A Family company that specializes in moving Families!

There are big corporate moving companies that specialize in moving big corporate employees with big relocation budgets. There are also big corporate companies that specialize in moving Military families and Government employees. Most do a great job and offer what’s called a white glove service for their customers. But do they have the time, patience, staff and competitiveness to look after the family who is paying for themselves that need some handholding and friendly helpful advice through the process?

That’s where UPakWeShip comes into its own! UPakWeShip is a family run business with 7 family members spread between its offices in the USA, Europe and the UK. With operations on both sides of the Atlantic, most of our moves are controlled and managed by UPakWeShip with no third-party agents contacting you.

Why is having one company door to door so important?  It allows us to maintain a high standard of quality control, operational and communications, and most importantly stops extra fees being billed to you by third parties. How often do you see reviews online that say the move was ok, but we were charged an extra fee before delivery for various made-up reasons. It’s common practice for the delivery agent that probably only won the job by being the cheapest to make more profit by charging extras on the delivery. Not with UPakWeShip though!

Many years ago, we were so fed up with this practice and complaints from our customers when we used a third-party mover, that we decided to set up our own company in the UK and Europe so that we could make sure this did not happen anymore.

When moving with UPakWeShip, you will feel the difference between us and the big guys, we answer the phone, you can always speak to the same person you did last time and we are knowledgeable, friendly, patient and most importantly give you a lump sum all inclusive price without the worry of extra sneaky fees being made up to line some large corporations pockets! See UPakWeShip’s price guarantee here.

We are the UPakWeShip family that wants to help your family relocate with no stress or worries.

One company door to door. Get all inclusive moving and shipping rates online with our international moving cost calculator.

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Absolutely! There is a company in the USA called Movinghelp.com that is a great resource to find local help. If not call a local independent mover to quote you on providing a loading crew.

What the cheapest way to move overseas?

Obviously the less you send the less you spend. If you have nothing fragile then the UPakWeShip Pallet service is a very economic way to ship but its not as safe and secure as UPakWeShip’s U Crate service. Always go for a door-to-door option, thinking you are going to save money by collecting your things at the port is often a false economy. You will have to pay a bunch of extra fees before you are allowed to collect it and its probably going to be in a yard in a shady part of town you wish you were not in, let alone your belongings!

Do I need insurance?

Would you not insure your car or house contents? The chances are slim right, but you still insure them just in case. It’s the same with shipping insurance. 99% of the time everything is perfect but just in case something happens you will be pleased you got your money back on the shipping cost as well as being able to buy some new things to compensate for your losses.

   Shall I ship everything including all my furniture or just the personal stuff?

If you company is going to pay for everything you might as well ship everything but if you are on a lump sum relocation meaning you have a budget then may be consider just shipping your essential items like clothes, pictures, hobby stuff like your guitar, golf clubs, fishing poles, books, gaming chair etc and leave the rest behind. With the money saved, buy a new bed and sofa at your destination, and treat yourself to an upgraded flight!

Which companies should I get quotes from?

Using google, search for international moving companies that specialize in the are you are shipping to. For example, there is no point asking a company that specializes in South America if you are moving to London. Also, if you are paying your self and only have a few hundred cubic feet or 2500lbs for example there probably isn’t the need to use an expensive corporate mover however great their red carpet VIP service is!

Check out Facebook recommendation groups like Americans moving to Portugal or Brits in LA, or NY or moving to Costa Rica group for example. Many people will share their experiences and recommendations as well as other helpful advice.

  Google reviews are also important but don’t be put off if a company has just a few bad ones. Sometimes they are written by competitors and sometimes you just can’t please everybody however hard you might try.

Ask other expats who you meet at your destination who they used for shipping their personal effects and household goods. May be others at the same company you will be working for or same school or may be a local expat group or realtor.

What should I be looking for in a quote?

Check to see everything that can be is included. Some companies might miss out port charges or terminal or handling fees that you would have to pay at the destination. Your best bet is to prepay everything door to door in your quote. If its too good to be true, don’t book it! There are still some unscrupulous companies out there who will take your money and run! Bottom line you are looking for a decent door to door all-inclusive lump sum price.

Questions to ask the mover.

