ACE Forwarding Caspian is one of the leading Moving and Relocation companies in Caucasus, providing complete origin services for packing and shipping, freight brokerage, full destination services. Having broad range of reliable partners and agents all over the world we offer complete door-to-door services. Our professional Packing Team is specially trained in accordance with international packing techniques and standards. Using high quality packing material imported from Europe and locally purchased we ensure safety of the goods. Professionalism of our International Coordinators Team, Packing Crew and Supervisors, safety and excellent condition of facilities, equipment and material used for handling of household goods and personal effects shipments, will measure up to high class of international standard moving company. With broad knowledge and great experience we handle each move with close attention and utmost care. ACE Forwarding Caspian can offering Relocation services, a crew of five Liaisons will provide the customers with full range of services. Visa and police registration support, airport collections, accommodation and utility installation arrangements, introduction of banks, hospitals, schools and other public facilities. The Relocation business is very new to the local market and not yet fully developed to the extend, as in the US and European countries. Five different packages are available upon request. We have been Members of the HHGFAA since 1999 and are in the process of applying for FIDI membership.

How to Plan Your Move

The Questions About Moving People Ask The Most Often

What Is An Overseas Move?

Your Top 20 Tips

Checklist

The key to a good international move is planning.

Bearing in mind that it can take weeks to ship your goods to another part of the world, there is simply no room for last minute rushes. If you aren't ready, no 40,000 tonne steamship or jumbo jet is going to wait for your household effects!

In essence, your entire move has three key operations:

• Preparation. This means deciding what to take, what to dispose of and sorting out the paperwork. One thing you can be certain of - it will take longer than you think! You will have to organise insurance, an inventory and make plans for cars, pets and any new goods you are taking.
• The journey. You need to work out how much of your shipment is to go by sea or air. You may save hotel bills by sending some of your belongings in advance by air. Also think about how quickly you need your belongings once you are at destination - you can discuss all this with the moving company during the survey meeting.
• Arrival: You must allow for Customs clearance, delivery of your belongings, more paperwork and unpacking. You must also be available - don't even think about being on holiday when your shipment arrives!

PREPARATION

12 weeks before the move.
Choose a mover.
Your family is moving maybe thousands of miles away. So the first thing to do is to make sure you have a reliable mover. When you are posted abroad, and your personal belongings don't turn up, you can be a long way from home to sort out the problems.
If you choose a FIDI agent you can be certain that the company is a specialist in international moving and its operational and financial capability has been checked. Where one exists, it will also be a member of an approved national moving association.
Ask two or three movers to quote. Make sure you brief them in the same way and clearly show what goes and what stays, otherwise their quotes will vary.

What to take.
Most goods are cheaper to ship than to replace, so take everything you need but dispose of those items which are unsuitable in your new country, worn out or that you never liked anyway.

What stays behind.
Different countries have different rules about what you can take in and what you cannot. The first rule is - don't even think about flouting Customs regulations. What you think is harmless might cost you a spell in jail. Please consult your FIDI agents well in advance for advice as they can provide you with Customs information and country information for nearly 100 countries.
There are some items that are almost certainly a no-go area for shipping overseas. Restrictions include:

• Firearms: You will find it difficult to ship even antique or special firearm collections.
• Alcohol: Private wine collections are not welcome at all destinations.
• Pornography: What you consider a pin-up magazine is considered pornography in many countries.

Children.
If some items are going by air, remember to include children's clothes and toys. This will help your family settle in more quickly. Take enough clothes to live with and always include some familiar items from your home. Understandably, children are very vulnerable at this time. Involve them in the move. Get books from the library for information on your new home or ask your FIDI mover for a country guide.

Education.
Do you need advice about schooling at destination? Talk to your moving company as it can put you in touch with a suitable organisation. Movers are being asked similar questions every day, so they have a useful store of knowledge.

Pets.
Pets can also move to your new home, unless specific restrictions apply, on which your mover can advise. However, the shipping of pets is a specialist job and your mover could bring in another company to handle it. Most of these companies are regularly inspected and operate to high standards. If you can, it is probably worthwhile visiting their premises to make sure you are comfortable with them. There is no hard and fast guidance on this matter - some pets absolutely take moving in their stride while others find it very traumatic. Take time to discuss the matter and make sure you have your pet's relevant medical paperwork.

