The Essential Moving Abroad Packing Checklist

When we are relocating abroad, it’s not practical to bring all your worldly possessions. Figuring out what to leave and what to pack is a bit of a process without moving abroad packing checklist.

So we decided to help you with none.

Don't waste money and time!

The more you pack, the more is the time consumed in packing and unpacking, the more you put in money to ship it. Deciding what to take when moving overseas is a balancing act of space and money. Sure, it’s cheaper to move with carry-on luggage only, but which you easily buy abroad or maybe just don’t require. And if you bring too much without doing research, you’ll waste money shipping things you can’t use, don’t have room for, or could have cheaply replaced in your new home.

What to bring when moving to another country?

Everything you pack when moving abroad falls into three categories: practical, legal, and sentimental.

Practical items are things you use in daily life. Clothing, medication, essential items of daily use, etc., should be packed and ready to use from day one. Depending on the country, you might also want to bring some electronics.

Things like policy documents, passports, resident proof, case papers, etc fall into the legal category. This includes any documents you need to legally enter your new country. For us, that meant our passports, a letter of entry, and backup copies of our visa paperwork.

Finally, you’re sure to have a few sentimental items that you want to bring on your journey. You will surely carry a couple of photos or books you’d like to keep. Although we left the majority of ours with family, we brought over a few things to personalize our new space.

Remember international moves are expensive. Shipping by air is costly, and sea shipments can take months to reach your new place.

Rather than pay thousands of dollars to ship our luggage overseas, we may just choose to downsize. Downsizing allowed us to bring everything we needed on the plane. It only cost a few hundred dollars in excess baggage fees and saved time on customs paperwork as well.

Moving abroad packing list

Adapter plugs

The very first thing we need to do after arriving at our new flat was charged our rapidly dying phones. There are more than a dozen variations of plug and socket types, and many countries use more than one. So do your research and buy the right type before you leave!

 

Portable battery pack

A phone searching for the network can be a nightmare. It drains your battery completely. If you cannot find a charging point, a power bank comes in handy and is a very smart option. From calling utility companies to navigating with Google Maps, your phone will be an essential part of daily life.

A dead phone is a nightmare scenario, especially if you don’t speak the local language or find yourself in an unfamiliar area.

That’s why I highly suggest carrying a portable battery pack with you.

Personal electronics

Tablets, digital cameras, etc..most of these items are expensive and pretty portable, so it makes sense to put them on your moving abroad packing checklist.

However, you’ll need to do a little research before you decide which gadgets to pack in which type of baggage. You also need to research the battery of a gadget that can handle the air pressure.

In addition to your new country’s plugs and sockets, you need to figure out the voltage. Many modern electronics accept a range of voltages and hertz, so you can use them with an adapter.

Technically, you can bring electronics that use different voltages, but you’ll need to use a transformer or converter rather than an adapter. This will cause your stuff to wear out much faster, and you run the risk of electrical shortages and fires. It’s better to leave those items behind and replace them in your new country.

Cookware

Many people have certain cooking habits. When you starting abroad, you might find it difficult to find a convenience store or maybe won't like the food available. It's important to carry certain appliances and staple items to avoid starving. If you are carrying things like knives, make sure you pack them properly to avoid any damages.

Clothing and shoes

Clothes are the most space-consuming item on this moving abroad packing checklist. To keep your bags from ballooning out of control, go through everything in your closet and ask these questions:

• When is the last time I wore this?
• Do I love wearing this?
• Will this be practical in my new country?

Answers to such questions will make it economical, smarter, and easier to pack clothing.

Entry documents

You won’t make it very far without your passport and applicable visa. Always keep your entry documents on your body or in your personal bag.

Every country has its own set of entry rules, so be sure to research them before the move. For example, you may need to show a letter proving you have the legal right to bring your child to another country.

It’s time to go through those (hopefully organized) files and lockboxes! Here are some of the legal documents you should pack:

• Birth certificates
• Marriage license
• Insurance policies

Between airport transfers and cab rides and wheeling stuff through an unfamiliar city, you don't want to risk losing our most important documents.

