International Moving Guide

Findlay International is pleased to be the household goods service provider for your upcoming International move. We suggest that you use this guide, as you may find value in it throughout the course of your relocation.

PREPARATION

The Findlay International representative you will meet from our professional moving team is your Personal Move Manager. This person is responsible for:

  • Determining you and your family moving needs.
  • Explaining the many services and service options available at Findlay.
  • Performing a survey of the contents of your home that will be moved.
  • Referencing items that will require special packing/handling and describing the method.
  • Discuss your schedule to pre-book pack and move dates.
  • Describe the complete move process from beginning to end.

MOVING DAY

Plan your day so that you remain at your residence until the movers leave. The Findlay packing crew will be responsible for complete packing and export wrapping all of your household goods. Once all packing and wrapping of your household goods is complete, the mover will load your goods onto the designation steamship container.

The crew foreman will make up his own inventory while packing your goods. Basically, this packing inventory assigns a number to each of the cartons and gives a brief description of the contents. It’s a good idea to review this inventory to make sure you agree with the condition of items noted on the form. Before the crew leaves, take one last sweep through the house to make sure nothing has been left behind. Check all rooms, closets, the attic, the basement and cupboards. It is important to remember that any items left at the old residence are not insured.

Lastly, get a copy of the packing inventory and bill of lading. And, give the moving company a phone number and or address where you can be reached while en route to your destination. Findlay provides all relocating employee’s with a transferee itinerary which details all contact information required.

DELIVERY DAY

It’s extremely important for you to contact your Findlay Move Manager as soon as you arrive in your new hometown so that final delivery arrangements can be made. We will contact you 24 hours prior to the delivery crews expected arrival time to confirm the delivery window. When your shipment arrives, you can help expedite the unloading process by having a room-by-room floor plan in mind, and by letting the crew foreman know where you want things placed as they’re unloaded and brought into your home. The foreman and crew will reassemble any items they disassembled at origin.

As the boxes and wrapped furniture are carried into your new house, check them off on your copy of the packing inventory, and note which cartons were unpacked by the mover.

If the truck or container is empty and you still show boxes that have not been checked off, bring it to the attention of the foreman. If they are unable to locate the missing carton make sure that it is noted on your delivery documents. Note damage to any items on the documents as well, and make sure they are signed by the foreman.

Do not discard any damaged item without approval from your Findlay Move Manager. Findlay reserves the right to inspect damaged items. Failure to make an item available for inspection may nullify a claim.

OTHER TIPS

Dispense of items that you are not permitted to ship such as combustible liquids, paints and dyes. Plan your meals to use up all of your perishable items and frozen foods. And don’t forget to defrost and dry your freezer the day before you leave.

INSURANCE VALUATION

Please note most policies have some limitations. The items listed below are excluded from most relocation insurance policies.

  • Currency
  • Passports
  • Important Papers such as: Accounts, Bills, Deeds, Personal or Professional Papers, Evidence of Debt, and Securities
  • Jewelry, Watches or Precious Stones
  • Eye glasses, or contact lenses
  • Pets or Livestock
  • Boats and Trailers over 16 feet
  • Coin, Stamp or other collections unless specifically declared and valued
  • Merchandise for sale or exhibition
  • Data contained on disc or tape
  • Goods delivered from or to self-storage facilities
  • Make arrangements for items not insured by your company’s insurance policy

When assigning a value to your goods consider what the replacement cost is at your destination, and keep in mind that any claim payments will be based on the lesser of the following amounts:

  • The cost to repair the item to its pre-move condition.
  • The cost to replace the item at destination with one of like kind and Quality.
  • The amount you assigned to it on your valued inventory (if it’s a high valued item)

DESCRIBE HIGH VALUE ITEMS IN DETAIL

In addition to the declaration of value form you must describe and declare any item(s) valued at $2,000 or more on the high valued inventory form.

It is recommended that for items of high intrinsic value you obtain, at your own personal expense, an appraisal of such items prior to shipment. The insurance company will require evidence of value (appraisal or bill of sale) in the event of loss or damage. You may wish to carry such appraisals with you rather than packing them with your shipment, or you may send copies of them along with your valued inventories and we will keep them on file.

Should your new or old residence incur damage, file your claim with the mover as most international insurance policies coverage only applies to your household goods.

CHECK LIST

PRIOR TO MOVING

  • Separate goods you wish to carry with you or do not want shipped. Personal items, such as jewelry eyeglasses, contact lenses, etc. should be carried by you.
  • Complete and submit your Declaration of Value and High Valued Inventory forms.
  • Dispose of all combustible liquids, paints, and dyes.
  • Plan meals that use up perishable and frozen foods.
  • Defrost and dry your freezer and refrigerator the night before you move.

MOVING DAY

  • Plan your day so you won’t leave your old residence until the moving company leaves.
  • Be sure all goods listed on the inventory are in the condition indicated by the mover.
  • When everything is loaded check all rooms, closets, attics, basements, cupboards and drawers to be sure nothing has been left behind.
  • Get a copy of your bill of lading and inventory from the move foreman before he leaves.
  • Give the moving company a telephone number and/or address where you can be reached en-route and at destination.

DELIVERY DAY

  • Count your goods and check off your inventory as items come into your new home.
  • Make appropriate notations of any missing items or damages on the inventory. (This notation is not a substitute for filing a claim.)
  • Indicate on the inventory which cartons were unpacked by the mover.
  • Be sure your copy of the delivery documents are signed by the foreman, and include notations of any damage or loss.

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