If you are using a professional relocation company they will arrange a pre-move survey in advance of your departure. Understanding what is involved in this process is critical to ensuring that all of your concerns are addressed and that your belongings are well taken care of from departure to destination.
During the survey, your agent will take you through the entire process and explain the insurance options available to you. They will also look carefully at the items to be moved in order to accurately assess the size of the shipment. This assessment will be critical in providing you with an accurate quote for shipping your goods to Shanghai.
During the survey it is very important to highlight which belongings are of particular importance to you. These may be expensive items, heirlooms,irreplaceable items or memorabilia. In any case, your movers need you to identify these items of high importance so that they may implement measures to ensure that your belongings are not damaged during transit, or that if they are you are adequately compensated. Don't trust your agent to be psychic. Just because you put a yellow Post-It note on it on moving day that says 'fragile' or 'important' doesn't mean the message got through or was even heard.
Within a few days of the survey, your relocation/moving company should be able to provide you with an estimate of all the costs associated with your move as well as an estimate of transit times. Based on the transit time necessary to get your belongings to Shanghai, you should be able to accurately assess how long you will be without your goods. This will affect your packing process, as the longer you will be separated from your shipment the more you will have to take with you or ship separately.
For an average home of about 2000 square feet, the pre-move survey should take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour and a half. It is important to consider what is going to be discussed during the survey so that your agent or moving company can provide an accurate quote and the survey proceeds smoothly and efficiently.
LUGGAGE PACKING TIPS
Most relocating expats (particularly families tend to overpack when relocating overseas for fear that they will not be able to purchase items they feel are essential at their destination. You should keep in mind when packing that virtually anything you need can be purchased in Shanghai.It is true that items such as Western groceries are imported to Shanghai and as such can be relatively pricey compared to at home. They are available, however,and there's no need to consider packing foodstuffs for your trip to Shanghai.
You should also keep in mind that Shanghai is a shopper's paradise with all the major retail brands represented, often at a price comparable or slightly cheaper than in other major global cities. You will shop when in Shanghai and you will acquire many new possessions during your time there. It is wise to remember that your relocation allowance will likely not increase for your return journey, so all your acquisitions will probably cost you extra to take home with you if you overpack.