Once you have narrowed it down to a few movers, ask them some questions. How long have you been in business? Do you have a license and what’s the number? Do you have references?  What’s the transit time? Who do you use overseas at the destination you are moving to? Do you have your own warehouse? How many employees do you have? I’m all for small business support but you don’t want to have all your treasured belongings being taken care of by a one-man band working from their basement, do you? Ask the company about the destination you are going to. If you are moving to Edinburgh but they have no idea where that it and can’t pronounce it, it’s probably not the right fit for you. Do they know about local customs regulations or at least can find out for you?

   This is written by UPakWeShip’s  International Moving Doctor. We hope this helps when you are looking for an International Mover to ship your things overseas.  If you have any other questions, click here and ask the International Moving Doctor.

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Now I have to load it with U Crates and Pallets that are wanting to go to Europe.

So the office runs a load list report and gives to the warehouse to prep the right shipments near the loading dock ready to load when the container arrives.

The load list is based on the destination obviously, meaning either Europe, The UK, New Zealand or Australia. The shipments that have sat patiently the longest will go first as long as their owners have paid for them to travel.

  I am loading a container (one of 6 actually) going to the Dutch port of Rotterdam. Once it arrives there, out local UPakWeShip team will arrange clearing customs and delivering to all the European homes the U Crates and pallets are eager to go to.

I am driving the forklift so your view is what I see from the forklift seat. The first picture here is of the first two U Crate 100’s loaded in the 40 foot long shipping container. You can see how the two fit snugly together side by side for the ride.

The next few pictures show me gradually loading up the 40 foot shipping container with UPakWeShip’s U Crate 100’s They are very popular and make up the majority of the load today. This is because they are the safest way to move and ship your things to Europe from the USA and Canada.

At last as we are nearly near the end of the shipping container we have something different to load. Here is a U Crate 200 known in the trade as a liftvan. Its made of wood and many international movers use these for packing in to. In this case a customer has used a professional international mover to pack and load their items into a “liftvan” and deliver to us for shipping overseas.

The last two to catch this container ride to Europe are a couple of pallets going to Switzerland. Because Switzerland is not part of the European Union it has different customs regulations than most. For this destination we have to clear the shipment through Swiss customs at the border as we enter Switzerland rather than in our bonded warehouse in the Netherlands. Norway has the same procedures as Switzerland when we go there as well. Anyhow here are the last two pallets getting loaded and the container is now full.

A 40 foot shipping container holds 20 U Crate 100,s but in this case we have loaded 16 U Crate 100’s, a U Crate 200 which takes up two pallet positions and two pallets making the 20.

You can see, nothing can move side to side in a rough sea on the ship as they are all loaded nice and tight. They cant move front to back either as its loaded all the way from the front to the back doors. All we have left to do is shut the container doors, fix a security seal lock through the door handle so no one can open it except for customs and do the paperwork for the driver to take it back to Charleston Port for it to be loaded on the ship to Rotterdam.

The transit time across the Atlantic is about 10 days but first the ship carries on up the coast after departing Charleston to unload and load other containers before heading out across the Atlantic so that might take another 7 days or so.

When our system automatically sends you the sailing details of the ship your shipment will be traveling on, its a great idea to get an app for your phone like Marine Traffic so you can track the progress of the ship and see where it is each day.

The three pictures here show me and the forklift, the container with the doors shut ready to ship and a container vessel leaving Charleston Port.

I hope you enjoyed the “This is how we do it” at UPakWeShip presentation.

Any questions don’t forget to ask the International Moving Doctor.

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I have fond memories of celebrating our first Kings Day when we lived near Rotterdam. Day time raves, orange everywhere, very happy Duchies and some, drinking a little too much Heineken.

I know the Dutch are brilliant in Logistics but not sure of the logic behind having the biggest party day of the year being on a Wednesday? My tip of the day is making it a Friday every year or better still be like the Americans with Thanksgiving and make it a Thursday and everyone takes off Friday to recover!

Either way enjoy and be safe celebrating your special day.

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Every day we patiently explain that we do not deliver books for Amazon and that we ship peoples belongings overseas.

I wish it was that easy to just call up Amazon and explain that one of their vendors is wrongly advising its customers, but obviously that isn’t the case.

If anyone wants to move overseas, then UPakWeShip is here to serve you with great rates and the best customer service. If however you are waiting for your book delivery, its not us, so please call Amazon or the supplier you bought the book from.

