Frequently Asked Questions

How long does an international move take?

The process of moving abroad to a new destination takes from a few days, 1 week to six months, depending on origin and destination, Planning will help minimize surprises and allow you to enjoy the transition.

How do long distance moves work?

Long distance movers, will charge you based on a few major factors: 1) total volume of the shipment to be moved, 2) the move distance to your new home, 3) the number and nature of additional services you request – packing, furniture assembly and re-assembly, temporary storage, etc. 4) the transport mode: Road, Sea (FCL/LCL/Groupage) and AIR 5) sharing transport or designated transport 6) flexibility on dates.

How to move with no forwarding address?

Are you sure of an upcoming move but unsure of where you’re moving to? It’s actually pretty common. One major concern is receiving household goods when there’s no forwarding addresses. A moving service doesn’t need an address to finalize plans and we can even start your move and then store (in transit) everything until you’ve found a new place. Once you know the destination, the shipment can be scheduled for delivery.

What Items Can I Ship Internationally?

The good news is that you can ship most personal and household items internationally. This includes furniture, clothing, and other household items.

Before packing for your move, it’s a good idea to look critically at what you don’t need, or can easily get in the destination country. That way you won’t pay to take things with you that you don’t need at the other end. Depending on the destination country, the rules for certain items vary i.e. alcohol, art etc. we will provide you with the destinations country guide to clarify and guide you through it.

What Items Can’t I Ship Internationally?

There are several items that are restricted during international shipping. The great thing is that these are items you’re unlikely to want to take anyway.

You’ve probably seen most of these items before boarding a flight at the airport. Think illegal substances, flammable items, weapons, toxic chemicals, and paints. Alcohol, prescription drugs, and tobacco products are also limited/prohibited.

Who will be responsible for unloading and picking up my shipment at the destination port?

While you may hire us to load and transport your goods to the nearest port to be shipped overseas, there will usually be an partner company waiting at your destination country to receive your shipment. This company is typically referred to as a Destination/Origin Agent in the overseas shipping industry(depending if you are leaving or returning to Europe. Your personal move manager will be your point of contact and will be assisted by our destination or origin agent.

International
shipment

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Do you offer any customs brokering services?

In many countries, clearing customs requires a lot of paperwork and documentation and if this is your first experience with international moving, it can be very overwhelming. However, your move manager will help you by preparing your documents and making sure that your shipment is ready to clear customs when it arrives.

Do I have to be present for my goods to clear customs?

This will vary from country to country, so it’s a very important question to ask prior to your move. Some countries will require the customer who is responsible for the shipment to be present at customs in order for the goods to be cleared. If the customer is required to be present and fails to show up, they will often keep the shipment at the port until it clears customs, which can potentially cost you hundreds more dollars in port fees.

What kind of storage options do you offer?

When moving overseas, you may need to store some of your goods, even if only temporarily, while you get settled in and find a place to live. We offer storage services, but it’s always a good idea to ask about this beforehand, even if you’re not sure you will need storage – it’s always good to have a backup plan if things change during the relocation.

What kind of moving insurance policies do you offer?

This is one of the most important questions to ask, since moving your belongings overseas will put them at a greater risk of being damaged. It is imperative that you have adequate insurance coverage for your goods. Make sure to cover your goods and protect them in the unfortunate event that they are lost or damaged. While purchasing insurance for an international move can be quite costly in comparison with a domestic move, it’s well worth it in the long run.

What are the Shipping Methods?

There are three methods of transit: by road, sea or air. Deciding which is appropriate will be dependent upon locations, volume to be moved, speed needed to destination and the budget available.

Moving by road

Road movements will be normal to mainland Europe and can be in a dedicated vehicle, or as a part-load with other consignments for the same region. These operate in a similar way to sea consignments when sent by exclusive or groupage containers.

Moving by ocean

Moving by ocean is one of the most popular shipping methods for relocation overseas. Whether you want to ship a just few boxes or an entire house, We help you with multiple options so that you can make the right decision for your relocation.

Full Container Load [FCL] (safest shared service)

The FCL shipping method is the safest way to ship your possessions. It provides you with your own exclusive container that can be brought to your residence(most of the time), loaded, and sealed right in front of your eyes. Your goods will not share space with anyone else, will remain secure throughout the transit, and will be unloaded directly at destination*. This method is highly cost-effective because you can ship your entire house, and it is remarkably convenient since you can track it throughout your transit.The average customer will need a 20ft long metal container. The next size is 40ft long and to some locations a 45ft is available.

Less Than Container Load [LCL] (quickest shared service)

When you do not have enough goods to fill up a container & need a shared service with the convenience of fixed transit time, LCL shipping is your solution. Since this shipping method includes sharing space with all types of commodities, it usually offers weekly service to all major seaports enabling you to receive your belongings from the nearest port reducing the delivery timeframe.

Groupage (most economical shared service)

When you have flexibility in delivery timeframe and cost is an important consideration, our GROUPAGE service is your solution. In this method, you share space with other household goods shipments only. With regular services to The USA, ASIA, Australia, the UAE, New Zealand, South Africa and Canada, Schmidt Global can ship your goods for a fraction of the cost of LCL shipping with no hidden fees and relatively similar time frame.

Moving by air

Airfreight (fastest method mostly for smaller consignments)

Airfreight is for you if you want or need some items urgently at destination, perhaps the bare essentials to allow a family to survive while waiting for the main sea shipment. A small consignment can be cost effective. Airfreight is charged on size or weight, whichever is the greater, as directed by the airlines (they like to avoid planes being full of low paying volume cargo). Over-packing in special palletised airfreight modules is the way professional companies will complete the service and still minimise the weight.

Your specialist remover will be able to advise you which is the most appropriate method, and make all the arrangements.

What is the main difference between shipping by sea and moving by air?

Smaller shipments that need to get to the destination quicker are good to ship by air. If you are worried about the environment, cost, and need to ship larger items, sea shipping is for you. The biggest difference between air and sea shipping is the time factor. Usually you pay for that speed with extra cost and a bigger carbon footprint. It really depends on your personal needs and the size of your shipment.

Schmidt Global
Relocations