Choosing a Moving Method
Choosing the method by which your belongings are going to be moved overseas can be a major factor in your overall cost, and satisfaction with your relocation. The two choices that you have when it comes to moving your things is by plane or by boat. Learning the advantages and disadvantages of both will go a long way toward figuring out which way is the best for you. Chances are, you will be using both methods, so it is important to know what should be shipped what way. Be informed about making decisions around your moving method.
Air Travel
As you might imagine, the major advantage of using a plane to transport your goods is the speed. Planes travel much faster than a boat, can go inland while a boat is stuck at a dock, and have far less stops required than a ship sailing through the ocean. There are some disadvantages though. Usually it costs more to fly your things. Planes use a lot of fuel that costs a lot of money, which you will have to cover. There are also size limitations when it comes to a plane. Even though there are huge cargo planes out there, typically they are much smaller than their ocean counterparts. There is a lot less space to store your items, and weight is a huge determining factor. You should only use air travel on things that you will need immediately upon arrival and are small both in size and weight.
Sea Travel
Moving by boat also has many advantages and disadvantages. The biggest benefit is that you can ship much larger items on a boat as opposed to a plane. Your large things will be stored in crates or containers, which can easily fit on the boat. Another big benefit is the cost factor. Often forward freighters charge by the space that is taken up on their boat. Because it is bigger, you are taking up less space, and therefore are not paying as much. Freight Forwarding companies are also very good at dealing with customs, which is a luxury you will not have with air travel. The big disadvantage is time. It could take over a month for your items to make its way across the ocean, because chances are the boat has many scheduled stops, and yours may be at the bottom of the list. Also, if you do not live near a port, it will take longer for your things to get from the boat, to your house. Boats are ideal for large, expensive items such as artwork and vehicles.
Check with the international moving company that you have hired to see what their rates are when it comes to each method of travel. They should be able to give you accurate quotes for each. When making your decision, factor in things like customs and any duties you may have to pay on your items. This could affect the cost greatly.
