Shipping your belongings can be expensive when you're planning to move overseas or move back to your home country. Thankfully, movers now allow consolidated moves, an option allowing you to share containers with another person or family, thus reducing costs. Our moving expert, AGS Movers, tell us a little about this solution.
A consolidated move when shipping your belongings abroad means several moves having a similar route are gathered in a single container. It is a practical and simple solution for small volume moves over a long distance (above 200km or 500km depending on the company).
Who is responsible for organizing the conslidated move?
Sharing a container seems like an easy and obvious solution. However, how does one find a person or family moving on the very same day and having the very same route? Well, most moving companies that offer a shared shipping service will group the moves themselves. The only thing you need to do is notify your moving company that you are open to a consolidated move.
You should, however, be aware that not all moving companies offer this service so you should find out early during negotiations with the chosen moving companies. Also compare offers and find out whether the company also offers a pick-up option before the move and a delivery option on arrival.
Is there a risk that our boxes will be delivered to someone else's home or vice versa?
Don't panic, everything is thought out from A to Z so that no detail is left to chance and each move will be meticulously packed, labeled and separated.
The advantages and disadvantages of sharing containers
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The advantages
It will save you money
The main advantage of sharing containers is of course the financial aspect! Moving abroad can be expensive, all money saving tips are welcome, right? Because in this practice the costs will be shared between the customers sharing the same cargo, exactly like carpooling! Depending on the time of travel, the distance traveled, and the volume transported, you could save up to 50% of the cost of renting a whole container. In other words: you benefit from a move of the same quality with professionals but at a competitive rate. What more can you ask for?
Fast service
If you choose a mover with regular departures to your destination, the service can be fast. Because shipping by sea is very popular, you will need to book your volume in advance and to anticipate your move. In this period of intense maritime flow, it is also a question of finding enough space for all moves on the ship!
Eco-conscious
Among the advantages of a consolidated move, the reduced carbon footprint is non-negligible! Indeed, a shared shipping by sea will have a reduced impact on CO2 emissions compared to a move by plane as shipping is and will probably remain for a long time the least polluting mode of transportation per ton of goods transported over long distances.
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The disadvantages
Flexibility
One of the main disadvantages is that you have to be flexible with dates and this is not always feasible, especially when moving abroad. Using the shared shipping method requires patience and, at the same time, being ready to settle on a date and a loading schedule that may not necessarily be ideal. Furthermore, the move might take a little longer to be confirmed as the mover will have to research routes similar to yours before being able to suggest dates. It is important, then, to get in touch as early as possible.
Limited volume
Shared shipping is only available for smaller volumes. So if you're planning to move most of your belongings abroad, this might be less than ideal for you. You should instead consider booking a 20 or 40 foot container for your international move.
Our tips for organizing a group move
Here are some useful tips for moving your belongings abroad via shared shipping containers:
- First of all, find out which moving companies offer shared containers as a service, because not all of them do as mentioned above. As soon as you have found the companies that do, get in touch, ask all your questions until you're ready to compare offers.
- Be specific about the volume of the belongings you need shipped. Especially, if you don't want to have your belongings packed by movers you will have to do it yourself and have an idea of the volume. Also, then, make sure that all the boxes are properly closed, that any small piece of furniture, lamps or other fragile objects are protected so that they arrive at their destination in one piece.
- Then, you can either drop off your packages directly at the mover's depot, or the mover can come and collect your belongings from your home.
In short, a consolidated move is a practical moving method that allows you to save considerably. In addition, it has a positive impact on the environment and is a fast service. However, it will not be suitable for everyone and it will be necessary to weigh the pros and cons according to your situation.
