How to pack for an overseas move
Making the decision to move overseas is huge. Once you’ve celebrated the decision, there is one major task that looms over your head until you board that first plane: packing.
Somehow, you need to pack up the materials that make up your life. You need to decide what you can’t live without and what won’t be able to make the trip to another country. Luckily, here at MoveList we have some professional insight.
We’ve seen plenty of clients go through this process and we’ve picked up some pretty useful tips for packing up your life. Let’s take a look:
Packing up your home is no easy task but with some expert tips it can be made a little easier.
1. Start with the non-essentials
When it comes to packing up all your belongings, starting is often the hardest part. The key question being: Where do I even begin?
Try setting a box in each room of your house and picking out the non-essentials: aka things you don’t use on a day-to-day basis. Work your way up to the essentials as the move gets closer. Starting early and small can help make the packing process more gradual and less overwhelming.
2. Live by the three S’s
Anyone who’s ever moved before is familiar with the ‘take it or leave it’ piles. However, these don’t always cut it when it comes to international moves. Instead, try out the three S’s: Ship, store or sell. Anything that you use on a daily or weekly basis automatically goes into the ship pile.
Store is for the stuff that has sentimental value or future utility but that you don’t necessarily need for your move. And sell is for everything that is left over. Be strict with these piles and enlist the help of some tough love from your closest friends or family when you’re really struggling.
3. Call in the professionals
Not everything you need will be stuffed in a suitcase – bigger items will require shipping. When it comes to shipping items abroad, it’s helpful to call in international removal experts to get quotes and help begin the process.
Of course, you’ll want to find a reputable company with extensive experience. MoveList can help put you in touch with a variety of different shippers with a proven track record of success.
4. Save a smile for baggage check
After you’ve pulled out all the stops during packing, there is one final pro tip. Put on your best smile for your baggage check attendant. It’s important to remember that these professionals could be the difference between letting that extra baggage weight fly or slapping on some seriously annoying additional fees.
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