Cars.
Whether or not you pay duty depends on which country you are going to. All countries have rigid laws about imported cars, and some are more restrictive than others. In certain countries it is simply not worth having an imported car because the duty is so high. Look into this well in advance because you may decide you want to sell your car before you go. An attractive alternative is simply to put your car into store until you return, rather than have the worry of depreciation if it is an expensive one.

Ten weeks before the move.
Clearing out.
Take time to get rid of things you really don't need. Go through the basement, garage, loft and toy cupboards. Charity shops, garage or car boot sales are all good ways of disposing of unwanted goods that are in good condition.

Eight weeks before the move.
Who to tell.
If you have a Christmas card list, use this as the basis for a list of people to send change of address cards. Don't forget to add utilities such as mains suppliers (gas/electricity/water), telephone, doctor, dentist, bank, building societies, investment advisers, credit card companies, magazine subscriptions, hire purchase or rental companies.

Paperwork.
Start rounding up passports, birth/marriage certificates and check that you have visas, if required. These can often take several months. If you are in a hurry, some companies specialise in obtaining visas on your behalf but they charge. Other items to arrange include:

• Vaccination certificates
• Birth/marriage certificates
• Medical records
• Investment documents
• Invoices for any new purchases
• School reports
• Personal travel documents

Electrical goods.
Don't take it for granted that all your electrical goods will work in your destination country. Check out the voltages first.

Six weeks before the move.
Moving date.
By now you should have confirmed your moving date with your selected contractor. If not, sign the acceptance form and send it off now.

Mail.
This is a good time to arrange for your mail to be redirected. The cost is reasonable and usually requires no more than your attendance at your local post office with some form of identification.

New goods.
Depending where you are moving to, you may be able to reclaim sales tax refunds on new purchases. Check this with your mover.

Insurance.
A great many people will be handling your shipment between departure and arrival. Although your shipment will be packed to withstand the longest journey, insurance cover gives you peace of mind from door-to-door. You should always insure to cover the cost of replacement in the country of destination.

School.
About this time it is worth inquiring if the school your children will be attending has any particular dress code or other formality. It is important that your children settle in as quickly as possible and taking care of these things in advance, helps the process.
At the same time, if your children are members of international organisations such as the Scouts or Girl Guides, it is worth obtaining details about the nearest group in your new home town. This will help them make friends rapidly.

Getting connected.
Your employer's HR department, your property agent at destination or your mover can help you with contact addresses of the various organisations whose services you will need to connect your new home to electrical, gas, oil, telephone supplies and so on.

Odds and ends.
Sounds obvious, but don't forget to return library books, dispose of old cans of paint and other flammables in the garage or house, clear the attic and basement, and cancel household services such as milk, newspapers, gardeners and so on. Also, don't forget to find a home for your house plants!

The final bills.
Don't forget to contact main suppliers (electricity, gas, water, telephone) for a final bill. They will need a little notice to get your account up to date.

Seven days before you move.
Do not forget to:

• Defrost refrigerator/freezer.
• Plan simple meals for moving day to avoid using appliances.
• Separate cartons and luggage items you need for personal travel so they don't get packed. You would be surprised how many passports get packed!
• Clean garden tools, bicycles and any other gardening equipment. Don't forget to empty the tanks of powered tools such as mowers.

Three days before the move.
Just check that you have enough medication for at least two weeks, and ensure you have copies of any necessary prescriptions for use at destination.
It is handy to have some traveller's cheques and if you can get some local currency before you go, so much the better. You may need small change for papers, drinks, taxis and tips.

Moving day.
You need to be present, your children do not! If it is possible, try to park them with friends or neighbours for the day. It will be easier for you and less troubling for them.
You should obviously be present when the moving crew comes to the house. Take ten minutes to walk round with the foreman to check what goes, what stays and any special instructions. When the job is done, make a final check of the house with the foreman - don't forget to look inside cupboards! Leave the packing to the professionals. Make sure someone remains with them in case they have questions and to see that nothing is left behind. Many shipments are checked by Customs at destination. So don't hide anything!

ON ARRIVAL.
What happens when your goods arrive? Your FIDI agent will have appointed another agent to receive and deliver your goods. One of the most important philosophies of FIDI is that the agent at destination will look after your shipment as carefully as the one at departure.

Clearance.
When your shipment arrives, the local company will arrange Customs clearance for you. Keep in touch to make sure your instructions are understood. Make yourself available to visit Customs if necessary and sort out any queries.
When cleared, your goods will be offered for delivery. If your new home is not ready, storage can be arranged although this will be a separate charge. Avoid delays - your container standing on the dockside can incur additional costs, which may be substantial.

