Moving With Kids - International

If you think moving to a new country is hard, just think how hard it is on your children. They are leaving one of the only places they've known, and will be separated from all their friends and their comfort zone. Some may even need to learn a new language! Heres a helpful set of tips to help your kids with their international move:

• If your visiting your new home and country before you move there (which is recommended) , bring your child(ren) with you. They should be as much a part of your decision as you are and this will give them a chance to get to adjust to their new surroundings and help calm them down about the move.
• Answer all their questions.Tell your kids why your moving, how long you will be moving for, and ways they can deal with the stress of the move and their new home.
• Help you child keep in touch with his/her friends (yours as well). Get address books for them and explain the moving situation to their teachers.
• Find and research a new school. Depending on why your moving and your situation, you may want to enroll your child in a private international school or in the public school system. Private schools are especially helpful for children who speak a different language than your new home country does.
  

Moving your Car

If you are moving a long distance (nationally), such as from New York to San Diego, you will probably have to move your car(s). There are several companies that specialize in moving automobiles, and there are several things you should remember when using them:

• Request Door to Door delivery. This will mean your moving company will pick up your car at your old home and drop it off at your new one, thus saving you the troubling of going to drop it off or pick it up.
• Remove all your belongings from your car.
  
• Let the automobile moving company know a few weeks in advance that you are planning on using their service. Doing so on short notice may not be possible, and if it is, may be more expensive.
• Find out your car's travel and delivery time.
• Find out if your car insurance covers automobile moving. Most do, but some don't. The company moving your car may offer insurance on their own, but it can be very expensive.

For International Movers:

• Some countries (England, Australia, Japan, Ireland) have their cars drive on the opposite side of the road. Cars that have their steering wheels on the left side cannot be driven in these countries, so you will have to get a new car. A good idea is to sell your previous car and use that money to purchase your new automobile.
• If your employer is not paying for your cars transportation, it may be a good idea just to sell your car and purchase a new one. Many countries have very high automobile tariffs and it may not be worth it to spend the money. Also, gas prices can be significantly higher in certain countries (European countries especially) so buying a more fuel effecient car may be a better monetary plan.
  

Moving Furniture

Moving your furniture can be one of the most stressful parts of a move. Simple furniture like couches and tables can be intimidating to move at first, but are actually much easier to move than you may have thought. Here are some basic tips on how to move your furniture:

• Disassemble everything you can from your furniture. Take off table and couch legs, bed frames, pillows, removable glass, etc. This is especially important for international moves, as every little bit of space that you will save by removing these things will save you money. Put all the items you detached in a box and label appropriately.
  
• Save all nuts, bolts, screws, etc. in a plastic or ziploc bag, as these will not tear or break easily.
• Tape shut all drawers. If the item with said drawers is being stored in a box, its drawers do not need to be taped shut.
• All glass (especially those removed from other furniture like a glass table top) should be carefully wrapped in a large blanket or cloth to prevent both scratches and cracks (not to mention breakage).
• Bubblewrap all exposed legs of couches, table and chairs that cannot be removed. This will protect them in transit.
• International Movers: Don't worry so much about your larger furniture. Do what you can do make it smaller and safer to move, and your movers will handle the rest.
  

Get Started Moving Internationaly

Moving to another country is probably the most intimidating move there can be. Its a very different experience than moving down the street or to another state, and so you need to take appropriate measures to accommodate your move from say, New York to Shanghai. Here are some tips on how to get started:

• Research, research, research. Look at pictures of your new home online and try to visit it. I know how difficult it can be to go visit a home your thinking about buying if its all the way across the world, but believe me, its worth it.
  
• Think about moving some of your belongings by boat if possible. Its much cheaper than moving by air, and you can send it a few days before you move and have it at your home when you get there. Your heaviest items will be much cheaper to ship by cargo ship as well, so it might be a good idea just to ship your closets, TV's, dishwashers etc. by boat.
  
• International Movers are experienced professionals and will help you pack and move your most fragile and difficult to move items, so don't sweat much over them. The moving company you have chosen will advise you on how to pack your belongings and what type of container to put them in.

I will post more tips on moving internationally in the future, but these should get you started!