PROCESS GUIDE &
MOVING TIPS

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MOVING TIPS

Whether you are moving abroad, or locally, we've got you covered!

Whether you are moving privately, corporate or even internationally, we know better than anyone how much you have to deal with. To help you prepare in advance, we have listed a number of tips for you. We distinguish between 4 phases; 1. Booking our service, 2. packing, 3. transport and 4. delivery.

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1. Book service

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1. Book your service

We know how much work moving can be, so we are here to make the process as easy as possible for our customers. When you decide to let CMS move you, we will appoint a relocation agent to you. He/she will know the ins and outs of your moving, help you oversee the whole process an will help you manage during the moving.

Are you flexible with your moving dates? If so, together we’ll try to avoid the peak season for moving: the summer months. The last and first days of the month have also proven to be the most busy. If you have children, keeping them in school while you arrange everything ensures a more efficient and stress-free experience for all.

Creating a “moving file” to store all receipts, bill of lading, mover contact information, household inventory and any other papers that are related to the move would be very helpful in overseeing the whole moving process.

2. (pre) Packing phase

We prepared a list of the most common considerations when moving to a new house or office, which you find here below. We highly recommend you go through this checklist and consider these recommendations.

1. THE PRE-PACKING PHASE

  • Discontinue your utility contracts.
  • Make the necessary travel arrangements.
  • Taking into account that your cargo will take some weeks to arrive at its new destination, separate and pack the luggage you will need to take with you to get by in the meantime. Such essentials include:
    • Your keys
    • Electronics (phone, laptop, chargers and adaptors)
    • Valuables (jewelry and money)
    • Clothes
    • Toiletries
    • Sufficient medication and prescriptions
    • Important documents including your passport(s), travel tickets and certifications
  • Just before you start packing:
    • Finish or give away leftover food and perishables.
    • Remove all the contents of your fridge and freezer and defrost your freezer at least 24 hours prior to packing
    • Donate or give away the plants and stuff you aren’t bringing with you (or sell them at a yard sale)
Notify the following institutions/people of your move when relocating to a new town, city or country:

  • Your doctors and dentists and ask for a copy of your records
  • Schools
  • The Civil Registry Office
  • Inspection
  • Insurance agents
  • Your attorney
  • Local clubs, gyms and organizations (cancel memberships)
  • The veterinarian. Make sure you have all your pet’s documents.
  • The bank
  • The post office
  • Your family and friends

2. THE PACKING PHASE

  • Check if you still have the original packaging of the appliances and devices you will bring along, as these will make packing easier.
  • Let us know ahead of time, if you need specific help with special items. For example, we have a pump to assist with waterbeds.
  • Complete the high-value inventory list given by your moving agent.
    • Take pictures of those valuables.
  • Are your pets traveling with you?
    • Make all the necessary arrangements ahead of time to avoid last-minute stress, such as getting their papers (including health certificates and vaccination booklet) in order and arranging a kennel. Our team can inform you on the country-specific customs regulations regarding your domestic animals.
    • As our team will be walking in-and-out of your home during the move, please ensure that your pets are not walking around freely, but instead are in a secure space. We want to keep them safe and not hinder the moving process.
  • Remove CD’s, DVD’s and tapes from your electronic devices.
  • Remove liquids from your appliances and equipment: such as water from your steam iron and water cooker, and gasoline or oil from your lawn mower, heater, grills and generator.
  • Remove all batteries from your appliances and devices.
  • Consider the voltage used at your new destination to see if you need a transformer, and whether you should pack certain appliances and electronics.

PACKING NO-NO’S & RULES

  • Do not pack liquids; that means no alcohol (if you insist on importing alcohol, you may need to pay duties and taxes), no cleaning materials, paint or bleach.
  • Do not hide anything within the freight. Customs will check it thoroughly.
  • Drugs and narcotics are prohibited.
  • In general importing firearms requires licenses

Last to-do’s

  • Turn of all the lights, lock the windows and doors.
  • Check your mailbox.
  • Take that last photo of your house as a memento.
  • Hand in your house keys if need be.

3. Transport phase

In the unlikely case of damage or loss of goods during transportation, we do recommend getting insurance, which we can arrange for you. Once your belongings are shipped, a destination agent will send you the necessary documents for customs clearance.

