storing hobby stuff in self storage

An overseas move may be stressful, but a little organization and the help of a skilled international moving team can help alleviate that stress. The following three tips can also help you get prepared and survive your big move a little more easily.

Tip #1: Pack Your Own Valuables

There are certain items you want to pack yourself to make sure they are secure. It's best to box these items up before your moving crew arrives. The following are a few examples of items you should pack:

• Small valuables, like jewelry.
• Irreplaceable items, like important photographs or keepsakes.
• Important paperwork, including tax forms and deeds.
• Items you need for the move, such as passports and written prescriptions.

It's up to you whether you want to chance moving your valuables with you overseas. As an alternative, you can store them in a safe deposit box, a storage unit, or with family until you return.

Tip #2: Create a Document Folder

Keeping those important papers out of a moving box is just part of the equation, you also need to keep track of them throughout the entire move. Create a control binder for the move. Inside, add dividers for each person, your pets, and for the move itself. You can include medical records, passport and visa documents, check lists, animal records, and all the necessary custom and duty forms for the items you are moving. Having this organized and on hand can save you, and your belongings, from being held up in customs upon arrival in your new country.

Tip #3: Keep an Inventory

One way to keep track of your belongings as they make their way overseas, through customs, and to your new home is with a detailed inventory. A skilled full-service international moving company, such as Allied International Hawaiian Islands, will usually provide this service, but you may need to follow up to make sure everything is accurate. Inventoried packing means that each box is numbered as it is packed. The contents of the box are then listed on an inventory list, along with the room it came from. Your moving company will keep a copy of the list, and they will also provide you with a copy upon request.

Chances are you will arrive at your new home before your belongings. You can then use this list to determine the destination room for each box before the movers arrive, which will make unpacking easier. The list will also help you track down lost items more quickly.