| Let the Adventure Begin! A Week-by-Week Guide to Moving Abroad
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27 Weeks Until Move: Moving Logistics - Bringing Less "Stuff" & Choosing the Right Moving Company
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Note: this is an excerpt of our free e-newsletter, Let the Adventure Begin!. For full access, please subscribe to the e-version of Let the Adventure Begin! (free). This is a synopsis of an e-newsletter issue of Let the Adventure Begin! Subscribe today (free) and you'll receive weekly e-newsletters starting 8 months before your approximate move date and running through your first four months abroad, you'll receive weekly e-newsletters with timely advice related to where you are in the preparation and settling in processes.
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NationPhone&TV's USA TV Abroad Service offers you a real US cable subscription streamed to you live from the US. You can watch on your PC, your TV, or on your mobile device! Go to NationPhone's Website for a demo today.
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We live in an age where we are attached to our "stuff", so when we find ourselves in a situation where we have to figure out how to get our stuff from one country to another, it's often a process fraught with anxiety and expense. Therefore, the more planning and preparation involved, the more smoothly the move will go.
Before choosing a moving company, do everything possible to minimize the amount of items you will move. Now is a good time to have that garage sale. These days, unless you are heading for a remote area, it might be cheaper to sell or store many of your items and buy replacements in your new country, rather than pay to have them shipped there. Keep in mind that it is usually not worth bringing your appliances due to different voltages and plugs in various countries.
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Earth Class Mail lets you view your mail online, then, with a mouse click, have it either opened and scanned for your review and download, shredded to protect your privacy, recycled to help the environment or forward-shipped to you or others 24/7, wherever you are in the world. Reduces forward-shipping costs by 50-90%!
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| Choosing the Right Moving Company
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To find a moving company, get referrals from other people. The company you or your spouse will be working for has likely moved other expats. Request past transferees' contact information to ask about their moving experience with the company. Or, ask the moving company directly for references. Of course, it would be a great idea to put a post on ExpatExchange asking for help from Expat members.
Figuring out whether a moving company is reputable is a little bit more tricky when the company may be based outside of your home country. Ask if they belong to any trade organizations in their country of origin or find out if their local branch makes them subject to regulations imposed by your home country. Verifying how long a company has been in business can help rule out that they are a "fly by night" operation.
Get estimates from several companies. Although it will be a time saver to get an initial estimate over the phone or online, when you narrow the list down to a few finalists, it is critical that you have the companies come over for an in-person estimate. It is important to remember that the lowest price is not the most important factor here. More weight should be given to the reliability of the company and the guarantee of delivery time for your goods. If possible get a binding quote instead of a non-binding quote to head off surprises once you have arrived in your new home. Maximize the amount you spend on insurance. In our next issue, we will go into more detail about Moving Insurance.
Keep in mind that many international moving companies give estimates based in cubic meters, which may not be the kind of measurement you are used to dealing with. If you are being reimbursed by your new job for some of the moving expense, be sure to find out from the company, what they want on the receipt to ensure you are fully reimbursed.
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Living abroad has a lot of benefits but exceptional healthcare isn't one of them. Global Rescue membership ensures your health and safety no matter where you reside. We will evacuate you to the hospital of your choice in your home country. Period.
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Recommended Links:
Confessions of an Expatriate Abroad: 17 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me Before Moving Day
Kathleen Peddicord
Insuring Your Valuables Against the Odds
Colin Gordon
Packing Tips for International Shipping
UPakWeShip
Other LInks
My First Steps in Costa Rica!
Romain (Jun 24, 2009)
A Day In The Life Of a Teacher Abroad
Anne Keeling (Jun 02, 2009)
Choosing the Right Location
Paul Allen (Nov 15, 2008)
Moving Abroad Means Making Your Mind Up
Paul Allen (Oct 26, 2008)
Your Insurance Options Abroad
Jack Rutherford (Oct 18, 2008)
Choosing the Right School Abroad
Liz Perelstein (Oct 11, 2008)
Moving a Pet Abroad
PetRelocation.com (Sep 06, 2008)
Choosing an International School
Kevin Bartlett (Jul 12, 2008)
Culture Shock!
Jim Kayalar (May 31, 2008)
Coaching Tips for a Successful Relocation
Piercarla Garusi (May 10, 2008)
>> See More Articles
Related Resources
AAA Nobel Van Lines
International Moving Specialist - Transport Company offering relocation service with vehicle shipping, overseas moving specialized in shipping of household goods, automobiles, boats, general cargo, personal belongings that deals with the entire process of shipping and freight moving.
AAA PriceBreak!Shipping
PriceBreak!Shipping provides a variety of international shipping services. Full Relocation Planning. Full packing / Crating services. 20' & 40' Containers / Small shipments. Over 500 agents worldwide.
American Baggage & Box Transport, Inc.
Fastlane Forwarding UK: cars & goods shipping service
International car and personal goods shipping service from the UK to all worldwide destinations. Affordable rates for both RORO (under the deck) and containers.
Forms4Parents.com
Forms4Parents.com provides parents and their children with travel, medical, custodial and doctor/emergency authorization forms that are customized to the specific needs of each child and family.
International Removals
1st Move International Removals UK offers weekly shipping services for personal and household effects and regular RoRo services for cars and boats. Full packing and insurance available. Free online quote. For shipping and moving from the UK, USA or any worldwide destination contact 1st Move International removals.
Moving Overseas Removals
Overseas removals and shipping. Moving overseas to Spain, France, Germany and all Europe. At Moveme we offer
overseas removals services, insurance and packing to Europe and over 5000 worldwide destinations. Great rates and
fast shipping times. Free online quotation. 24/7 tracking services when shipping your personal effects and household goods.
Sherisen International
Founded in 1980, Sherisen International Inc. is a cross-cultural business training company which provides training, consulting and publications for today's global manager and marketplace.
In addition to training, destination services can be offered in major cities in India.
ShippingQuest.com
Ship freight internationally using our LOW COST LCL international ocean shipping service with instant online rates.
Related Reports
Relocation Advice: China
Relocation Advice: Greece
School Review: Egypt
School Review: Switzerland
Financial Advice: China
Financial Advice: Mexico
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| This Issue Written by Kendra Redman
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Kendra Redman is a well traveled writer with a B.S. in
Journalism and a Master's in Writing. She has lived in
six countries and draws on her experience to write
about her adventures and misadventures. One of her
greatest travel accomplishments was once returning
from a trip with two end tables and two lamps as her
"carry on luggage."
She has been a contributor to websites such as
InsideOutmag.com, freshome.com, iVillage.com,
Vagablond.com and was a former country host for
ExpatExchange.com. Kendra can be reached at:
kredman2001@yahoo.com
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