8 Questions to Ask Your DC International Movers
Published by Chris Townsend
What To Ask Your DC International Moving Company
Moving internationally can either be one of the most or least stressful experiences of your life. If you live in the Washington DC area and find yourself moving abroad, there are a lot of elements and details to consider. However, if you’ve decided on the where and when, it’s essential that you start considering the how as early as possible. By this we mean, who are you going to hire to move your household belongings abroad?
Hiring the right international movers for your relocation from Washington DC can certainly make or break the entire experience. Also, an unreliable mover could end up costing you hundreds of thousands of dollars more than you originally budgeted for. We always recommend gathering quotes from multiple companies in order to find the best fit for you. Once you’ve done plenty of research and narrowed it down to a handful of seemingly trusted international movers, you need to come prepared with plenty of questions to vet them.
Below we’ve outlined some necessary questions to help you decide whether or not the international moving company you pick is the right fit and offers all of the important services that you need. Here are the eight questions you should ask your international movers.
- Are you licensed and insured?
Although this question seems so basic that it may not even be worth asking, you’d be surprised to know that there are a lot of moving companies that are not licensed. Be sure that the company you select is properly licensed and legitimate to carry out your international relocation.
You should be able to find out this information on the DOT or FMC website. These are the typical licensing bodies in the United States. However, you can always ask the moving company to provide a copy. If they cannot give you this type of information, it’s best to go with another option.
Why should you care if your international moving company is insured? Well, if the company were to go bankrupt, you want to ensure that you’re completely covered.
- What type of insurance do you offer?
If you discover that your overseas moving company does not offer any type of insurance, you should run in the opposite direction. All trusted, reputable movers will have insurance options. However, it’s very important that you understand the specifics and what these options cover and do not cover.
For instance, if you choose a shipping company, it may only cover your belongings while in transit but not during load/unload at the port. Or an insurance policy could possibly only cover damage to your goods but not theft. It’s imperative that you always read the fine print and grasp all of the details.
- How will my shipment pass through customs?
It is an absolute necessity that your international movers offer customs brokerage service. With the increasing restrictions over the years, the process of getting your belongings through customs has become more and more complex. If your goods end up being stuck at the port, this could result in pricey storage fees or possible penalty charges.
It should be the job of your international moving company to assist you in the entire process from beginning to end. They also should have the proper experience and infrastructure to make your relocation to your new country as stress-free as possible.
- Do you include packing in the quoted price?
Although you may be tempted to save money by packing your own possessions, this is not advisable. The reason for this is that most governments require that you include a manifest of your household goods and effects along with your belongings. They’ve designed it this way in order to prevent transport of any illegal or illicit goods.
To speed up the customs process, your international movers can give you a declaration of household goods. However, in order for them to do this, they need to pack your stuff for you. If not, they could be charged or blamed for anything illegal among your possessions.
Therefore, it’s important to find out whether or not packing services are included in your quote since it can significantly drive up the overall cost.
- Do you offer door-to-door services?
This is probably one of the most important questions you could ask your international movers. An international moving company should provide you with complete door-to-door moving. Whereas if you hire simply an international shipping company, they may only handle the shipping between ports.
Shippers will always appear cheaper but can end up creating more of a hassle for you to arrange the movement of your goods to and from ports. However, for a price, international movers will manage all of this for you.
- Does your company completely handle the move?
This may seem like a silly question but very few moving companies can manage all destinations. However, if they cannot fulfill it themselves, most international movers will have agreements with other companies.
There is nothing particularly wrong with having your move managed by multiple companies, and it actually may be unavoidable depending on your destination. Nonetheless, if your company is reputable, it should explain the process to you and provide you with the names of the companies that will be responsible for handling your goods during each leg of the journey.
- How long will my move take?
The moving fleet capabilities and capacities will vary from company to company. Some will be able to adhere to your exact schedule while others will offer you a few options you can select from. You can typically expect to pay more for a custom option that fits perfectly within your schedule. However, if the company offers pre-selected delivery days, you’ll receive the service at a reduced cost since your belongings will likely be grouped with other shipments.
- Can you provide references?
It’s one thing to read testimonials online but it’s even better to hear directly from their past satisfied clients. If you want to be truly certain that your international moving company is the right choice, ask them to provide you with references.
It’s excellent if they can provide you with a few past clients to reach out to. Although you’ll definitely want to read online reviews, this can help you ask any specific questions you have to people who have been through a very similar international moving process.
Hiring Washington DC International Movers
Hiring international movers is essential to make your move as smooth as possible; especially if you’ve never moved abroad before. Overseas moves require much more attention than domestic and your international movers should be well equipped to handle the entire process for you.
Three Movers are the international movers Washington DC residents know, trust and consistently return to for their moving needs. We have years of experience managing moves abroad and always guarantee peace of mind when partnering with us. Our devoted team of international moving experts can help you every step of the way.
If you’re planning a Washington DC international move, look no further than Three Movers. Call us today for your free quote or begin the process by simply filling out the form at the top of this page or on our main website!
