• When it comes to deciding what you should or should not take a number of factors need to be taken into consideration. Firstly, if you are moving on business and your company is assisting you with the shipment, find out exactly what your entitlements are. Some company policies are for their employees to take a minimum air shipment of personal goods and will provide you with furnished accommodation at your new posting with the remainder of your goods going into storage in your home country. This scenario usually applies to postings of less than one or two years. Other companies may have allowances for you to ship your whole household as you may not be returning to your home country before being shipped to another overseas posting. Before you have one of our representatives call to do a survey for your move make sure you are aware of any allowances you may or may not have. Following are some tips of things to do before your move
• Keep passports separate so they are not packed.
• Clear out unwanted goods - hold a garage sale.
• Safely dispose of flammables - paint, petrol, gas cylinders.
• Empty fuel from mowers, clippers, weed eaters and so on.
• Clothes - do you need them all? Charity shops may want them.
• Separate books - disposable, family reading, valuable.
• Check all electrical goods - will they work in the new home?
• Start making up your change of address list.
• Arrange to have mail forwarded.
• Agree termination date for electricity, gas, oil, telephone and other main suppliers, and ask for bills to be made out.
• If you are taking electrical goods such as a stereo, check the loft to see if you still have their original boxes.
• Have rugs cleaned.
• If you have children, separate cherished toys to travel with you.
• Round up personal documentation - marriage/birth certificates, driving licenses and so on.
• Want to take the car? Check on import regulations and the duty payable.
• To say nothing of family pets - make sure vaccinations and documentation are up to date.
• Will your new home be ready? If not, you need to arrange temporary storage.
• Shops, schools, theatre, life styles - it’s never too early to find out about your new home. Go to the Internet or contact your local embassy for information.
• Start running down freezer stocks.
• Arrange your finances - close or transfer bank accounts, savings accounts and so on.