Insurance.
Unpack everything straight away. If there is any damage report it immediately to your local mover and follow the claims procedure set out in your policy. It will save time if you can begin obtaining repair/replacement quotations. If you check your contract or insurance certificate you should see a time limit in which to make claims.

ANY QUESTIONS?
Your FIDI moving contractor should be able to answer any questions you have.

How many quotations should I get?
Two or three is plenty. Beyond that, you are just wasting people's times. It costs about USD 100 to prepare a quotation, which is tough on the moving companies that don't get the business!

When should I call them in?
At least 6-8 weeks before you move.

How long do they need for the survey?
Usually no more than an hour.

What are my responsibilities?
In brief:

• give the same brief to all moving companies bidding for the move
• be present during the packing of your belongings
• take personal responsibility for jewellery and other high value items
• check and sign the inventory of your belongings
• ensure that no prohibited items are packed. Ask your FIDI mover for a Customs advice sheet.

So what can or can't I take with me?
Take the time to discuss this with your mover, who will have Customs regulations for your destination country. Generally speaking, dispose of all flammable items, liquids, foods and other items that should not be shipped. Anything that can deteriorate should not be shipped. Think carefully about electrical goods, including refrigerators, cookers and the like. They may not work at destination or worse, still, may attract heavy duty.

But what about my car?
Good job you asked - in some countries, the import duty on cars is so crippling you may not want to even think about importing one. Others will have special regulations regarding emission controls or even have rigorous steam cleaning requirements. Please check with your mover.

And my dog?
Plan this well in advance. Most moving companies use a specialist firm to handle this kind of work, as air travel is often distressing for pets. However, thousands of animals travel happily all over the world and often, it is quarantine regulations that cause the real problem. Every country has its own regulations regarding the importation of pets (and this is especially true of birds such as parrots) so discuss arrangements well in advance.

Anything that is definitely a no-go area?
Well, mainly those things you might expect - drugs, alcohol (sometimes even valuable wine collections are banned), weapons, ammunition and pornography. And when we say pornography, in some countries, typical news stand 'girlie' magazines are considered porn.

Suppose I pack myself?
Why not? But be aware of the potential problems. For instance, insurance companies will not pay out on goods packed by their owner. Also, Customs officials will almost certainly target goods that you have packed. If you really must pack some of your goods, leave the carton unsealed so that the packing crew can inspect the contents and annotate the inventory accordingly.

All right, I use the professionals - but how long will it take?
Every home is different but for a 2000 sq ft of household effects between two and three days are needed for packing. This is based on a crew of three or four persons. If timing is important, discuss a programme with your mover.

I don't really need to insure, do I?
Only if you are very brave. A professional mover will use sophisticated packing materials and experienced crews to prepare your goods for their trip. But this journey may be covering thousands of miles, experiencing different weather conditions, wide variations of temperature, and several forms of handling. The forces of nature and physics that a shipment has to undergo are unimaginable unless you've seen a freight ship go through an Atlantic swell with 60-ft waves washing over its cargo of shipping containers. Insurance seems the bargain of a lifetime in retrospect as you survey the remains of a much loved dinner service.

All right, you've convinced me. What kind of insurance?
Discuss it in detail with your mover. You really need a policy that gives you full replacement costs. Make sure you get a comprehensive cover based on your inventory.

How long is this journey going to take?
Probably longer than you think. If you use air freight, allow up to 14 days door-to-door. If you are talking about remote areas, it will take longer. By sea, it depends where you are going but a reasonable estimate is Europe/USA - 4/6 weeks, Asia/USA - 6/8 weeks and Australia/USA - 8/12 weeks.

And when it arrives, what then?
The destination agent chosen by your mover (hopefully, another FIDI company) will contact you as soon as your shipment arrives. The company will clear it through Customs, sort out the paperwork and arrange delivery to your new home. You may be expected to be present if your shipment is inspected by Customs. As soon as you arrive at your destination country, contact the appointed agent and make delivery arrangements. The one thing you can't do is go off on holiday and leave your shipment on the quayside. The cost of demurrage will remove your holiday tan in a split second!

Moving abroad is a major upheaval - apart from finding schools, saying goodbye to friends and family, there is all the things you take for granted: driving a car, buying groceries, personal security or even the local language.

And then, there's the move itself! Properly organised, and with professional help, an international move should be perfectly straightforward, especially with professional help. Many of the leading international movers of the world are affiliated to FIDI, which sets global operational and financial standards for international moving companies.

