International Movers Calgary
Published by Chris Townsend
International Moving Companies Calgary
Calgary, Alberta is the fourth largest metropolitan area in all of Canada, but don’t let that fool you. Calgary is surrounded by miles of mountains and prairies, better known for cowboys than congested city streets.
As beautiful as Alberta is, its geography makes international moves uniquely challenging. While Canada does have fully modern seaports on its West coast, these are all many kilometers away from Calgary.
For this reason, when planning your move you will need to arrange for both over land and over sea transport. Most people transport their goods to the Port of Vancouver in British Columbia to be loaded onto ships traveling around the world.
You probably have a lot of other questions about your international move from Calgary, Alberta, and we are here to help. Here are some of the most common questions people ask about moving overseas from Calgary:
- What container size do I need?
- Will I pay customs duties?
- What items are not allowed?
- How can I get overseas movers?
- What are the best international moving companies out there?
- What international moving costs will I incur?
We will explore some of these questions in the following paragraphs.
What kind of container do I need?
Shipping containers used by international movers come in many shapes and sizes, which is why they are so popular with importers and exporters around the world. Some containers are climate-controlled, while others are water-tight. Most household goods are shipped via standard 12-meter containers. These full container loads offer enough space for the contents of a 2 bedroom house and maybe even a vehicle.
If you are tight on space, you may need to reassess what you are bringing with you. If your 2 bedroom house is furnished with a grand piano and a bunch of sentimental, fragile antiques, you may need to think about whether these items should travel with you.
Sea freight often takes several weeks, and rough seas are nearly inevitable at some point during your journey. It may be better to leave valuable or fragile items with family members.
What do I need to bring? What items are not permitted?
What you bring with you when you move is entirely up to you. Some people use international moves as an excuse (or reason, if you will) to buy new furniture and other household items. For these people, packing and moving can be fairly simple. Other people want to bring everything they own with them, and that’s okay too.
What is important is that you avoid bringing any prohibited items with you, because these will cause you headaches at the border. Most countries prohibit the import of firearms and explosives, but some of the other prohibited items may surprise you. Moving to France? Better leave that clown costume home because it is not allowed.
Want to bring your favorite wheelbarrow to Nigeria? Don’t even think about it. Wheelbarrows are locally available in Nigeria, and customs officials would strongly prefer (not a suggestion) that you purchase one in Nigeria when you arrive.
What does it all cost?
Moving costs are notoriously difficult to estimate for international moves. The final cost of a move can include factors as diverse as how much packing tape you need, or how long your items must be stored on-site before they can be processed by customs officials. Even online shipping quotes are too broad to be helpful.
One estimate for shipping a full container from Calgary, Alberta to London, UK is between $12,600 - $17,100. To Tokyo, the cost would be between $11,400 - $15,400. These broad estimates are not that helpful for budgeting.
The best way to get a true estimate of the cost of your move is to contact professional movers like Three Movers international moving company for a comprehensive shipping quote. We base our quotes on exactly what you need, providing you with an estimate you can count on.
Contact Three Movers today to learn more about getting a stress free international relocation from Calgary. We can also provide long distance and cross country move services in Canada.
