by Arnold Farquard © 2019

     Moving abroad, across borders, through time zones, costs thousands of dollars and exposes even more thousands of dollars of potential charges. Charges vary significantly based on the countries involved, distances possessions have to be shipped and the size that shipment. Understanding the cost centers before hand eases end of move surprises that add to language and being in a new culture already present.

The Cost Centers Of International Moving Are:

• Packing an International Move
  - packing and crating by professional packers prepares possessions for predictable handling of shipment transfers, for things like the cargo ship rocking 20 degrees, dust, smells and insects that are all part of transportation.
  - the packing materials used need to be able to withstand more than the single handling afternoon drive and unloading which a local move entails.
  - the manifest created when packed provides confidence while dealing with customs, temporary storage and assure unpacking by professionals at the destination is effective.
  - The cost of professionally packers to complete a typical 3 bedroom house, for an international move, includes three professional packers over two days so near the hourly rate times the 48 man hours.

• Visa for the International Move
  - The single most expensive thing to get wrong is not securing the visa and approvals to live in the destination country. These are what all other expenses depend on.
  - Most countries have short term allowances. Depending on those short term allowances converting to the long tern is a risky proposition.
  - Where there is family heritage or a company job that helps with the visa arrangements it simplifies the process as well as reduces the costs involved.
  - The cost of arranging the visa varies by country and type of visa. A search of that countries web information should reveal basic costs to which legal and administration fees need to be added.

• Shipping an International Move
  - Possessions selected from a 3 bedroom home typically fit within a 20ft container.
  - The weight and cubic volume of the container that the shipment fills will determine many of the costs.
  - The distance those possessions will be travelling will impact the total costs.
  - Shipping by sea, air, train, truck or the combination of them changes the balance ends costs.
  - The moves time of year can impose cold weather or peak season extra handling and storage costs.
  - The destination country may have importation restrictions and duties that will vary total costs.
  - The personal travel arrangements those following the possessions have can vary greatly depending on early purchase options.

• Insuring an International Move
  - Packing by professionals using international move materials and techniques is a standard requirement to qualify for international moving insurance.
  - The manifest they create provides the required checklist of items being insured.
  - The insurance available will have costs and payout options and restriction that dramatically impact any final overall cost involved.

• Travel costs for an International Move
  - Travelling to the destination country during the move will end up including, plane, train and or vehicle costs as well as hotel, food and travel insurance.
  - Travel costs however should also include the costs for the prior trips to view potential accommodations and make prior arrangements.

• Housing in the Destination Country
  - Where to live in the destination country is a personal and high cost concern.
  - Frequently the decision is to secure a short term location, until there is better understanding of the local community. The trade off is an additional local move, when the temporary one ends. Some take a prior evaluation trip to consider where they will live however there is a danger thinking that what a tourist experiences will be the same as what a new resident moving into the community will experience. Sometimes depending on someone in the destination community helps secure a home, if their understanding reflects your values.
  - The ranges of cost of renting or buying property in a community can be identified through cost of living web searches. The same process that would be done to evaluate whether to take a piece of furniture or buy it locally on arrival and have it delivered.

• Storage for a International Move
  - In transit international move storage is involved in all international relocations and cross border moves.
  - Storage is part of the transfer process between local pickup, the consolidating warehouse, freight forwarding the shipping containers via sea, train and truck, customs clearance and eventual delivery.
  - Storage is often used when, those involved are travelling to the destination country earlier or later than when the move is being done, or when items are being left behind for return, or shipped later to a different location.
  - Storage also can help with seasonal issues such as the impact of freezing temperatures damaging things like furniture finishes of delivery to a cold northern or southern destination.
  - The quality in terms of cleanliness, timeliness of processing, and impact on final costs are the issues storage either helps with or adds extra costs too.
  - The cost of storage is frequently advertised in square feet however it is better considered in cubic feet as storing really is more about how the volume of space being used and the length of time/term involved.

• Importation Duties of an International Move
  - Customs duties are charges for bringing things into the new country that country feels it needs to charge and are very different for every country.
  - The total charge can end up a little different from first glance because there can also be an impact from including the cost of shipping and or handling assign to an item.
  - There are sometimes Duty Free situations the destination country offers. Even when they occur, they may apply only to used items, other taxes or costs surface when a vehicle being used is too new to qualify for the exemption, or using the device has extra hidden costs to meet local regulations as is possible with vehicles and electrical devices, or the duty free item requires tests that cost extra.
  - This cost center is the one most dynamic to specific country and specific item involved. Drilling down on details and asking if there is anything else to ask about is key to cost predictability.

• Pet and Plant Costs in an International Move
  - The cost of replacing pets and plants in the destination country will likely be less than the cost of shipping, handling and the customs processing.
  - Emotional attachment and expected happiness will dictate how any pets and family are treated and transported.
  - Airline tickets for extra baggage or seats are obvious costs. Extra considerations can include, custom carrying cases, customs clearance that can include quarantine costs such as feeding, medication, cleaning and processing fees or even pet passports.
  - On arrival at the destination settling cost might include things like licensing, setting up their environment to reduce the stress from moving.
  - Relatively speaking plants are the least expensive to move, dogs and larger animals the most and cats in the middle.

• Start Up Destination Costs on Arriving from the International Move
  - Establishing a new home brings with it the costs of phone service at rates offered in the new country.
  - With the phone and some time items left behind that cost more to ship than buying new at the destination can now be reacquired.
  - The phone then allows the full set of different costs for familiar needed services beyond just the set up and approval costs. Heating, insurance, electricity, driver licence, vehicle licensing, are needed just like before leaving but there will be costs to set them up and they will be at different rates than back home.
  - Enrolling children into the schools that are best for them in the new community will have costs much like finding new doctors, dentists and getting oriented with the civic services provided in the new community.
  - These costs are all identifiable. Many folks don't take the time to budget the start up costs at the destination and miss the opportunity of rearranging the order they are acquired or delaying them when unexpected costs surface. Sickness always delays what was expected and any accident will cost more than was first expected.