I know from experience that preparing to up sticks and move to another country can be a nightmare of lists of things to do. A friend of mine got a post as Assistant Professor in Russian at a University in the Southern States of America – they decided to move house and she went off to start her new job whilst my husband and I helped get the household goods ready to move. There was a lot of throwing away; a lot of giving away; many visits to Oxfam.

A number of container shipping companies offering services for shipping my items to the USA were approached for advice and quotes, and one was chosen. It appears that the companies prefer to do all the packing themselves so things had to be got ready for them to pack. One of the things that was nearly overlooked was the shipping insurance – our friend had thought that this was included in the shipping charges.
But, it seems as though the householder is, in fact the shipper and the receiver of the household goods and therefore needs to arrange the moving insurance for the international transportation and has to include all household goods, personal effects, artwork, etc. Evidence of purchase of the item or photograph or such should be made of all major items together with an inventory list of all things being shipped and taken in hand luggage.

Goods should be prepared ready for packing by the shipping company and the freight forwarding company or shipping to USA specialist booked. The shipping insurance should be obtained based on the inventory and booking information. You will need a receipt from the moving company and check your shipment as soon as it arrives and immediately tell the insurance company of any problems. Luckily our friends had no problems except for shoehorning some of their stuff into a tiny kitchen.

If you still want to vote whilst abroad contact the electoral commission and they will send you the appropriate forms to complete/ you can vote in UK Elections up to 15 years after moving abroad.

Look around the house and make sure you have cancelled all subscriptions, papers and other recurring items. Find your library books and return them. Similarly return all items borrowed from friends and family.

Start to run down the freezer stock and use up items from the kitchen cupboards. Defrost about three days before you go. Empty the fridge and freezer; throw away any items you can’t give away. Wipe them out.

Sort through your clothes and put aside those you will need up to when your stuff arrives at your new home. Put these aside for taking on the plane with you but check weight restrictions. Your stuff may take up to three months if going by sea, so check how long your clothes will have to last and plan ahead.

Pack your valuable items like jewellery and important documents in hand luggage to carry on the plane with you. Buy your currency or arrange for it at your bank or other exchange.

Re-home your house plants as they cannot be taken with you. If you don’t fancy cleaning your house before you leave then book a cleaner or cleaning company to come in and do this for you.
Around 4-3 days before do a last wash and then make sure the plumber comes to disconnect the washer if you are taking it with you.

Make sure you collect any items from the dry cleaners, any items you are having repaired and then iron your last wash before packing clothes.

At about two months before you are due to leave confirm and clarify all your moving details and packing needs with the shipping company.

Arrange a car boot sale, advertise stuff on eBay, take unwanted goods in good condition to the charity shop and generally take a grip on yourself and get rid of items that just won’t fit in your new place. Make sure the family are not hiding too many treasures. (No you cannot take 10 years back copies of Golf International….)

If you have a parking restriction around your house make sure you have made arrangements for the removal company to park outside your property at or around your moving day (they may take more than a day to pal). Ask the shipping company for the size of the van and ask the local council for relaxation of parking restrictions for not just the size of the van but extra space for getting in and out.
Write or print out labels for change of address to all your friends and business contacts if applicable.

Put all your important documents in a folder so they don’t get packed. Passports, visas, birth certificates etc. Also flight details, hotel details and other essential l travel information.

Make arrangements for appropriate vaccinations at your doctor and for your pets at the vets. If you or a family member is one special medication ensure you have plenty to last you until you have a new doctor. Take copies of all prescriptions and tell your doctor’s practice about your move.

You will need to start planning at least three months before your due day to move. Even if you haven’t a precise date for actually moving it is better to look for a company to move you at this time and go for at least three quotations. Look for shipping companies that specialises in moving to the country you are going to – shipping to USA or Europe for example. Find out exactly what services they offer for you and how you are expected to prepare for removal day.

Start the process of major decluttering and sorting out of those things that a) need to be thrown away down the tip and b) those things you could sell at a car boot or small ads and c) those things you will give away to friends or charity shops.

Decide what you are going to do about any pets you have and. If you are taking them with you investigate any quarantine regulations etc.

Decide what you are going to do about your car – if you are leaving it behind then arrange for advertising/selling it. Online car buying companies can often give a good deal.

En sure passports and visa documents are up to date and in process. Look up vaccination requirements for the country/countries you are going to or passing through. If you need accommodation on route, book it now.

My friend’s daughter is going to the United States as a student for a year, and needed to take more with her than her air baggage allowance-someone suggested using a company used to shipping to USA to transport her excess baggage. It appears that shipping companies will provide boxes – or transport unaccompanied suitcases and such and offer a door to door delivery service AND arrange customs clearance in the UK and United States. Even with two largish cartons for excess baggage my friend’s daughter still agonised over what to take and what to leave behind and needed directing to the internet to check on winter weather in the Midwest before leaving out all the winter woollies. Eventually the boxes were packed but then someone mentioned the skiing in the area, so she had to contact the shipping company to see if they would take them. They would! It was a good idea to plan ahead for the shipping of her excess baggage because she had it all delivered a couple of days after she arrived, which was brilliant.

I am surprised that more people don’t use the excess baggage alternative when visiting the USA – shipping to USA is not particularly expensive when you consider the cost of excess baggage on a flight – and you lose the problem of lugging heavy bags around at the airport if you choose door to door to your hotel.