Shipping From Israel to the United States

Few adventures match the stress of moving around the world. 
The excitement of starting a new life in the United States can compensate for the myriad details that go in to moving from Israel to the United States.

While Israel offers many opportunities for advancement and success, the United States by virtue of its vast size and openness oftentimes presents opportunities that will allow one to make an even better contribution to Israel upon one’s return.

Of course, when moving, it is important to find a shipping company that will provide you with a complete door to door move.
This means the moving company will send a packing crew to pack all your goods. 
After packing your things, they will make a numbered packing list and give you a copy for your records.

When your shipment arrives in the United States, you will use this same packing list to check off all your boxes to make sure all has been safely delivered. 
If you see any damage during delivery, you should make a note next to the number of the box or item that was damaged. 

This will help when filing a claim with your insurance company at a later date if necessary.

After you finish unpacking, you will hopefully be able to look back on an experience that could have been stressful, but because you picked a moving company that cared about you and for you, was not stressful at all.

Picking an Israeli Moving Company

When moving from Israel to a foreign country, many tasks await you.
From closing utilities accounts to handling insurance transition from Israel to your new home and handling schools for your children, picking a mover is but one of many.

This article will help you pick a mover who will do a good job for and hopefully give you no surprises. 
Choosing a mover in Israel is very similar to choosing a mover anywhere in the world.

First, get recommendations from friends who have recently moved. 
If these friends moved to the same place you are moving – all the better. 
Each destination country has its own idiosyncrasies and a removal company who specializes in your country is a clear advantage. 
A company with experience to your destination will be able to advise and direct you what to avoid and to declare in order to minimize or eliminate taxes.
An experienced moving company will also know the required paperwork at destination so you can prepare these documents in advance.

After assembling a list of 2 – 4 recommended moving companies, invite them to your house to perform a pre-move survey. 
During this survey, the company’s representative will get a tour of your home while you tell him what is going and what is staying. 
At the same time, you should take advantage of this time to determine the surveyor’s professionalism and knowledge. 
While the surveyor will not be packing or loading your container, as the company’s representative you have a chance to learn what you can expect from his or her company.

After the survey, you can expect to receive a quote. 
When studying the quotes you receive, make sure you are comparing oranges to oranges.
Are all companies offering the same service?  Are all companies including the same costs?  Study the “not included” section very closely. 
Is there anything there that you will definitely have to pay?  Ask your sales person. 
If the answer is yes, this should be a red flag. 
Any cost you definitely have to pay, should be stated and listed up front and not hidden in the “Not Included.” Section.

Once you know the price, add in the reputation of the company, your friends’ recommendations, and your impression of the company / surveyor. 
With this information, you should be able to make a well informed and thought out decision.

Safe travels.

Your Intl move

The decision has been made – an international move is in the works.

From this moment, the entire process begins: finding a new home, making new friends and a new life in a new home.

Moving your house hold goods is one of the most stressful parts of this process and picking the right moving company is one of the most important decisions that will make your move successful or … not.

So what do you need to know when picking a moving company?

To start the process, call two or more moving companies (if possible, based on recommendations) and invite the company representative or salesperson to your home to perform a pre-move survey. This way, you can judge the company’s professionalism, knowledge and the company itself.

You should insist on this pre-move survey and distance yourself from any company who does not want to do a survey.

As a rule, the sales person will accompany you throughout the moving experience. He or she should advise you on available shipping options, packing needs, crating requirements, tax and customs issues in your destination country and the time line of your shipment.

Try to start this process as early as possible so you can get your preferred packing date and a timely arrival at your new home.

A few points to check:

• Does the moving company have licensed customs brokers to handle both the export customs formalities and the import customs clearing at destination?
• Does the moving company have trucks to handle your shipment or will they rent a truck on the day of your move?
• Does the mover have a warehouse in case your goods must be stored until they are ready to load on the boat?

Insist on good communication with the movers. Who will be packing? What is the name and phone number of the crew chief? When will they arrive? When is your shipment scheduled to sail? On what vessel? Is it changing boats on the way? When is it scheduled to arrive? ETA?

Today, with the availability of internet and the web, modern moving companies are even providing on-line updates so you know where your shipment is while en route.

You are entitled to be informed and updated throughout your move.