When you’re in the research stage of your international move, one of the first things you’ll probably look into is choosing international movers to handle getting your household goods and other items overseas safely.

On the surface this may seem like a simple task, however, remember that once you’ve committed to an international moving company you’ve now put all your eggs in their basket, figuratively speaking. If you find that your movers aren’t very good, researching and requesting quotes will cost you time and cost you even more money, leaving your best laid plans awry.

So how do you avoid the above situation? Here are three simple, insider secrets to getting the best international moving experience possible:

Look For A Good Track Record

So what does “a good track record” look like? Well, “track record” means they’ve been in business for awhile (10 years minimum should keep you covered). Longevity of international moving and shipping company should indicate some level of success with international shipments.

A “good” track record can be found by looking at their most recent reviews and testimonials. If you find a mover that has both longevity and great reviews then you’re off to a good start in finding the best moving company.

Don’t Let Cheap Shipping Quotes Fool You

Not all international shipping quotes are made equal. Very often shipping companies will present a price that doesn’t include everything to make the quote appear cheaper than other companies. Be wary of these companies; if they’re trying to fool you up-front, then imagine what they’ll do further down the logistics line when you’re stuff is on a boat half-way around the world.

To avoid this situation completely, ask for an all-inclusive shipping quote. This will give you a much better picture of what you’ll ultimately end up paying for your overseas move.

Check Licensing and Associations

Believe it or not, there are a lot of unlicensed movers out there. A simple way to weed these out is to check the Federal Maritime Commission license database. Ask for their license number and search the FMC to see if it’s legit.

Another great resource is to check with the International Association of Movers to see if they are members. Members of IAM must adhere to a strict code of ethics in order to maintain membership so your moving company has membership it’s a good indication that you’re working with a good international mover.

Communication Is Key

Nearly above all else, ask yourself how well does this moving company communicate?

In just about every aspect of working with your international moving company you’re going to need to communicate with them to coordinate your move. This is vital as you’re going to need questions answered, pick-ups and drop-offs arranged, customs cleared and updates on your shipment.

If their communication is suspect and not helpful, pass them by quickly and don’t wast your time with them.

How We Learned These Secrets

As one of the top international movers in the world since 1988, we’ve helped thousands of travellers, students, retirees and workers find the best, safest methods and solutions for shipping overseas.

Over those years of helping people, we’ve ran into just about every snag, hiccup, delay and other obstacles that can happen when moving your household goods and other items overseas.

What’s great about experiencing those “shipping bumps” is that we get to offer this knowledge and experience to our customers as part of our highly rated international shipping services, meaning we’ll make sure you have all the information you need get your shipment overseas safely (and in a timely fashion).

So if you have any questions about your move overseas, international shipment or anything else feel free to contact us at move@upakweship.com — we’ll be glad to help.