  • Please check, sign and send these forms back to the agent before shipment arrival to avoid delays and additional charges at the destination port.
  • If the shipment is not picked up within 3 to 4 days after arrival, detention and demurrage charges between USD 25-USD 100 per day will incur.
  • The procedure and duration of the customs clearance varies per country, which we will inform you on.

In general though, you can request an exemption of duties if you have purchased your goods (including a motor vehicle) at least six months prior to the relocation. You must be able to prove that these goods were not bought to benefit from duty-free import. To do so, you must be able to indicate that these goods have been used before and show willingness to keep these purchases for a least another year. Our agent can prepare these exemption documents on your behalf. If you are not eligible for this exemption, you will have to pay import duties which will be calculated based on the customs declaration value: the blue book value including the ocean freight charges and the insurance premium.

4. Delivery phase

As soon as the shipment is cleared by customs and picked up, our agent will contact you to make the necessary delivery arrangements.

 

  • Please give any and all information required to ensure a smooth delivery process. This includes confirming the correct address and where the boxes will need to be unloaded (which floor and room) and informing whether there is an elevator in the building, if there is parking space and which day/time the delivery can take place.
  • Once all is delivered, you will need to check and sign the inventory list, delivery receipt and the quality report.

MOVING TIPS

Whether you are moving abroad, or locally, we've got you covered!

Whether you are moving privately, corporate or even internationally, we know better than anyone how much you have to deal with. To help you prepare in advance, we have listed a number of tips for you. We distinguish between 4 phases; 1. Booking our service, 2. packing, 3. transport and 4. delivery.

1. Book your service

We know how much work moving can be, so we are here to make the process as easy as possible for our customers. When you decide to let CMS move you, we will appoint a relocation agent to you. He/she will know the ins and outs of your moving, help you oversee the whole process an will help you manage during the moving.

Are you flexible with your moving dates? If so, together we’ll try to avoid the peak season for moving: the summer months. The last and first days of the month have also proven to be the most busy. If you have children, keeping them in school while you arrange everything ensures a more efficient and stress-free experience for all.

Creating a “moving file” to store all receipts, bill of lading, mover contact information, household inventory and any other papers that are related to the move would be very helpful in overseeing the whole moving process.

2. Packing phase

We prepared a list of the most common considerations when moving to a new house or office, which you find here below. We highly recommend you go through this checklist and consider these recommendations.

1. THE PRE-PACKING PHASE

  • Discontinue your utility contracts.
  • Make the necessary travel arrangements.
  • Taking into account that your cargo will take some weeks to arrive at its new destination, separate and pack the luggage you will need to take with you to get by in the meantime. Such essentials include:
    • Your keys
    • Electronics (phone, laptop, chargers and adaptors)
    • Valuables (jewelry and money)
    • Clothes
    • Toiletries
    • Sufficient medication and prescriptions
    • Important documents including your passport(s), travel tickets and certifications
  • Just before you start packing:
    • Finish or give away leftover food and perishables.
    • Remove all the contents of your fridge and freezer and defrost your freezer at least 24 hours prior to packing
    • Donate or give away the plants and stuff you aren’t bringing with you (or sell them at a yard sale)
Notify the following institutions/people of your move when relocating to a new town, city or country:

  • Your doctors and dentists and ask for a copy of your records
  • Schools
  • The Civil Registry Office
  • Inspection
  • Insurance agents
  • Your attorney
  • Local clubs, gyms and organizations (cancel memberships)
  • The veterinarian. Make sure you have all your pet’s documents.
  • The bank
  • The post office
  • Your family and friends

2. THE PACKING PHASE

  • Check if you still have the original packaging of the appliances and devices you will bring along, as these will make packing easier.
  • Let us know ahead of time, if you need specific help with special items. For example, we have a pump to assist with waterbeds.
  • Complete the high-value inventory list given by your moving agent.
    • Take pictures of those valuables.
  • Are your pets traveling with you?
    • Make all the necessary arrangements ahead of time to avoid last-minute stress, such as getting their papers (including health certificates and vaccination booklet) in order and arranging a kennel. Our team can inform you on the country-specific customs regulations regarding your domestic animals.
    • As our team will be walking in-and-out of your home during the move, please ensure that your pets are not walking around freely, but instead are in a secure space. We want to keep them safe and not hinder the moving process.
  • Remove CD’s, DVD’s and tapes from your electronic devices.
  • Remove liquids from your appliances and equipment: such as water from your steam iron and water cooker, and gasoline or oil from your lawn mower, heater, grills and generator.
  • Remove all batteries from your appliances and devices.
  • Consider the voltage used at your new destination to see if you need a transformer, and whether you should pack certain appliances and electronics.