Using FIDI's experience of over 730 affiliates worldwide, let's go through your overseas move step by step:

• 1 What makes up a move?
• 2 How does it move?
• 3 Getting ready
• 4 Who is involved?
• 5 Planning the move
• 6 Choosing your mover

1. What are the components of an overseas move?
As a general guide, forwarders transport commercial products (from steel products to grain) while movers handle low weight, high value goods. These include household furniture, fine art, antiques, pets, cars and similar personal items. In other words, goods that need special care and personal attention. Your belongings are personal to you - and therefore need specialist packing and shipping. The last thing you want is to have your possessions shipped as though they were pig iron - so make sure you are booking a mover (better still, choose one of our affiliates!) and not a freight forwarder.

2. How does it move?
How your belongings are moved depends on where you are going. Usually, there is a choice of road, rail, sea or air, and even a combination of them. The kind of transport will dictate the packing materials used, the timings and the cost.

3. Getting ready
Packing your goods is the key to a good move. If your goods are going to parts of Scandinavia or the Far East, for instance, and are unlikely to be unpacked for a while then they need specialist protection. Sub-zero temperatures or humidity don't do furniture any good at all.
The international moving industry has developed a wide range of sophisticated packing materials designed for the safe transportation of household goods. Their packing crews will also have been trained in techniques designed to ensure maximum protection for your belongings throughout the longest journey.
The main risks to furniture are shock, vibration or pressure, weather, security and dirt. Skilful packing, using the correct techniques and materials will go a long way towards eliminating these risks.

4. Who is involved?
Several people will be involved with your international move. Within FIDI, we encourage companies to work with each other, providing each other with a similar standard of service and care. This is known as the agent-to-agent system, whereby two companies work together to provide you with a seamless move. In effect, when you book a FIDI mover, you are actually getting two - one at departure and the other at destination.
Usually, the mover who looks after your departure (known as the booker) will appoint his own agent at destination. However, if your employer is paying for the move, the company may have a policy on appointing a destination agent itself.
However, your day-to-day contact is with the booker until you reach your new country when the nominated agent will take over.

5. What are the various steps to take?
A successful overseas move relies on good planning. These are the main stages to prepare for:

a. What will you take?
Moving is a good time to take stock of your household. There is no point in shipping stuff out of your current loft just to keep it stored in another loft. So be determined, and have a really good clear out. Once you know what is going to be moved you are ready for …
b. The pre-move survey
By now you will have chosen three movers to call. Make sure you give them each the same instructions, otherwise you will find you get different prices and specifications. This is an area where misunderstandings most often occur.
c. Divide your belongings into what is going to be disposed of, what will go into store (if appropriate) and what may need to go into store at destination (if your home isn't ready).
d. It often makes sense to send personal goods for the family by air, leaving the rest of your household to follow. This means you can set up a makeshift home quickly instead of staying in a hotel. So decide what should go ahead.
e. You will need to discuss with your mover specifics including:

• Valuable articles such as jewellery.
• Things likely to cause a problem with Customs, such as alcohol and firearms.
• Are you taking garden furniture, climbing frames, boats, gym equipment, motorcycles or cars?
• Will your electrical goods work in the new country?
• Routing and transit time. Your family needs to be settled quickly. Agree the quickest means of transit - and make clear your expected destination. A door-to-door quote means just that, while a door-to-port quote means your goods are delivered to the nearest port to your address, which could be thousands of miles away.
• Whether you want your move door-to-door or door-to-port.
• Means of transportation.
• What packing material is used depends on where and how you are going. Long haul transport by road will need less packing that goods going by sea container.
• Make sure the moving company understands that you expect it to handle all Customs formalities.

f. Consider your quotations carefully. The cheapest price isn't necessarily the best, any more than the most expensive one is. Just as important as price is whether the mover gave you confidence, knew their business, showed an interest, didn't need prompting all the time.
g. Moving day. The best advice is to stand back and let the professionals get on with it.
h. On arrival. Do not go on holiday! Contact the destination agent as soon as you reach your destination country and then stay in touch until your goods arrive. The agent will arrange Customs clearance and will either deliver your goods to your new home or arrange temporary storage.
i. Anything wrong? If something is damaged, don't leave it. Contact your local agent immediately who will help you make a claim. There is usually a time limit for making a claim.