Photos & Books

Putting up a few photos will make you feel closer to the family you left behind. You can always remove photos from bulky frames and put them in an album for easier transport.

Leaving behind all your books is out of the question when you an avid writer But you always also buy the digital form of books than paying extra for the paperback copies.

 

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Reason to store a car in storage unit

Do you want to store your car? Do you want it to be safe? Looking for the right option?

Choose a storage unit. Perfect for your car!

The Benefits Of Storing A Car In A Storage Unit:

Storage units are great for personal belongings and vehicles because they offer plenty of benefits, including:

 

1. AFFORDABLE Option

Storage units can be of any size as you require. Store anything from cars to furniture. Depending on the size you need for your car, you could expect a rent for the same. Paying rent could be cheaper than actually maintaining the storage in a garage or buying a parking space.

2. Temparature and climate-controlled

Nowadays, most storage unit facilities offer climate-controlled storage options. This means that you don’t have to worry about the temperature outside. Your car will stay toasty warm all winter long or nice and cool all summer.

3. no security issue

The storage units are general with 24x7 security and CCTV camera installed.  You will also have a lock on it that only you can access. 

4. NO SPACE CONSTRAINT

This facility is ideal for people having multiple cars or people looking for travelling for a brief time.  You don’t need to have a house of your own. You can always sell the house and store the car in a unit.

5. maintenance

A storage unit is a clean and well-maintained facility, in order keeping your car away from water, dust or any other factor damaging your car.

6. CLOSED UNIT

Dirt, dust and debris can accumulate in storage units over time if kept in an open space or garage. But closed units reduce these damaging factors to 30%. Especially if they are older vehicles with delicate features.

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How to unpack in your new home

Welcome, Home! Let’s unpack and settle. Half the battle is over. 

Once the movers have unloaded your things and the boxes have been opened, it’s time to figure out how exactly to unpack and organize all of that stuff! The first thought that comes to our mind is what should I do next? Where should I start? Which room should I choose first?

Let us plan it for you. To help you prioritize and organize after the move, we’ve included a few tips for getting started during the first week in your new home. Best of luck!!

Start with basic necessities 

Two basic things you require in a new house are toiletries and kitchenware. Toiletries take the least time to arrange. Kitchenware and electronics are the basic requirements of a house. So first clean the kitchen and then set the items which are a basic necessity. Rest can be sorted later on.

Unpack nursery and children's bedrooms first

If you have small children or a baby, make sure you prioritize their comfort. When you have kids at home, their discomfort could create confusion and disturb the normalcy of the house between work. On moving day, the movers should reassemble all beds and cribs for you. Once these have been set up:

• Make the beds with clean sheets and pillows.

• Find a designated drawer or basket for diapers, baby toys, and baby supplies.

• Utilize closet hangers

Once the kids' bedroom is done you are halfway through. Besides beds, dressers, and miscellaneous toys, there won’t be that much else to organize immediately.

Control cords and organize electrics

Make sure that you keep your wire ties, extension, and equipment handy or your home could soon become one big tangled mess. If you have kids or pets at your place, avoid keeping plugs at a low level.

Space for the linens

Keeps a cupboard for your sheets, towels napkins, extra curtains, etc. if You don’t have space or a cupboard for it, just buy hanging arrangers for the regularly used sheets and towels. The extra curtains or sheets can be stored in suitcases or plastics and stored in the storeroom.

• Wash all towels and sheets for a start in the new home. Fresh, ironed and fragrant sheets sleep comforts are the best.

• Watch videos for the best ways to arrange and fold the sheets and towels for occupying lesser space.

 

Rest of the Kitchen

Without a doubt, the kitchen should be one of the first rooms you unpack when moving to a new house, but some things can be arranged later. A few recommendations for unpacking and organizing your kitchen space:

• Use common sense when organizing your kitchenwares. For instance, essential items (like those listed above) should be placed in easily accessible drawers. Cookware that you use often, such as pots and pans, should be placed in cabinets beside the oven. When unpacking dinnerware, make sure to place the items you’ll use more often, such as coffee mugs, plates, or cereal bowls, on lower shelves so that you can reach them more easily.

