If you ever needed to move your office somewhere, then you must already know just how hard this process is. Even if you didn’t do it (yet), but only partook in browsing information about commercial moves, then you know that this is not an easy feat. It is not like moving a home – where all you are working with is a family of four, five people. A company might run like a family – but it often has dozens of people there! This is why office moves tend to get a little harder – and often need the help of professional Hong Kong movers. However, things get extra hard when we start talking about international office moving. Because of it, we have gathered a bunch of tips and tricks for this occasion. In this article, we present to you the must-have checklist for your international move.
What makes international office moving so difficult
The first thing you need to understand is what an international office move actually is, and what it includes. Usually, this is a process in which you are moving your offices to another country – and this can often be on a completely new continent. Because of huge distances, you will usually need to figure out different routes and ways of transport in which you can move your items to their destination. Most of the time, for moves across the ocean, people will use sea freight forwarders and international moving services.
A difference to make here is between international office moving and long-distance moves. Even though you might cover great distances, moving long-distance does not necessarily mean you are dealing with an international move. However, once you are working with customs and borders, it’s a safe bet to consider your move as international. Another thing that you need to realize is that, usually, you will need to be in the new country to receive your items. Otherwise, shipping your items is not considered moving them internationally. Often, you might need to also provide proof of living in said country, too.
Understanding different types of moves
When we look at the international office moving, we can notice two types of moves. The first one is door-to-door, and the second one is door-to-port moves.
When it comes to door-to-door shipping services, you will not need to do much. The company will pick up your furniture at your old office, and deliver them, as the name suggests, right on the doorstep of your new office. Here, the company will also take care of the logistics – getting the moving truck to you, delivering the furniture to the port, finding the proper vessels and shipping your items to their new destination. However, you will often be in charge of packing, loading and unloading your furniture. Of course, if you are not sure about this, you can always talk with the moving company about packing services in Hong Kong they can provide.
This type of move is great if you are unsure about the laws in your destination country. The freight forwarding company will deal with customs for you. And since Hong Kong customs can be scary for foreigners, this might be the option you choose during your international office moving process.
On the other hand, if you feel comfortable with the laws in a country, door-to-port moving might be the best choice for you. This time, you can pick your items in the destination’s port, and arrange for their transportation to your new offices.
What does an international office moving process look like?
Now that we have scratched the surface of our international move, let’s talk about the phases you will need to go through when the moving day arrives. The whole process can be split into four simple steps.
In the first step, you are setting your office furniture on the journey. Depending on which services you are using, you will load your truck or container with your items. Make sure you pack your items well and secure them on pallets – they are up for a bumpy road! With your shipment, you should also include an itemized packing list for when they arrive at the borders. Finally, make sure you are not shipping anything illegal – or something that your company cannot move.
Getting through the ports
The second and third step mirror each other, and they are connected to the ports. First, you should try not to travel before your shipment reaches its first port. This is in case something happens and you need to be called to react. If you are in another country, you will not be able to do anything about your items. There are also a couple of things you will need when your items reach their destination port. One of the most important things is a customs broker, who will deal with the shipment and the fees. Of course, documents such as your passport and a Bill of Lading are a must, too!
The final step in international office moving is getting your things to their destination office. Make sure the truck will have easy access, so you can unpack without stress. Depending on where your new offices are, you might also need city permits for the truck. Of course, you can always call reliable moving services to help you sort this out if you are unsure about any step of this long process. It’s always best to consult with professionals than try to do things in the old-fashioned DIY style.
