| When should I contact a moving/removals company to organise my pending international move?
Advance preparation is the most important factor in a successful international move. You should begin your search for a suitable company to carry out your move 10-12 weeks before your intended moving date. This will allow time to get competitive quotations, make all the arrangements, organise transport, etc.
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Who will provide delivery services at destination?
All our agents are members of FIDI, BAR Overseas, and/or HHGFAA. Gerard Group have sought to develop a comprehensive network of overseas agents based on their quality of service and experience.
Our overseas offices and agents provide services and expertise in the following areas:
- Local liaison with Gerard Group
- Notification of arrival
- Customs clearance procedures at the port/airport of arrival
- Transport from the destination port/airport of arrival
- Temporary or long term storage if required
- Delivery to residence
- Full unpacking services
- Removal of all related packing debris
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What shipment protection do Gerard Group provide for International moves?
We can provide cover for your household and personal effects during your domestic or international move.
If you have any questions relating to the coverage on your international move, contact your assigned moving coordinator.
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What items should I not include in an international household goods shipment?
It is inadvisable to include perishable goods, foodstuffs of any description, or liquids (which may leak in transit causing damage to other items. Above all exercise common sense. Your shipment may be in transit for anything between three days and three months for long intercontinental transits like Europe-Australia. Don't overload items, or fill the car up to the roof with odds and ends. It won't do the suspension any favours!
You should NOT include the following:
- Hazardous materials such as paint, matches, aerosol cans, gas canisters or other flammable materials such as wood, bricks, cement, rocks and soil of any type.
- Firearms and ammunition.
- Plants of any kind.
- Corrosives and explosives.
- Pornography of any description.
Also, and in addition, we cannot accept the following goods for shipment by air: aerosols, batteries, explosives, fireworks, corrosives, perfume, pressurised or unpressurised cylinders/canisters and/or similar type containers, firearms and ammunition, radioactive material, paint, fuel and/or fuel tanks or other flammable items, etc.
If you have any doubts as to what may or may not be included, please do check with your International Moving Co-ordinator. They will be delighted to help and advise.
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Are all charges included in the price?
If you book your shipment as a door-to-door move, then all charges including customs clearance charges, and local delivery to your residence, (with normal access, not above first floor level) will be included in the estimate that's given to you. However, you will still be responsible for any duty or tax that is raised on your shipment by Customs. There may also be further exclusions which will be set out in our estimate.
If your shipment is booked door-to-port only, then all destination charges are payable locally on arrival, including customs clearance, port service, unloading and local delivery charges. The various names applied to these charges may vary from country to country and service to service, but basically, they cover unloading from the ship/aircraft that your goods are carried on, unloading from the steamship line or airline cargo container, handling in and out of destination warehouse (as a continuous movement following on from the shipments arrival), and local delivery to your residence, with normal access, not above first floor level. Any exceptions to these basic standards may cause the price to increase. As above, you will be responsible for any duty or tax that is raised on your shipment by Customs.
Please review your requirements, and discuss our estimate with our International Removals Sales team to make sure you understand the details, especially if you're comparing a number of moving companies offering a variety of different options with regard to price and service.
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What will the removals estimator tell me when he visits my home to assess the cost of my overseas move?
Our Sales & Service Representatives can advise on all aspects of your move such as route and transport options, costs, packing requirements, crating, transit times, shipment protection, unpacking, customs requirements and storage at origin or destination.
Note: All customs advice given at clients risk - rules and regulations do change on a frequent basis and unfortunately they are not always communicated to us by Customs.
Our representative will discuss in detail the different shipping/Air Freight options available to your overseas destination, and he or she will make an estimate of the volume and if possible the weight of your consignment. They will also discuss the various paperwork and custom's documentation required. They will give you information regarding our office or agent who will deliver your possessions from the port of arrival to your new residence overseas, together with general advice on your move.
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Who do I contact on arrival overseas to find out about the status of my shipment?
When you move with us, we'll provide you with full information and details of how to contact our office or agent in the destination city that you're moving to. However, normally, you won't need to do anything, we will have pre-alerted our agent, and they'll contact you when you arrive.
How do I find up-to-date information regarding customs regulations and documentation?
Customs regulations are unfortunately subject to frequent change. Regrettably, such changes are not always publicised. We endeavour to provide the most up-to-date customs information available, from a wide variety of different sources, including Customs Services themselves, industry, trade association, the internet, and a wide variety of other sources. Nevertheless, it is impossible to guarantee the accuracy of the information provided, as customs rules and regulations, together with duty and tax rates, documentation and forms, can, and do, change overnight.
We endeavour to supply all the relevant forms required. Nevertheless, it is the individual's responsibility to ensure sure that they have the correct documentation for their personal situation.
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What are the different cost/service options available to me?
When moving overseas you have a number of service options available to you. You may select a service based on the price, transit time, method of containerisation, routing consolidation opportunities, sea or air freight, port of exit, etc. Each option's cost component determines the amount you'll pay.
In general terms, it is advisable to select the most direct route with a minimum amount of handling. However, every move and personal budget is different so it is important that you discuss fully with our International Removals Sales Department Contact to determine the best service to meet your personal needs.
Remember, when calculating the cost of your international move, you should be aware of the total cost including the amount of time you'll have to wait for the arrival of your goods at destination. If you're going to have to stay in a hotel or other temporary housing until your household shipment arrives, you'll need to consider these costs as well as the cost of the shipping charges. Many people have made the mistake of selecting the slowest transit time (cheapest price) and then had the expense of two to three weeks of hotel costs while they awaited the delivery of their shipment.
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What advice can you give me on how to plan for my international move?
There is no substitute for planning and preparation. As soon as you know that you're going to be moving overseas, contact us.
In addition, begin to think about separating out all the items that you'll need to sell, store, dispose of, give away, and those you'll want to move by sea, have sent by air cargo or delivered to another family member before your departure. It's a very good idea to have researched these categories before our estimator visits you to survey your household effects.
As you approach Moving Day, think about which items you will need for your journey, specifically travel papers, immediate clothing, passports, medical documentation and records, family papers, valuables, jewellery, medicines, school reports, etc. Excess International Movers can provide a variety of host country information including destination guides and country facts sheets, together with detailed Customs rules and regulations.
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How much notice must I give to book a date for packing?
We recommend that you give a minimum of two weeks notice, although if this is not possible we will endeavour to meet your requirements. Ideally, as soon as you know when you want to move you should confirm dates with us.
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When do I pay?
We request that all moves are paid on receipt of your invoice – which is normally sent out prior to the commencement of packing. Please note that cheques require clearance before goods can be shipped.
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Do you provide storage?
Yes! Both at the point of origin and at the destination. We are able to offer highly competitive rates to suit individual requirements.
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Can I pack myself?
If you wish to pack yourself we will provide you with all the materials you need. We do however strongly recommend that you take advantage of our professional packing service. We employ highly qualified staff to perform this skilled task.
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