PACKING NO-NO’S & RULES

  • Do not pack liquids; that means no alcohol (if you insist on importing alcohol, you may need to pay duties and taxes), no cleaning materials, paint or bleach.
  • Do not hide anything within the freight. Customs will check it thoroughly.
  • Drugs and narcotics are prohibited.
  • In general importing firearms requires licenses

Last to-do’s

  • Turn of all the lights, lock the windows and doors.
  • Check your mailbox.
  • Take that last photo of your house as a memento.
  • Hand in your house keys if need be.

3. Transport phase

In the unlikely case of damage or loss of goods during transportation, we do recommend getting insurance, which we can arrange for you. Once your belongings are shipped, a destination agent will send you the necessary documents for customs clearance.

  • Please check, sign and send these forms back to the agent before shipment arrival to avoid delays and additional charges at the destination port.
  • If the shipment is not picked up within 3 to 4 days after arrival, detention and demurrage charges between USD 25-USD 100 per day will incur.
  • The procedure and duration of the customs clearance varies per country, which we will inform you on.

In general though, you can request an exemption of duties if you have purchased your goods (including a motor vehicle) at least six months prior to the relocation. You must be able to prove that these goods were not bought to benefit from duty-free import. To do so, you must be able to indicate that these goods have been used before and show willingness to keep these purchases for a least another year. Our agent can prepare these exemption documents on your behalf. If you are not eligible for this exemption, you will have to pay import duties which will be calculated based on the customs declaration value: the blue book value including the ocean freight charges and the insurance premium.

4. Delivery phase

As soon as the shipment is cleared by customs and picked up, our agent will contact you to make the necessary delivery arrangements.

 

  • Please give any and all information required to ensure a smooth delivery process. This includes confirming the correct address and where the boxes will need to be unloaded (which floor and room) and informing whether there is an elevator in the building, if there is parking space and which day/time the delivery can take place.
  • Once all is delivered, you will need to check and sign the inventory list, delivery receipt and the quality report.

MOVING TIPS

Moving with kids

Moving may not seem very appealing to your kids. Leaving their friends and school behind can be scary for a child. Especially, when they are relocating to an unfamiliar, new place. To them, it may feel as if they are losing control, which can lead to anxiety.

Be prepared that your kids may act out as a consequence. Here’s what you can do make them feel more comfortable:

  • Encourage your kids, if old enough, to pack their own stuff. The responsibility will make them feel more in control.
  • Create a bucket list of all the things they still want to see or do before they move and complete them together as a family. This way you make their time left there memorable and fun rather than stressful.

MAKE THE PROCESS FUN

  • Let them spend quality time with their friends and encourage them to say goodbye properly; for example by hosting a sleepover, camping adventure, or a going-away party.
  • Reiterate that in today’s age, staying in touch and visiting each other is easy. It’s not goodbye but simply a see you later.
  • If you are planning a yard sale, (consider potential licenses required if in the Netherlands) involve the kids in it and make it a social and fun gathering. Spend the money earned on an activity or purchase that the whole family can enjoy. Don’t force your kids to get rid of stuff they really want to keep, no matter how aged or impractical. Sometimes, they just want to hold on to something familiar.
  • When unpacking in your new home; try to decorate and prioritize your kids’ rooms first. The quicker they are settled in, the easier it will be on everyone.

CREATE EXCITEMENT

  • Sound excited about the move when breaking the news. Based on their interests and hobbies, let them know what fun awaits them at their new destination. Show them which school they’ll be attending and even involve them when searching for your new home. By doing so, they will feel more in control over the situation and have something to look forward to. By preparing them as much as they can, the unknown becomes a little less scary and a little more like an adventure.
  • Try to reduce your own stress during the moving process. Kids pick up on your emotions, which can either heighten or neutralize theirs. If you have small kids, see if a friend, babysitter or family member can keep an eye on them, while you pack. This will minimize stress and maximize efficiency.