Moving abroad was never easy. It is emotional, hard, stressful, difficult, exciting, exhausting, all in one. Packing and transporting items are some of the tasks that take most of the time, especially when you need to prepare and move them to another country. To handle specialty items when moving abroad, you will definitely need tips and some guidelines to follow.
Special moving usually needs extra-large boxes, special attention, help from other people, and handling instructions. It is not a job for only one person, even if you have experience.
Some of the special items to move are, for example, pianos, art, pool tables, antique furniture, china, large electronics, vehicles, etc. Before you pack your home for overseas relocation, get prepared.
Tips to handle specialty items when moving abroad
Some items are harder to handle than you though. Start early with packing and planning your abroad relocation. After getting all requires documents and permits, start ASAP with other parts of moving preparations.
Plants
Plants are difficult to handle because usually, they don’t fit into a box, plus there is soil.
- A few weeks before moving, repot plants that are in clay pots. Put them into stong plastic pots.
- One week before moving day, check if plants have insects and pesticides. If they do, then treat them.
- Don’t water plants 2 days before moving.
- On a moving day, place them into a box and make holes into a box, so your plant can breathe.
Fish tanks
Moving an aquarium abroad is not easy, but it is possible.
- Remove fishes from an aquarium and place them into different tanks with water.
- Keep about 1/3 of water from your fish tank to save bacteria colony.
- The tank must be secured in a snug container with proper materials and placed in a waterproof container.
TVs
One of the most common special items people move abroad is a TV. To handle specialty items when moving abroad, in this case, your TV, these tips may help if you don’t have an original TV box (most people don’t).
- Cover the TV with air bubble foil or with a moving blanket and then use tape to secure the material.
- Keep TV upright.
- Put additional packing materials into a box for extra protection.
- Place a box with your TV to a wall of a vehicle.
Kitchenware
Kitchenware is full of sensitive items and big items.
- Wrap fragile items such as chine with an air bubble foil (twice).
- Place paper between fragile dishes.
- Wrap sharp cutlery with extra packaging.
What to know when moving appliances abroad?
Appliances are not cheap, and that’s why many people need to move them abroad instead of buying. Luckily, professionals can help you with bulky items like appliances, heavy furniture, or musical instruments, like pianos. Yet, before transporting these items, you must consider the following:
- Consider customs regulations because every country has its own rules and regulations about importing and exporting.
- Refrigerators need to be unplugged 24 hrs before loading them into a vehicle, also clean all the appliances inside and out.
- Choose international transportation methods for moving specialty items.
- Size of appliance may be an issue when moving it across international borders. For example, the American fridge is larger than European, so it may don’t fit in your new kitchen.
- Appliance outlets are different in the USA and Europe too. So, take wiring and electrical limitations into consideration.
Hiring an international moving company
It is essential to hire a moving company to transport your items (not only special items) abroad. You cannot do it by yourself as you can when moving locally. It is more complicated.
Talk to other ex-pats who moved recently for advice, their experience, and recommendations for international moving companies. Search online, read online moving reviews, contact them, etc. Consider experts like Transparent International NYC who guarantee a fast and problem-free moving process.
Items to leave behind when moving abroad
You need to calculate first, it is worth to move all those items to another country when moving. Some items are better to leave behind. Also, keep in mind that there are some forbidden items to move and import to another country. Check regulations before you start packing your items. These are not special items, but you should not waste your time packing them.
- Professionals move specialty items such as billiard tables but ask first how it will cost. Be ready to pay a little more for those special items.
- Toiletries, because they can be found everywhere, no matter where you are moving to.
- Bedding if beds sizes in your new apartment are different. You better focus on how to handle specialty items when moving abroad than to lose time packing items you may not need after all.
- Your entire clothing, especially if you are moving to a place with different weather. For example, from Colorado to Saudi Arabia.
- Transporting food is not recommended even for moving within the same state.
- Some of the appliances such as zucchini spiralizer or toaster, unless you cannot live without them.
- Furniture, it is heavy and large and moving it can cost a lot. Maybe it is more affordable to buy new furniture or to rent it after moving to a new country than to transport it. If you are buying a house overseas, it may come furnished.
Summary
If items have emotional value or they are unique or it is cheaper to move them than to buy them again, then it is worth to move them overseas. In that case, you should handle specialty items when moving abroad and spend your money and time on it. Find a reliable company to transport all your items internationally (it is essential), create a budget, and a moving checklist. Good luck with adjusting to a new culture, food, and tradition!
