how long their move will take, how long a home search takes, or how much time it takes to find a school for their children.
If you’re worried about how long your move will take, read the international mover’s guide to time some of my colleagues have written for you.
For more information, check out 7 top tips from Crown experts on moving abroad!