How to Choose an International Mover

Get Personal Recommendations: Start by reaching out to friends, family, or colleagues who have moved internationally and ask for their suggestions.

• Check Online Reviews: Browse review platforms to see what other customers have said about their experiences.

• Verify Industry Associations: Look for companies that are members of respected industry groups like FIDI Global Alliance (www.fidi.org). Membership often signals a commitment to high-quality service and financial reliability.

• Confirm Certifications: Ensure the company has the necessary business licenses and certifications, such as ISO or similar, to guarantee their professionalism and credibility.

All-Risk Insurance: 

Make sure the company offers comprehensive insurance coverage for your belongings. International moves come with various risks, so having thorough coverage is crucial.

• Check the Details: Verify how you’ll need to declare your items, and confirm the rates for door-to-door insurance and storage insurance.

• Ask About Additional Coverage: Find out if you can purchase extra insurance such as Mold and Mildew, Pairs and Sets and Electric and Mechanical Derangement insurance which are practical and ask for the rates, some of which might not be free of charge.

• Understand the Claims Process: Don’t assume that filing a claim will be straightforward. In reality, it’s often more complicated, so understanding the process ahead of time will help you be better prepared if you need to make a claim under unfortunate event. And based on this, you can decide whether this insurance is the one you like.

Third party Liability Insurance: 

Many customers overlook checking for this insurance, not realizing that it can significantly protect both the moving family and the movers from legal liability if any damage occurs to third-party property and/ or if someone is injured during the move.

Quotes Benchmark: Reach out to a few different companies—ideally two or three—to get quotes. This will give you a good sense of the pricing and services offered.

In-Home or Virtual Survey: Reliable movers should offer to do a thorough in-home or virtual survey of your belongings. This isn’t just a quick glance; they should provide a detailed report that breaks down everything, including volume estimates, items needing special crating, any tricky handling requirements, photos from the survey, and any important moving notes, which would connect dots to the quote provided.

Know What’s Included: Make sure each quote clearly outlines all the services covered, like packing, unpacking, customs handling, insurance, and any extra fees. Be cautious of estimates that seem too low—they might leave out crucial services that you’ll end up paying for later.

Ask About Extra Charges: Don’t hesitate to ask about potential additional charges—how often they might come up, why they might be necessary, and what the price range could they be. It’s wise to get this information in writing, like in an email, to avoid conflicts. Because a moving contract might be formatted in general, special added comments such as an email can overwrite terms and conditions that only favor movers.

Responsiveness: Pay attention to how quickly and helpfully the company responds in the early stages. Good customer service at the start usually means they’ll handle your move well, too.

Personalized Service: Check if the company provides a dedicated move coordinator who can guide you through the entire process, answer your questions, and address any concerns you have.

Tracking Portal: Check whether a unique portal is provided to track your shipment

Who: An international mover might not have a presence everywhere in the world. It’s important to ask about their partners in the destination country, especially if you have preferences based on experiences—whether it’s a company you’d like to work with or one you’d prefer to avoid.

How and What: Find out how the mover selects their partners on the other side. What standards do they use to ensure quality service?

One Important Question to Ask: Does the designated partner offer credit to the mover you’re contracting with? Imagine this scenario: you’ve paid for the entire service upfront, but the partner handling your delivery claims they need full payment from your mover before they can proceed. This could lead to unexpected delays, so it’s crucial to clarify this upfront.

Ask About Lead Time: Get a clear estimate of how long the entire move will take, from packing and shipping to customs clearance and delivery to your new home.

Ask About Potential Delays: An “estimate” often means there could be delays. By asking what might cause these delays, you can better prepare and avoid surprises.

Payment Schedule: Understand the payment schedule, including any deposits required upfront, progress payments, and the final payment due upon delivery. 

Corporate, private, and long term contract clients might have different payment term.

Payment Methods: Check which payment methods are accepted and whether there are any extra fees for specific payment types (e.g., credit card fees). In China, using a credit card for a moving invoice is often challenging due to the nature of the business and the high transaction amounts. Additionally, the extra charges for credit card payments are typically quite steep.

Currency Considerations: For international payments, ask about the currency they accept and whether exchange rates or fees might affect the total cost, most international movers are capable to accommodate USD payment in addition to local currency payment.

Payment in foreign currency can bring you convenience in certain situations.

As technology continues to reshape industries, more companies are embracing it to boost efficiency and enhance customer experience, and moving companies are no exception.

Here are some key aspects to evaluate a mover's tech capabilities:

AI Supported Survey: Verify if virtual, especially AI supported survey (than a conventional survey)  is possible. Currently, some technology can help build content inventory with linked image or video automatically, it is more efficient, editable and transparent.

Estimate Application: See if you have a tablet equipped mover consultant who can offer instant volume estimate and related information during a conventional survey.

Digital Packing List: Verify if your mover can provide digital packing list, which is more efficient, organized, accessible, editable, and eco-friendly, rather of handwriting list.

Tracking Portal: Verify if your mover can provide with it where customer can upload /maintain moving related information and view tracking status of shipment. 

Initial Impressions: Pay attention to how you feel after your first interaction with the company. Were they professional, friendly, and responsive? If something feels off, trust that feeling.

Communication: Notice how well they communicate. Do they answer your questions clearly and promptly? Good communication is a sign of reliability.

Transparency: Trust your instincts if the company is upfront about their pricing, policies, and services. If they seem evasive or overly pushy, it could be a red flag.

Personal Comfort: Ultimately, choose the company and or that makes you feel comfortable and confident. If you feel at ease and confident in their ability to handle your move, that’s a strong sign you’re making the right choice.