PS we do offer our own free book on how to move overseas if you want some light reading

Cheers The International Moving Doctor.

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The Biggest Challenges With Moving Internationally…

Moving, in general, is rife with difficulties. Moving to another country altogether has its own struggles. Not only is money an integral facet. There are many other aspects that make moving everything you own a complicated process.

These involve work visas, knowing what you can bring with you, and most importantly, knowing how to get it there. Once your possessions are moved-can they go right into your new home, or will you need temporary storage?

Updating Your Visa

Make sure you are allowed to live in the country where you wish to relocate before packing up your things. Having your passport at the border is not enough. You must go through the rest of the process.

For each country that you intend to move to, you will need to research Visa requirements. Many countries offer work visas allowing applicants to work for three months, six months, or a full year. Before breaking out the bubble wrap, it’s crucial to complete this task.

Renting vs Buying

Now that your visa situation is complete, you can focus more on moving your belongings. Have you decided to rent, or buy a new home? In any case-how will you handle the storage of your possessions?

Before packing those boxes, you must know where you’re going. Research the international city you’ll be moving to. Decide whether renting, even temporarily, is the best option. Or, look at houses on the market for sale.

This step is important for many reasons. Deciding on a new living situation will help you decide on a moving budget. You’ll also be able to get an idea of what you want to pack and take with you. When you have a solid move-in date, then you’ll know how to navigate storage options.

Do you know if you need to pay tariffs and fees to move to your new country?

Another challenge many people aren’t aware of when moving internationally. You may not be able to bring everything you own without paying a lot of tariffs and fees.

Tariffs applied to imports of household articles are a major concern when moving. The fee amounts and regulations for items vary per country you will be moving to. Import laws are serious, and one mistake in documentation can cause disastrous results. The last thing you want to deal with is having your belongings held up in customs by paperwork errors or unexpected fees.

It’s important to be diligent when researching tariffs on household items, and even yes, your family pets. Know what’s allowed, what isn’t, and how much it will all cost.

It’s possible you may be exempt from paying fees and tariffs on your household goods, or even vehicles. This will come down to qualifications and proper documentation. All the more reason to make sure you’re fully aware of the entire process when it comes to importing goods from the United States.

Stress comes with an upside when deciding what is significant enough to move internationally: decluttering. You may want to get rid of an item that you can’t live without if it isn’t essential. You’ll thank yourself later, and so will your budget.

Shipping Internationally From Texas via Sea Freight

When moving from Texas to an international location, you naturally want the most cost-effective solution.

Shipping household goods by sea freight is the most efficient and cost-effective way to move to a new country. To accomplish this, you will need to have a container shipped to your home by an international moving company.

The container is loaded with household items, and a trucker picks it up and transports it to the port. An international moving company with a door-to-door or door-to-port service helps ensure that the container is sent to the correct carrier and that all customs clearance documents are completed and submitted.

Why UPakWeShip Excels at Shipping Internationally From Texas

If you are looking for an international shipping company, UPakWeShip offers the most affordable DIY moving solutions worldwide. We have locations not just in Texas, but across the continental United States. There are also offices in the UK, mainland Europe, and Toronto, which cover all of Canada. And we have terminals worldwide. It doesn’t matter where you go, UPakWeShip will be there for you.

Our licensed professionals are knowledgeable and highly skilled in all areas. The shipping coordinators at our company have over 33 years of experience handling international shipments all over the world. Additionally, we offer online tools to create shipping labels, packing lists, and more.

Everything You Need With One Simple Service…

Whenever you ship internationally from Texas, you need a well-thought-out plan. Self-pack shipping is a specialty of UPakWeShip.

By guiding you through the process in a quick, efficient, and professional way, you’ll money and ensure that you get the stress-free moving service you deserve.

You will receive a free quote based on the specifics of your shipping requirements. With your shipping container, there are no hidden fees, and you will be guided throughout the process. The process of shipping, customs, and delivery is transparent from start to finish. UPakWeShip is also Fully Licensed and Bonded by Federal Maritime Commission.

How It Works

Our shipping experts will give helpful suggestions to keep your quote price low. You pick the size shipping container that best fits your needs.  One way to save on costs is to pack yourself. UPakWeShip offers moving materials to make packing easier. Once your container is loaded, UPakWeShip will collect it for delivery to your destination (either to Port or to your Home).

