How to prepare valuables for global shipping

Sending items across the sea can be mind-boggling for people without too much experience in international shipping. And when it comes to shipping valuables things might look even more confusing and scary. Is it safe to ship valuables? Is there a chance to lose the items? Will they be damaged during the process? How to protect them? Those are the most common questions that people ask before sending valuable items overseas. If you are in a need of sending a package of great value abroad, International movers New York are here to help you, showing you how to prepare valuables for global shipping and how to do it in the safest way possible.

The most important thing is to find a good shipping company that will handle your valuables

When it comes to international shipping, regardless of whether you are shipping items of greater value or not, the choice you make regarding a shipping company that will do the logistic part of the process plays a major role in the actual outcome. If you make a mistake and hire an untrustworthy shipping company, not only that you will be jeopardizing your cargo, but you will also pay much more than you had to.  It is the most important part of your task. And you need to be very careful and meticulous when deciding on a shipping company that will handle your valuables.

First of all, you need to make sure that you are hiring a company that knows how to handle your type of items. So that is the first thing to look for. Also, the thing that you need to check simultaneously is their reliability and reputation. Only companies with a clean record and no history of continuous misconduct of any kind should be considered. Finally, once you identify a few companies that fit that description you need to get their international moving quotes in order to get the best deal possible.

Find a shipper that can handle your type of items

The choice you will make concerning a shipping company depends mostly on the type of items that you are planning to ship. For example, if you are shipping smaller valuables, you need to locate a trustworthy logistic company that has the experience, and well-established protocols regarding handling small valuables. If you are shipping an antique piano for instance, naturally, you will need to find international piano movers. When it comes to smaller valuables, there aren’t many companies that will refuse to handle them even though many of them will not have the proper means to do it.

On the other hand, only those specialized in handling bulky objects will accept the piano. In both situations, you will have difficulties finding what you need. As far as a piano is concerned, only a small number of companies can handle it so you will have to do a lot of digging. If you are shipping smaller valuables because most companies will accept them, you will have to do a lot of background checking before you decide.

Compare shipping quotes to find the best deal

If you are shipping valuables, it doesn’t mean that you have money to waste. International shipping can be quite an expensive process. And you will need to compare a lot of quotes before you find an offer that fits your budget. Of course, compare only those that come from shipping companies that fit those categories that we’ve discussed earlier.

Choose the type of transport carefully

The type of transport you are using has a major role in the amount of stress your items will suffer as well. And you have several options available.

Airfreight – This is the quickest type of transport. It is also the safest way to ship valuables globally. Still, a lot of people will avoid it because of the high cost.

Seafreight – The biggest advantage of sea freight is the cost. However, it is, by far, the slowest way to ship something internationally. And contrary to popular belief, it can be very traumatic for the cargo itself.  Avoid it if you are shipping fragile valuables.

Road freight  – This can be a great option when it is available. If you are shipping valuables to Canada, for example. It is cheaper than by air and faster and safer than by the sea.

Rail freight – It is rarely used for shipping valuables. But you can consider it if you have that option.

You can pay professionals to prepare your valuables for global shipping

The decision you make regarding a shipping company will affect a lot of the amount of work that you will have to invest in preparing your valuables for global shipping. For example, some international shippers offer packing and crating services. This means that they will be responsible for packaging and protecting your items. It is a great option, not only because it is easier, but also because of the professional protection that your items will have during transport. Professional packers apply expert packing techniques and quality materials that will provide your items with the best possible protection.

Maybe you want to prepare your valuables for global shipping on your own

Even though hiring a packing service is an excellent option, there are many reasons why someone would like to handle the preparation and packing part without professional help. If that is what you plan, you will need to do some work. First, you need to prepare your valuables for overseas shipping. Of course, this part depends a lot on the type of items you are transporting. When it comes to packing, you will need to make sure that you are using high-quality packing materials and that your items are well-sealed and tucked in.

Choose a quality shipper and let them worry about your valuables

Those are the things that you need to think about when you are sending your valuable items across the sea. The amount of work that you will have to do to prepare valuables for global shipping though, depends a lot on the shipping company you hired and the amount of money you are willing to spend on their services.