Packing for international relocation: safe fixes

Moving house overseas involves a lot of decision making. Transporting certain things will often cost you more than buying new ones. In order to reduce moving costs, you need to say goodbye to most of your stuff. Therefore, before calling one of the moving companies Brazil has to offer, decide what to take with you and what to leave behind. Getting rid of used items is not that hard. Donating, selling, recycling, storing – you have various options. Also, packing for international relocation has to be done very carefully.

Shiping your belongings overseas is costly and risky.

Packing for international relocation – what to pack

We know how hard parting with personal belongings can be, especially if it’s forever, but you need to be perseverant. What items to pack depends on many factors. Here are some of them.

• The import restrictions. Before you start packing for international relocation, check what items are allowed to cross the border. For example, certain substances, weapons, plants or animals could be prohibited. The embassy of that country can provide all the information regarding customs fees, import restrictions, and other duties.
• The reason for relocation. For example, if you’re retiring, you’ll be dedicating more time to your hobbies. If you are planning to study in a foreign country, you’ll probably need more study materials.
• The weather. The climate of the new country is crucial when choosing what clothes to take. For example, you definitely won’t need ten woolen sweaters in a tropical area. Furthermore, your outdoor activities depend greatly on the weather. Do you expect to ski or go to the beach in your free time? In addition, conditions like low or high humidity may damage certain items.
• The prices. How much certain items cost is very important. What items can you replace easily? Compare the moving costs and the costs of new items. Simply do the math.
• The new home. Is it furnished? Partly or fully furnished? Does it have all the appliances you need? How big is it? Does it have a garden?

Clothes and shoes

When it comes to clothes and footwear, you should leave most. Getting rid of clothes is actually easy, in theory. If it’s wearable, give away, sell, donate. If not, recycle. Helping those in need is noble and rewarding, just make sure the clothes look decent. Also, some retailers offer discounts on new clothes if you bring old ones. You could make extra cash for the move by selling your old stuff.

Now, how to decide what to keep? First, eliminate the clothes you never wear and those that don’t fit you. You should have done this a long time ago, right? Forget about the what-ifs: What if I lose weight? What if I this trend comes back? Keep the items that will be practical. Also, if you’re into fashion trends, remember that what’s trendy here may not be trendy there.

Furniture

If possible, avoid bringing any furniture with you. If you’re moving into a small space, you can’t bring too many things anyway. If your new place is furnished, you have nothing to worry about. In any case, the lighter you pack, the better. So, try to avoid big, heavy items. Their shipment costs a fortune, plus they’re fragile.

Electronic devices

Most electronics are probably not worth taking. They’re usually expensive to ship and fragile. And will they work at all? Bear in mind that they may not be suitable for the voltage output in your new place. Bring only the basics, like your computer. Before shipment, back up the important data on the computer, just in case.

Vehicles

Vehicles should also stay where they are. Cars are very difficult to move, bicycles are pretty easy, while scooters or motorcycles are somewhere in between, but they’re expensive. When moving a car to some countries, you may need to pay expensive taxes. Furthermore, when the vehicle arrives, you need to have it checked by a professional to make sure it’s in good condition.

To sum up, pack only the essentials and the things that are hard or impossible to find in the country you’re moving to, especially the items that have sentimental value.

Since delivery takes ages, send your shipment as early as you can.

Packing for international relocation – how to pack

Due to several loadings and unloadings, while traveling a long distance, your items might get damaged, especially the fragile ones. Hence, you need to be extra careful when packing for an international move. In case you are not sure you have the skill to do it and wish to avoid any risks, consider using packing services in Brazil.

• It is important that nothing moves in the box during transportation.
• Put heavier things on the bottom.
• Put smaller items inside bigger ones.
• When packing liquids, which you should avoid, at least make sure nothing leaks. Use sealable plastic bags and boxes.
• Disassembled parts travel better. So, disassemble anything you feel comfortable disassembling but be very careful and use the appropriate tools. The best solution would be letting a professional do it instead.

Packing the fragile

When packing fragile items, a generous amount of good packing supplies is necessary. Without strong boxes, quality tape and a lot of cushioning they’re doomed. Be practical – clothes could serve as cushioning, too. Make sure every item is individually wrapped and the box is tightly sealed. In addition, always label those boxes as “fragile” or “handle with care”.

As for the electronics and appliances, fill their boxes with anti-static packing peanuts, use foam sheets or bubble wrap. Furthermore, highly sensitive parts, like screens, need extra protection. The same goes for cables, chargers, and wires. Use original packaging if you still have it.

Moving your possessions overseas

With the help of experienced packers, packing for international relocation is easier than it seems.

Now that you’ve decided what to take, the next thing to do is find the right moving company. Packing for international relocation is much faster and easier with professional help. Moreover, reliable movers will make sure your possessions reach their destination unharmed. If you need to store some of your items, avoid ordinary garages and basements. Since you’ll be gone for a while, opt for high-quality storage facilities in Brazil because a lot of materials are extremely sensitive.