Just like finding the right job or a partner, finding the right place to live can take years. Millions of people are relocating every day, whether it’s for work, studies, retirement, love or just sightseeing. Whatever the reason, moving is quite often a maddening experience, especially if you’re changing not only a city or a country but a continent. Crossing an ocean with all your belongings is a challenging task, but with these tips, you’ll manage to stay sane and on schedule.
Write Down Your Master Plan
Moving is not only painful physically, but it’s also a mental exercise as you try to plan and organize the uprooting of your whole life. Since you’ll find yourself in a whirlwind of activities, the first thing you should do is make a good plan and write down all the details. You can use a regular notebook, an agenda or a binder to hold your To Do lists, receipts, budget checklist and all the other moving-related tasks you need to accomplish. Use colored post-it notes, page dividers and markers to a group and prioritize sections. Make a list of due dates, things that need to be done, things that you can get rid of, and all the legal paperwork that has to be done prior to your moving. Although it may seem as unnecessary, this moving journal will save your mind!
Hire a Moving Company
Sure, you can move on your own, but hiring professionals will save you a lot of time and energy. Finding the right moving agency is crucial for your worldly endeavor. Get the estimates from at least three companies, compare them, and select the one that has offered the best services for a reasonable price. The price estimation depends on weight, distance, and cubic measurements of your possessions. Since you’re moving overseas, we cannot talk about transport without mentioning air charters. Find the company that has a lot of experience in air freight charter as they will be able to logistically manage your charter from A to Z. They will handle all your charter requirements whether you need to transport documentation or 100,000kg of outsized cargo. This will definitely make your moving process more enjoyable.
Do the Math
In light of the fact that intercontinental move is the most expensive one, you will have to pay extra attention to your estimated budget costs. It is imperative to get clued up about how much the moving expenses will be as well as how deep are you willing to dig in your pockets. These are some of the costs you can plan for:
- Hiring a moving company
- Moving supplies like boxes, tape, and padding
- Travel costs
- Unpaid bills
- Cleaning services
- Emergency fund
Change Your Address Before Moving
Yes, moving a long distance can make updating your information in different places a nightmare. However, you need to have all the necessary documents ready for the trip. Registration and driver’s license are just some of the important documents that need to be updated. Also, depending on the country you’re moving to, you’ll need a passport and maybe a visa as well. Take your notebook and write down a plan and all the people you need to contact. This includes everything from changing your address through postal services and contacting the company that sends you bills to updating your doctors and dentists. They will probably refer you to professionals in your new city.
Essentials Kit
When you begin to pack, prioritize the items you need to keep with you. In the sea of boxes, having the one labeled a number one is a life-saver. It should include necessities for the first couple of weeks, things like toiletries, bedding, towels, dishes, favorite clothing items, and all the important documents. Labeling your boxes will save you time and help you stay organized. A fail-proof way to do it is to pack and label all the boxes per room. Unpacking will be a lot easier if you don’t have to dig through all your items to find the one you’re looking for. When you have 50 boxes on your hand, make sure you pack your moving kit last so you can later unpack it first.
Following these tips will make your long-distance move exciting and stress-free. It’s a journey that requires more planning than the one to your neighboring city, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be nerve-racking. Packing can actually be a fun part of the moving process if you spend some time on proper planning and preparation.
