Moving is stressful enough when it’s done locally. So it’s easy for people to be overwhelmed when they need to move overseas. The many logistical concerns can easily consume and paralyze an inexperienced mover. Such should not be the case as there is absolutely nothing that you can’t do if you plan properly and have the right information with you. When moving internationally, you should not only know how to protect your furniture the right way, but you should also know who to work with, what you can’t bring, and the time it takes to move items. These things are what this post will inform you about.
Moving to Australia
An average of 100,000 people move to Australia every year. Australia is a beautiful country and people see themselves living better lives when they move to the land down under. The littlest continent on Earth bears so much promise for a bright future. Moving to the country is not impossible but it takes quite a lot of work. After conquering all the documentary and visa requirements, you’d be faced with yet another big task: moving your household belongings. There is much that you can research on the process itself, but there are three highly important things that you should know when you’re moving overseas to Australia, they are the following:
Work with a reputable and competent international moving company.
You should work with an international moving company that can easily secure the protection and smooth transport of all your belongings. They should make your life less stressful. You should pick one with years of experience because they will do all the hard work for you. They will be undertaking a herculean task of moving your things halfway around the world so they better be good at what they do. To secure that you get to work with a good international moving company, do the following:
- Do online research on reputable international moving companies that cater to moving overseas to Australia
- Ask family and friends. Family and friends can recommend trustworthy companies that they have worked with. It’s best to work with one with proven competency and experience.
- Look for accreditation. Your chosen removalist should have local and international accreditations.
- Look for a company that carries the FAIM (FIDI Accredited International Mover) logo. FIDI stands for Fédération Internationale des Déménageurs Internationaux (International Federation of International Movers) and it is dedicated to ensuring that people get top-quality service from international movers. The FAIM logo is the supreme seal of quality from global customers that you should always look for.
- You should work with an international moving company that can easily liaise with a local Australian moving company.
- If you could, look for one that has been in the industry for decades.
- Research items you cannot take with you to Australia.
We all know how Australia can be pretty particular with things you can bring into the country. We’re all familiar with the Johnny Depp incident and it’s best if we could simply just learn from that incident. Australia does not mess around when it comes to ensuring that the country’s unique ecosystem is free from pests. To not waste your money, energy, and time, you need to be aware of things that you can’t bring into the country. Making the mistake of shipping prohibited items will lead to confiscation and the quarantine of your belongings. You wouldn’t want this. Your belongings will undergo strict inspection by the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) so you must ensure that all your incoming personal and household items are allowed in the country. Observe the following:
- Do not include foodstuffs if you’d be shipping containers
- Remove traces of soil or foreign matter if you will be shipping lawnmowers, vacuum cleaners, wheelbarrows, garden tools, golf clubs, etc.
- Moving items that can have traces of soil and foreign matter need to be declared for inspection upon arrival
- You need to declare the following items: plant products, seeds and nuts, dried fruit and vegetables, animal products, herbs and spices of any kind, noodles, and rice, biscuits, cakes, confectionery, bamboo, cane, or rattan basket ware, and mats, teas, coffees, and milk-based drinks, fresh flowers and leis, dried flower arrangements, and wooden articles
- Know important periods: how long will it take for your items to arrive in Australia?
Moving requires a hundred different tasks with most activities sometimes undertaken at the same time. Poor planning and scheduling can lead to delays. This is why you should be particular with your timeline and your moving period. Always keep in mind that this is international shipping and things can take longer than usual. Things should take longer if you’re coming from a distant part of the world.
A good example is shipping from the US. A fully dedicated shipping container from the US can take around 6 – 8 weeks to reach Australia. A shared container can take longer at around 10 – 12 weeks. You should closely take note of such periods as you would want to be sure that the items that you will need will be available for you. To do this, ensure that you do the following:
- Be clear with the timeline that you have: when do you need to be in Australia?
- Inform everyone involved with the moving of your timeline: your family, the removalist, and other third-party service providers
- Observe your schedule strictly.