You can find more information on the entire international shipping process in our free book: Moving Overseas, the definitive guide.

To get started on your quote, contact UPakWeShip today. Let one of our professionals guide you through the process of moving internationally. Rest assured that your new journey will be the easiest, most efficient, and most economical move of your life.

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Where you’ll be living, house hunting, the prospect of starting anew, all of these are the fun aspects of moving. The initial thoughts can seem like a distant memory when the hard work begins, so how can you make the whole process feel less stressful?

Organize Yourself

From the start, you need to be a step ahead. Take time at the very beginning of your moving process to write a list of everything you need to do, and the timeframe in which they need to be completed.

Initially, this may feel overwhelming, but by breaking it all down, you can create an efficient plan of what you need to be doing and when, which will avoid you from feeling overwhelmed with tasks, and will (hopefully) make everything feel a lot more manageable.

Get Time on Your Side

This cannot be emphasised enough. The more time you have, the more organized you’ll be, the more organized you are, the less stress it will be. Simple logic, right?

If you’re moving abroad, everything task has an expiry date. Book pickups, deliveries and shipments way in advance. If you don’t have a designation address yet, don’t worry! Movers will be able to edit the details later down the line, the main thing is that it’s arranged in the first place.

Take off some of the financial burden

One of the easiest ways to lessen the financial burden, is by packing yourself. Yes, this does mean you’ll need to be more organized, but it also can save you a lot of money. Packing yourself means you know exactly what you’ll be packing and where it will go. It also allows you to organize items that are of sentimental value, where packers may not necessarily take as much care.

Consider a self-pack, door-to-door service such as UPakWeship, to lighten both your mental and physical loads. Your own crate will be delivered, you pack it up, and we’ll collect it on a date pre-organised. It means a lot less waiting around, and you’ll be safe in the knowledge your belongings are en route to their destination. Plus, with offices in the USA and Canada, you know everything will be in safe hands!

Reassure Yourself With Safety Precautions

It’s natural to be worrying about moving abroad right now, but we have moved thousands of families, employees and individuals this year. The world doesn’t stop turning and houses are being bought,  job contracts signed and visas accepted – people still need to get to their new homes.

The best way to feel safe when moving, is to research all of the regulations and restrictions on your new country so that you feel confident upon your arrival. As per usual, bringing hand sanitizer, anti-bac wipes and wearing a mask are also going to be crucial to staying clean and safe. And the number one way to stay safe when moving is by using a self-packing mover, so that you don’t have any strangers coming into your home, touching all of your belongings and moving around your house.

Start Small

Once the list is made, tackle one thing at a time. As the saying goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day. If you’ve given yourself enough time, you can start to slowly cross the life-admin bits off your list, building up to the bigger tasks in due course, so that everything doesn’t feel quite so overwhelming.

Don’t be afraid to ask for a hand

Almost everyone will move at least once during their lifetime. This means the chances are, those around you will be both supportive and willing to lend a hand if necessary. Not only does having an extra pair of hands help, but it will also remove some of the emotional burden, and you’ll probably have more fun with someone to chat to!

Be courteous enough to give your friends and family a bit of notice, and make sure to show your gratitude (a cup of tea and a bottle of wine goes a long way)!

Don’t let the stress of moving abroad put you off. If you’re looking for an international mover, ensure to use a company with a no-hidden-fees policy and fantastic feedback from customers. We’re proud to have both – find a quote for your move online today!

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One of the most common subjects which comes up when people learn I’ve spent any amount of time in Australia is, ‘What about the spiders/snakes/deadly creatures’. In truth, I spent eleven months in the country and didn’t encounter anything which wanted to kill me.

Unless you count the magpies, of course. Which any Aussie will tell you, you absolutely should.

But in general, the spiders and snakes keep themselves to themselves. Your most common encounter will be cockroaches, but since they exist in every hot country, from France to the US, roaches shouldn’t put you off the Australian way of life.

And what a way of life it is.

Since experiencing Australia first hand, I can honestly say the lifestyle is unparalleled to anywhere else in the world. From the healthcare, which falls somewhere between the US and UK in coverage and expenses. To the public transport, to the coffee (seriously, it’s known as the best coffee in the world for a reason). Everything in Australia just seems to be a higher quality than that of the other countries I’ve visited.

