SOS/Affordable International Movers: FAQ's
1. How much will it cost to move the contents of my home to Europe? (Mike S.)
Thanks for contacting us Mike, first we need to determine which items you would like to move located in your household. We also need to know if you plan on shipping a vehicle as well? We would suggest that you complete the online estimate form found on this website that best relates to the services you require, providing us with a list of what you intend to move. You can also call or email us your listing as well.
If you plan to ship an entire household of goods and you live within our immediate service area we would then recommend making an appointment for one of our knowledgeable and friendly international moving representatives to come to your residence to perform a free, no obligation in-house estimate of your goods to ensure the accuracy of the international moving quotation. Once we know the overall size of your shipment and which services you need, we will send you the most economical international moving quotation available.
2. How can I find out what documents will be needed overseas for clearance of my items? (Joni M.)
Hello again, Dear Joni we would recommend that you contact the Consulate or Embassy of destined country prior to shipping in order to obtain what documentation will be needed at the time of clearance. We can also email you some reputable Customs agents overseas that can assist you with clearance of your shipment. Please note, even though we may arrange Customs clearance for you (depending on services paid for), only the owner of a household goods shipment can complete and sign the proper Customs forms that will be provided to you overseas. When speaking with the Consulate/Embassy also inquire with them if you will have to pay any duties or taxes depending on your import status and how you declare your shipment on the Customs forms, etc. Most countries will allow you to import used household goods duty free, provided you supply Customs with all documents they are requesting.
3. Should I pack any items myself or let your company pack all of my goods? (John C.)
Hi John - Thanks for contacting us, please be advised that if you plan on purchasing international shipping insurance coverage for your household items, you should then allow our company to professionally wrap and pack your breakable goods. Please note that breakable items are only covered by the shipping insurance company if they are packed by a professional company which will be shown on the inventory list that our packers will have you sign on moving day. If you pack any breakable items yourself, the insurance company will then only cover these items for fire, theft, and loss only (not breakage). If you would like to pack some of your non-breakable items, such as books, clothing, or important papers that would be okay, however please prepare your own inventory list for any items that you pack and give your inventory list to our packing crew on moving day. Your inventory list should be as detailed as possible, providing a general overview of the items you have packed.
Planning Your Upcoming Move:
There are important decisions to be made regarding what items to ship to your new home abroad. This choice is much easier if you have already purchased or rented a residence overseas. If you have the available room sizes and floor plans of your new space, you can easily determine how your furniture and belongings will fit inside of the appropriate rooms. You must also consider the hallway, stairway and elevator-lift dimensions. In other words, will the piano, oversized entertainment center, sectional couch, or other furniture fit depending on the moving access at your new residence overseas? We have listed some of the more important things that you should check prior to beginning the international shipping process.
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Contact SOS/Affordable International Movers 2-3 months prior to your moving date for a free estimate.
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Plan which items you would like to take with you to your new residence overseas. If need be prepare a few separate listings so that we can provide you with different pricing for your upcoming move, depending on what items you actually decide to ship, as some items might not be financially worth shipping internationally due to overall cost.
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Make an itemized inventory list and determine the value (in U.S. Dollars) of the items for insurance purposes. Your values should be based upon the replacement cost for each of the items being shipped.
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Gather all documents (passports, visas, airline tickets, etc.) and keep them in a safe place.
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If you purchased any new goods, have the purchase invoices available and keep them in a safe place.
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Provide your overseas address, phone number and email address, so that you can be contacted and kept informed of your shipment status and also notified if there are any problems or delays with your shipment.
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Finally we recommend that you contact the Consulate Office for the country that you are relocating to and obtain the most current information pertaining to import customs procedures. This should include any information regarding the payment of duties or taxes that might be imposed on your overseas shipment, depending on your legal status and the reason for relocating these goods, if applicable.
ITEMS NOT TO SHIP
It is recommended that you do not ship these following items
Valuable and important papers such as family records, birth certificates, marriage documents, financial information and other like documents.
Jewelry
Fire Arms (license is required for most countries)
Live Plants or Seeds (license is required in some countries)
Open bottles containing any liquids or other contents
Flammable cleaning solutions or other toxic liquid substances
Pressure spray can / Combustible materials
Check with Customs, or call the Consulate for other possible restrictions in your country of destination
