Moving all your possessions across to the other side of the world can be a daunting prospect. But take heart with  professional advice from Hayden Hills of the international moving company Anglo Pacific.

Life presents us with choices every day of our lives, and many of us have a problem deciding which options to take. One of the first decisions we have to make each day is which shirt or top to put on that morning. There are factors which help us make up our mind, like what we are doing that particular day, be it work or leisure related, the weather and what we like the look of and feel comfortable wearing.

If only choosing a mover were that easy. You will be presented with a lot of choice, and unless you have moved internationally before you’ll probably be moving with a company you have never used before. This is sure to make some people wary and apprehensive that their final decision is going to be the right one. After all, you will only really know if your decision was the right one after several weeks, when your worldly possessions are delivered to your new home many thousands of miles away.

Hopefully, this article will help you and your final decision that much easier to make. As long as you follow a few simple rules you can select a company that is experienced and knows what is required to get your home moved safely.

"Start by deciding how many quotes you want to get."

Three to four is really all you need to be able to find the right company for you, and a little research before you contact the movers can save you wasting your time. There are literally thousands of companies offering shipping services, but in reality there are not that many who specialise in overseas moving.

If you check out the websites of any companies you are considering, you should be able to determine where their speciality lies. Most domestic movers and some office movers will say they can move you internationally, but can they? Do they have the specialist packing skills, and will they know how to tackle all the government requirements of exporting from the UK and importing into a foreign country? Maybe they will, but by deciding on a specialist you have a better chance of a successful move.   

The British Association of Removers has an overseas group, and you would be wise ensuring that your chosen moving company is a member of this group. It operates the Advance Payment Guarantee Scheme, which protects your payment if a company in its membership ceases trading. The peace of mind that this gives comes at no cost to you, and there are enough companies offering it that you really don’t need to take any chances by going elsewhere, as there will be a BAR Overseas Bonded company which suits you.

FIDI is an association of international movers, which has about 600 members worldwide. Every FIDI member is an accredited international mover, having had its finances and operational expertise vetted by independent auditors before it is given its FAIM (FIDI Accredited International Mover) kite-mark. You’d be smart looking for a FIDI/FAIM mover, safe in the knowledge that they have a degree of experience some others will not have.         

Before you call potential moving companies, think carefully of some questions to ask them over the phone. Normally, the representative of a company visiting you will be well versed in selling you a service. That person is not usually the person who will actually manage your move, so by asking questions on the phone you will get a good feel for their knowledge and skill and how well the company will look after you.    

"Lastly, be careful not to fall in to the trap of looking for a cheap bargain."

You don’t get "something for nothing", and the best companies will expect to be able to charge you for the level of professional service and expertise they offer. When you are choosing your mover aim to get value for money. The main priority you should have is the safe shipment of your belongings, in a timely manner.

If you would like to find out further information about your household move or like to request for a free no obligation home survey then please visit Anglo Pacific online or call Hayden Hills on 020 8838 8493.

 - Anglo Pacific is a partner of Australian Visa Bureau, an independent company specialising in helping applicants emigrate to Australia.

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