When planning an international move – especially moving overseas – you want to avoid stress. That's true not only for yourself but for your household full of personal belongings!
The shipping container carrying your stuff will experience weeks of conditions that are entirely out of your control on its journey from your old home to your international destination. You don't want your favorite things to arrive damaged or late or not show up.
Take the stress off your stuff and avoid experiencing any of those worst-case scenarios in your big international move. Instead, choose a reputable international moving company with experience in international shipping to help ensure the safe and timely delivery of your goods.
Shipping conditions that can affect your belongings
According to Sanelo, a relocation company that moves 35,000 people annually, making an international move isn't as simple as loading a moving truck with boxes. Every item needs to remain safe across multiple methods of transportation. That includes crossing one or more international borders.
Here are just a few of the conditions that a shipping container might experience during transit - and what they mean for your stuff.
- Weather. Shipping containers may be exposed to extreme weather conditions such as high winds, heavy rain, and intense sunlight during their voyage. You'll want your belongings to be protected against changes in temperature and humidity inside the container.
- Rough handling. Containers may be subjected to rough handling when being loaded and unloaded from ships or trucks. The movement of your container can cause items to shift or fall, causing breaks or damage. You need experienced movers who understand how to prepare your belongings for a shaky experience.
- Theft. Shipping containers can be a target for theft or pilferage during transit, particularly if they are carrying valuable cargo. You need to be able to track the seal of your container throughout its journey.
- Delayed delivery. Shipping containers may be delayed in transit due to factors such as weather, port congestion, or logistical issues. That can result in extra costs, delays, and inconvenience. You'll want to track your container every step of the way.
Experienced movers know how to pack carefully to protect your belongings
Bad weather and rough handling are conditions that any shipping container can experience - but those conditions shouldn't be on your mind on a moving day.
When moving with Sanelo, a dedicated move coordinator will walk you through every step your belongings will take on their journey. That starts with surveying all of your belongings so your movers have a plan for how to prepare them for their international move.
Movers will pack your things carefully with the rigorous journey in mind. An item like a mirror or a couch won't simply be carried into your shipping container the way it would be onto a moving truck. Each item will be boxed, wrapped, or even crated so that it will be protected within your shipping container no matter what's happening with the conditions outside.
Loading a shipping container for an international trip also requires different strategies than packing a moving truck. For example, a box that has something stacked on top of it needs to be strong enough to bear that weight for weeks of travel, not just a day or two! And shipping containers experience much more extreme shifts than a typical truck, especially as they are handled by things like forklifts and cranes. That means the stacking needs to be done expertly.
Experienced international movers know how to load a shipping container effectively to prepare for all of these factors and more.
In an International Move, tracking matters
Once all your belongings have been carefully packed, it's time to tackle the next challenge: transporting them securely and arriving on time.
Sanelo's technology has transformed international shipping by making it faster, more efficient, and more secure.
After the belongings of a Sanelo customer are carefully loaded onto a shipping container, a “seal” is placed on the container's door with a unique number.
This seal number from your previous home will be the same when your items reach their final destination. It means you will have a record of any time your container is opened for inspection. That should ease any worry about anyone or anything going in or out of your container while it is in transit.
Next, your professional moving coordinator will provide you with a tracking number so you can check on the progress of their belongings at any time, day or night, whether they're traveling by land, sea, or air. This improved shipment visibility has reduced the risk of theft and loss and provided more accurate delivery estimates.
Your container will be stored until you're ready for delivery, transported over land to a facility near you, then loaded onto the truck that will bring it to your door. Incredibly, you can track the process at every step!
Protect your belongings with careful packing and cutting-edge technology
Your international journey will cover hundreds or thousands of miles, but it begins with an important step: choosing the right international relocation company.
An experienced moving company like Sanelo will help you with every step of that journey. Take the stress out of your move with an experienced international mover who knows how to carefully pack, ship, and track your stuff on its international journey.
