MOVE YOUR BELONGINGS

Consider if you want (or are able) to transport your belongings yourself or whether you will need the services of a shipping company that deals with international moves. Unless you are travelling very light, you will probably need professional help to ship your possessions.

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Ask for quotes from several companies first, ensuring that they visit your home to carry out a survey of your requirements. It may be worth paying extra for the shipping firm to pack your possessions for you, particularly if they are going to be transported to Costa Rica from a distant country and need special protection for the long journey. Make sure you bring to their attention anything fragile or precious that needs particularly careful wrapping and packing.

Before agreeing to a quotation, ensure that you are fully aware of exactly what is covered in the price, and that the service to be provided meets all of your requirements. For example, does the service include both packing and unpacking of your household effects? What about disassembling and reassembling of furniture? If you are planning to put anything into storage in your destination country while you find accommodation, does the price include final delivery and unpacking at your home, or will you need to arrange collection of the items? Obtain a firm estimate of the likely arrival date of your items and obtain contact details for any agents that will be dealing with the removal in your destination country. Ensure that the shipping company is aware in advance of any practical considerations such as the lack of an elevator to your apartment, or likely parking problems.

If using a shipping company, you may be required to get their insurance cover for your possessions. Whether or not this is the case, make sure that you have adequate insurance for anything of actual or sentimental value that could get lost or damaged during the move. Take the time to accurately complete or check an inventory of your possessions to be moved, as this will form the basis for any insurance claim for losses or damages. Find out if insurance is included in the price quoted by the shipping company, or whether you are required to pay extra for this.

The shipping company should arrange any customs and importation documents on your behalf, but if you are arranging the move independently you will need to find out what documents are required and what import duties and taxes are payable (and whether you are eligible for exemption from these).

Relocating to a new country is as exciting as it gets, but it costs money, so in order to cut down on costs we strongly suggest you compare companies to get the best deal.

Just when you think you’ve dealt with one thing, something else pops up. If you’re not careful, things like shipping, visas, and flights can set you back a serious amount of cash – and that’s before you’ve even got to your destination.

Make sure that you set aside the important documents you will need for the journey, such as passports and air tickets, and keep these easily accessible in your hand luggage.