Brisbane is a haven for sun-seekers everywhere. Its proximity to the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, and Byron Bay makes it extremely popular with tourists on the well-trodden East Coast route. It’s also the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef – so if you’re going to live in Australia, it’s definitely a city to consider.

Sydney was my home for eight months and remains my favorite city in the world. You’re never more than thirty minutes from the beach, but the exemplary public transport means you can be in the incredible Blue Mountains within two hours. Check out our guide on moving to Sydney.

Melbourne is renowned for its art and culture scene. There’s some kind of art or music festival every week and is much more reminiscent of a European city than any of the others in Australia. With a city square, and older architecture than is typical for a ‘new’ country, Melbourne is where all history and art buffs should check off their list.

Adelaide is the fifth most populous city in Australia and is renowned for its placement in the wine industry. It’s also the cheapest of the cities, which makes it extremely popular with those initially moving to Australia.

Perth is renowned for being the most remote city in the world, being closer to Singapore than Sydney, and Jakarta than Canberra, Australia’s capital. However, it is also arguably the most popular Australian city with expats. The city has a unique sense of community and is situated on one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world.

There’s certainly a lot to consider when thinking about where in Australia to live – but what about the Aussies themselves?

Well, I’m here to tell you that Australians really do live up to the stereotype. They are mostly blonde, mostly tanned, and mostly ridiculously good looking. Almost everyone has surfed at least once or twice, and they really do shorten every, single, word.

Another stereotype you may not be so familiar with is how some Aussie men live up to being a ‘bloke’. Whilst in the cosmopolitan areas, the majority of people are accepting and very twenty-first century, there is undoubtedly an undercurrent of misogyny.

Domestic violence dominates the conversation, and there’s been a push for change in recent years. This side of Australia is something you’re unlikely to discover unless you’re living in the country for a long period of time via the odd comment or exchange, but in general, is not something experienced by most expats.

Finally, the big question, the question on everybody’s lips when considering moving to Australia.

“But… What about the sharks?!”

Well, Australia has an excellent shark detection system in place on tourist beaches, with either shark nets or shark alarms preventing attacks.

If you use your common sense and don’t go swimming at dawn or dusk, you’ll be just fine.

Australia remains my favorite country in the world, and one of the most idyllic places to bring up children. It’s surrounded by beautiful coastline, has a great arts and festivals scene, and has fantastic weather pretty much year-round.

So, is the lifestyle worth the spiders/snakes/sharks?

Absolutely.

If you’re considering moving to Australia, get a quote today with UPakWeShip A self-packing service to save you money on your move, we offer an upfront cost including taxes and customs. Our mission is to make your move as stress-free as possible.

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So, this is how you can ensure safety is your priority, without compromising on a happy move.

1. Follow the updates on travel advice and guidance

Despite wanting everything to be normal, things aren’t, and every country is dealing with the pandemic in different ways. The best thing you can do for your peace of mind and your move is to be prepared. Governments are constantly updating their official websites with advice for travel and those coming into and out of the country. Take a look at the local news from your destination and ensure you’re aware of any guidelines or quarantining rules you might need to follow. Every country differs with precautions, laws, and rules, and things are changing all the time, so stay up informed.

Here are some useful websites which may be of use:
UK Foreign Travel Advice
USA Foreign Travel Advice
European Foreign Travel Advice

2. Use a reliable curbside mover that prioritizes safety

UPakWeShip is a curbside moving company, which specializes in collecting and delivering on your door-step. This means, nobody has to go into your home, nobody is using your toilet, nobody is touching your belongings, and you know exactly where everything is and what needs prioritizing. By packing yourself, not only do you minimize the impact of your move, but you can also save yourself a lot of money. Curbside moving is the perfect option for those who want to move safely and affordably. You can receive an instant quote for your move, right now.

3. Fly in comfort using the money you’ve saved on moving

Not only is moving with UPakWeShip safe, it’s also affordable. We’ve laid out how using UPakWeShip’s moving services are socially distant, but the impact of moving with us goes further than that. Moving without packers means you’ll save the money usually spent on people coming in and packing your belongings. Why not use this extra budget to upgrade your flight and ensure you can have a bit more room and be less likely to sit near others in cramped economy seating.

If you’re looking to move overseas safely and affordably, you can find out your moving price right now with our instant rates calculator. We are looking forward to another fall/winter season of moving people to their new destinations.

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