• To save space, place flat pans (such as baking sheets) in the drawer underneath the stove, if you have one.

Living Room

Make sure that you only bring in the things which fit or suit your home. Unnecessary furniture will occupy unnecessary place making you house in a museum than a house.

The entryway is the first and last thing people see when they visit your home. If you don’t work to organize this space during the first week, your entryway could turn into a chaotic pile of shoes, hats, and jackets. A few tips:

• Look for trendy options available for keeping keys, hats, dog leashes, and jackets all organized and off the floor. 

• Keep those shoes off your entryway floor by placing either a medium-size basket or a low-rise cubby by the door. These options provide a super-easy way for household members to drop their shoes in one place, instead of all around the house. 

Add an umbrella stand in the corner, and you’re good to go!

We have listed out all tips we could to make your unpacking journey worth enjoying. Remember Simple is the new beautiful.

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How to ship antiques

 

Antiques are very precious and delicate. It is having a sentimental as well as the monetary value that makes it even more fragile, especially if you’re moving long-distance. Here are few options for shipping antique furniture and other items:

1.     Don’t—sell it

2.     Parcel shipping

3.     Rent a truck and move yourself

4.     Hire professional movers

5.     Consolidated freight

Let’s take a closer look at each of these methods:

1. It is difficult but chooses or sell

It may not be worth the time and effort of moving every piece. Carefully look at the items once, decide which to keep, pack and sell the rest. Some items may make it difficult to choose but do what makes more sense practically than emotionally. To make your decision a little easier, selling some of your antiques will help you recover some of the costs of moving, and your move may even be cheaper overall. 

2. Parcel shipping

Antique items shipped using parcel shipping services are typically packaged and labelled in individual boxes. They will be shipped using the same methods as other packages—sorted on conveyor belts and loaded and unloaded by individuals at several checkpoints throughout the shipping process. For this reason, properly packing your items for transport is critically important if you are considering parcel shipping. If the item has a high monetary value, simply insure it.

3. Renting a truck and moving your antiques yourself

Getting the help of family, neighbours or local vendors are for the shifting of regular items. If you rent a truck to move your antiques, you must pack them properly before you load them into your moving vehicle—poor packing is the most common cause of damage to antique furniture. We recommend hiring professional packers and movers for this purpose to keep those antique collectibles safe.

In addition to the special considerations you’ll have to take while packing your antique furniture and other items, you’ll also have to pay attention to how you load these items into your moving vehicle:

• If your antique furniture has fragile legs, feet, or casters, load it into your moving vehicle upside down.
• Pack each antique separately to avoid breakage of any item.
• Do not stack other items, including boxes, on top of antique furniture or boxes containing smaller antique items.
• Secure antique furniture or boxes containing antiques in place using ropes so they don’t shift in transit and damage other items

The cost of renting a truck and moving depends on the size of the rented vehicle and how far you are moving. Antique furniture can be large and bulky, so you may need to rent a larger vehicle to safely accommodate these items, which will increase the cost of your rental vehicle. Some companies offer packages of packing and removable making it a better offer to choose from.

4. Hire professional movers

Whether you need to move antiques across town or across the country, it’s often best to hire professionals to help you transport antique furniture. Professional antique movers have experience of not handling such fragile items but also have experience of what to do when any specific problem take occurs. They will have the experience and equipment to properly pack and transport antique items. If you are considering hiring standard household movers, be sure to tell them about any high-value and fragile antique items so they can give you an accurate quote and arrive prepared to handle these items. 

Can be expensive, especially for long-distance moves or shipments

5. Consolidated freight

When you ship furniture or other antique items using consolidated freight, your items will share space on the truck with other items heading in the same direction. Because you only pay for the space your antique furniture takes up on the truck, consolidated freight can be a more cost-effective option for long-distance moves than hiring professional movers. The best-consolidated freight providers will connect you with an experienced long-distance shipping company that specializes in transporting antique furniture and other items. Consolidated freight is also a safe, convenient shipping method for small household moves. If you are considering consolidated freight services for your move, be sure to let your prospective shipping companies know about your high-value, fragile, and antique items so they can give you an accurate quote and make the appropriate arrangements.

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