6. Choosing your mover
If you look in the Yellow Pages or the Internet for an overseas moving company, you may wonder where to start! So, first, let's look at the different kinds of companies operating in and around the moving business.

The freight forwarder:
As discussed earlier, the forwarder is usually involved in the shipping of commercial goods. Some of them do offer to ship household goods but they are seldom specialists - this could mean they will sub-contract your move or ship it to the nearest port. If your new home is several thousand miles from the nearest port, this could involve you in huge extra expense.
The vanline:
Small moving companies involved mainly in domestic moves, are often members of a vanline to which it will hand over its international moves. Once the job is booked, it is delivered to the vanline for shipment. The vanline acts as a huge clearing house for international shipments, controlled by an in-house department specialising in overseas moves, which becomes your day-to-day point of contact.
Relocation companies:
Your own move may be part of a package of services provided to your company by a relocation agency. It will provide virtually all the services a company will want, from selling your house, helping you find a new one, organising schools and even handling your move by sub-contracting it out.
Many professional movers also have their own relocation services. These offer exactly the same services as the relocation company except that the overseas move is NOT sub-contracted. This gives customers the best of both worlds - hands-on relocation and hands-on moving.
A dedicated international mover:
These companies rely on the movement of household goods as their main business activity. This means they will be working on a door-to-door basis, using office staff and packing crews trained and committed to private moves. Understanding the personal nature of household effects and the special concerns of customers is a vital function of the professional mover.

Work through the following moving tips. The higher you go, the closer you are to the move! More detailed explanations can be found under the most frequently asked questions.

1. Clear out unwanted goods - hold a garage sale.
2. Get rid of flammables - paint, petrol, gas cylinders.
3. Empty fuel from mowers, clippers, strimmers and so on.
4. Clothes - do you need them all? Charity shops may want them.
5. Separate books - disposable, family reading, valuable.
6. Check all electrical goods - will they work in the new home?
7. Start making up your change of address list.
8. Arrange to have mail forwarded.
9. Agree termination date for electricity, gas, oil, telephone and other main suppliers, and ask for bills to be made out.
10. If you are taking electrical goods such as a stereo, check the loft to see if you still have their original boxes.
11. Have rugs cleaned.
12. If you have children, separate cherished toys to travel with you.
13. Round up personal documentation - marriage/birth certificates, driving licences and so on.
14. Keep passports separate so they are not packed.
15. Want to take the car? Check on import regulations and the duty payable.
16. To say nothing of family pets - make sure vaccinations and documentation are up to date.
17. Will your new home be ready? If not, you need to arrange temporary storage.
18. Shops, schools, theatre, life styles - it's never too early to find out about your new home. Go to the Internet or contact your local embassy for information. Many movers can supply you with country information.
19. Start running down freezer stocks.
20. Arrange your finances - close or transfer bank accounts, savings accounts and so on.

12 weeks before you move, have you …

• Chosen your mover and signed the acceptance note?
• Sorted through basement, loft and garage?
• Resolved what to do with prohibited items?
• Made proper provision for pets?
• Decided whether or not you are taking your car?

10 weeks before your move, have you …

• Disposed of the things you don't want to take?

8 weeks before you move, have you …

• Started to prepare your mailing list of people who need your change of address?
• Notified banks, savings accounts, credit card companies, magazine subscriptions, hire purchase and rental companies?
• Started to round up passports, birth/marriage certificates and other family documentation?
• Applied for any necessary visas?
• Checked that electrical goods will work in your new home?

6 weeks before you move, have you …

• Separated favourite toys?
• Made sure your pet's vaccinations are up to date?
• Arranged for mail to be forwarded?
• Decided whether or not to buy any new household goods - check tax refunds.

4 weeks before you move, have you …

• Decided which clothes travel with you?
• Started to dismantle climbing frames/garden furniture?
• Agreed an insurance value and terms with your mover?
• Made arrangements of connection of services at your new home?
• Tidied up by:

· Returning library books
· Cancelled milk, newspapers, subscriptions
· Found new homes for your plants.

7 days before your move, have you …

• Defrosted the refrigerator/freezer
• Planned simple meals for moving day to avoid using appliances
• Separated luggage items you need for personal travel
• Cleaned garden tools, bicycles and any other gardening equipment
• Emptied the tanks of powered tools such as mowers
• Checked you have enough medication for at least two weeks, and ensure you have copies of any necessary prescriptions for use at destination.
• Collected travellers cheques or local currency
• Arranged for someone to look after the children on moving day

Moving day.

• Relax...