If you are planning to move to a new country, it is a big decision whether you want to bring your personal belongings with you. The items may not have monetary value but they could hold many precious memories. As such you want them to follow you to your new destination. If you are considering shipping your items abroad, do read on to find out what is the ideal way to ship your beloved belongings.
International move via sea freight
The most common and cost-efficient way to move your items is via sea freight. If you choose this option, the moving company will make arrangements to send a container to your home. Once everything is loaded onto the container, a trucker will pick it up and transport the container to the port. The international moving companies usually offer 2 types of services and they are :-
- Door to door service where your personal goods will be picked up from your home to the doorsteps of your new home and door to port service.
- Door-to-port service is when your cargo arrives at the designated port, an agent will do the necessary for customs clearance. Once the process is completed, you may collect your personal items at the port.
Sea freight has two shipment options and they are Full Container Load (FCL) and Less Than Container Load (LCL). FCL shipment is when your belongings require a full container. If you only have a small number of items to be shipped, then choosing LCL is a better option because it is more affordable and your items will share the container space with others.
FCL or LCL For Your Move?
Whichever option you choose will depend on the number of items you are shipping abroad. Below are some other factors to consider when deciding between the two options:
- With FCL, you will have the whole container to yourself. This offers more security than LCL because, with LCL, there is always a risk of your belongings being damaged from items belonging to others when you share a container.
- While you may have got all your documents done correctly, LCL shipments are more likely to be detained by customs should they decide to examine another shipment in the same container. This will cost the shipment to be delayed.
International move via air freight
Using airfreight is a less common way to move household belongings to another country because of the cost. It is much more expensive to ship via air than shipping them via sea freight. If you require your items to arrive quickly, then you may want to use air freight. Though more expensive, it is more convenient if you have a tight timeline.
Where To Get Shipping Quotes
There are multiple shipping companies that can move items internationally. It may often be too overwhelming to search for them online and then call each and everyone to request for quotation. This is where Shiply, an online shipping marketplace can help. They can connect you to their network of reputable and reliable international shipping companies. It is incredibly simple to get an accurate and comprehensive shipping quote at Shiply. Just fill out a simple form, provide the necessary information, and receive your shipping quotes via email. With just a few quick steps, you will have your shipping needs met at competitive prices.