International Moving Companies

Ok, we might as well admit it. Moving sucks! It always has, and perhaps worse than moving is being asked to help someone to move. We’ve all been in that jam, and of course we oblige. But moving is one thing while moving internationally is quite another. You’re literally packing up your life and either strategically storing it or having to contract an international moving company to organize the whole deal.

One Google search for “international moving companies” will quickly reveal the literal supply of carriers out there. It’s extensive and obviously overwhelming at first. If a new or current employer is not handling this for you the choice is all on you. The first step after you’ve reviewed the company’s site and what they offer is to get a quote. But more than that, you should get three, from three separate companies. Price is obviously important, but with three quotes you can also compare intangibles such as number of years in the business, client reviews, friend or family recommendations, etc. Some movers provide niche services such as fine art and antique moving services while others are simply generalists.

When comparing the three different quotes first ask yourself, “are the shipment methods the same?” This will help to resolve any price discrepancies because sometimes your goods might be combined with someone else in the same shipping container or arrive in their own container. The combined option would likely be cheaper as a result. Second, are port and terminal handling charges included or not? Like packing/unpacking fee’s these are “hidden costs” in many instances and can appear in a surprising manner later.

In the moving world being FIDI or FIDI FAIM accredited is a plus. FIDI is the main international moving association, and if FIDI accredited the company complies with relatively strict quality requirements that are assessed periodically by a third-party auditor. Things like insurance and protection measures designed to cover the customer in the event of damage or loss are common and at an international level it is recommended to go with a FIDI or FIDI FAIM firm as they are by far the safest bet.

So, you’re packing everything up and have your three firms’ quotes, but have you asked yourself, “who is receiving the goods in said country?” Many international moving companies do not necessarily count on offices in every single destination worldwide. The biggies are represented in the most popular destinations, but if you’re moving from say Atlanta to Accra, Ghana, international moving company A might not have an office in Accra. In this case they will outsource to a local or other international firm with a presence and as such you should know as much about them as possible. Who are they? Years in business? Are they FIDI accredited, etc?

Lastly, for that move to Accra for example, pondering the additional services required is a must. Items like immigration assistance, house cleaning, currency transfer, car and/or pet transport and handyman services during the unpacking stage. These are all services that are frequently not included in the original quotes and must be fleshed out separately. Get everything in writing and as air-tight as possible. Nasty surprises come moving and unpacking day is worse than moving itself!

Check out some of the top rated moving companies here on Riffbuddy: Riffbuddy - International Moving Companies.