Pre-Move Surveys

Our first step is to carry out an assessment of your requirements, also know as the “Pre-move survey” Our experienced Vanpac GroupAsia Consultant will arrive at your home at a pre-arranged time and date and explain to you and your family the various services. At this points of time you would need to provide Vanpac International some information.

• you final destination? Is there any parking restrictions?
• An idea of your travel itinerary will be usefull.
• Be definite of what items you wish to pack, sell or to give away.
• What should be sent by air or storage?
• What are your special packing requests?
• Expected moving date/suggested delivery date.
• your shipping allowances and expenses for which you are reponsible.

During the tour of your home, going room -by-room basis, Vanpac GroupAsia’s Moving Consultant will note down the items you would like to ship. He will also point out along the way how certain furniture will be wrapped, how certain articles may require customized crating and some items that can’t be included in the shipment (flammables stuff, restrictive items) due to customs regulations in your destination country.At the end of the walk through, he/she will then go through the details of your move. Customs information, duty and tax issues, international shipping routes and transit times will be discussed as well as possible moving dates and possibly additional moving sevices you may need such as storage, insurance and destination services.From the information obtained during the home survey, the company will produce a written quotation outlining the details of your move.

Your Vanpac GroupAsia Consultant will provide you information concerning how your shipment will be paked, number of days neended to complete packing, transit times, customs information and unpacking serevices at destination.This  is an opportunity for you to meet your Vanpac GroupAsia Consultant, to discuss in particular your requirements and areas of concern. This will allow us to assess the best way to carry out your requirements. Your Vanpac GroupAsia Consultant will become your personal contact throughout the move and will be more than pleased to assist or to advise in any way possible.

Selecting Your Mover

When relocating overseas, there are many important decisions and preparations that need to be made before you depart. Certainly, one of these is selecting an experienced company to move your household goods and personal effects.

Here are steps you will want to take to select your truly international movers. We hope to help you make the right decision.

Make sure you compare like-for-like!
When you compare quotations between international movers, make sure you check what is and is not included to avoid any nasty additional charges at a later date. Often, quotes that look inexpensive may cost you more at the end. Therefore, Do ask:

• Is the shipment method the same?
• Are your personal items being moved in their own container, or are they consolidated with other peoples’?
• Have terminal and port handling charges been included?
• Is packing / unpacking included?
• Have they accounted for accessibility?
• Is customs clearance included?
• What time frame is quoted?

Getting 3 quotes for your move
you should get at least three reputable companies to compare prices and services. Although price is an important component, it is important to also take into account the years of service, and the services provided.Are they a FDI Accredited International Mover (FIDI FAIM)?
FIDI is the primay association for international movers providing quality services worldwide. To be a FIDI Accredited International Mover, the Moving Company must prove that they comply with very strict quality requirements and they must be periodically assessed by an independent auditor. They must have protection measures and insurance in place to protect the customer. For an international customer, choosing a FIDI member is synonym of quality commitment from A to Z.Who will be Providing the service at the other end?
The person that visits you in your home and conducts the pre-move survey may be excellent and the packing crew at origin wonderful. But ask them who will be the international mover that delivers the services at the other end.Storage facilities
Do they have adequate modern, storage facilities, as your goods may not be shipped immediately? Check out their facilities if you have the time or better still, suggest a visit. If they don’t want you to come, they may have something to hide.Testimonial Letters
Ask for letters of testimonial relating to international moving recently handled.“Selecting the best company is one of the most important decision you’ll make. Making the right decision will not only save you time and money, but give you a peace of mind ”Ask yourself

• Will the mover truly understand our needs?
• Will our personal effects be handled with care?
• Can we rely on them to be flexible and accommodating?
• Does the mover have proven track records?

Arrange an appointment with the Company’s representative to determine whether they will provide the service you need.“Thanks Ricky for ensuring that our move was conducted so professionally and smoothly. You really delivered what you promised! We have received our goods and to our amazement, not a single item was damaged. I guess my worries were over nothing.” – Mrs C Wright

The Delivery and Unpacking

Our overseas partner will arrange to deliver your shipment to your new home, place, and unpack furniture and remove packing debris. The destination services provided are as indicated in our written quotation. We recommended that you have a floor plan in advance and let our overseas partner know where you want things to be placed.

• Remember to check off the inventory listing as the packages are being delivered into your residence to ensure all items are accounted for.

• Sign the inventory lists to confirm you have received all the items. Make note of any exceptions and notify our overseas partner and Vanpac GroupAsia immediately.

• if you should file a claim, do not hesitate to check the status of your claim with us.

And international move is a big adjustment for any family. We can provide you many services but there are some matters you must handle personally. The more you know about what to expect, the easier the moving process becomes.

Preparing for  your Move

We want to help you get organised and this is a good plcae to begin. Vanpac GroupAsia has specially prepared this Relocation Guide to Assist  you and your family, and to answer some important questions concerning your move. The key to any successful and cost effective relocation is meticulous planning. With this in mind, our Relocation Guide gives you practical advice on how to plan your relocation smoothly. Our goal is to give you a great and smooth relocation.

Preparing for the packing day

Being organized before the packers arrive not only mean less stress for you and your family, but also allow the packing to proceed smoothly. Ideally you should allow 4-6 weeks for preparation of your move.

• Decide exactly what items you intend to ship, dispose or sell before the moving dates. You may split so that essentials are delivered by air.
• Consider where you are moving and if items you plan to take will work – size, voltage, climate and culture should be considered.
• Items requiring special servicing or cleaning should be arranged. Check to see if appliances taken will operate in your destination country.
• Return all items that have been borrowed and collect those items you have loaned.
• Complete last minute buying. Remember to let us know of the additional items and their approximate size to be included. You must also take note that in most countries you are required to declare any new items to customs.
• Begin to reduce your supply of staples and frozen foods.
• prepare an itemized valued inventory for insurance.

Vanpac GroupAsia will pack everything for you.
However, if you wish to pack some personal items, we are able to deliver some packing materials to you in advance. Please inform your Vanpac GroupAsia Consultant on the details of what you wish to pack yourself and he will get you the right sizes, wrapping materials, etc.Before the packers come to your home, to avoid mix-up, please place all personal valuable in safe deposit (i,e, jewelry, watches, money, cheque books, keys, air ticket, passport etc).Item NOT To Include

• Any flammable or corrosive items
• Foodstuffs
• Guns and ammunition
• Stamp and Coin collection
• House plants (license required)
• Aerosol cans and Flammable Liquids
• Alcohol & Tobacco (in hand-luggage only)
• Jewelry, furs, or case/cheque books
• Valuable and important papers

Personal Valuables
Important or valuable items should travel with you. This include such items as jewelry, cash, negotiable documents,and important personal papers. You may also want to consider keeping irreplaceable items, such as photo albums or stamp collections with you as you travel.

Packing Day

Our crew will arrive at your home at the schedule time on the day of your move. The crew  supervisor will itroduce himself and the team. He will ask permission to tour room by room with you to distinfuish which items are to be moved and which are not. Identify the items that require special packing, customs crating,etc. He will verify your instructions and comfirm the special instructions (if any) you agreed upon. It is best to place “DO NOT REMOVE” stickers on articles which are not to be moved (also separate air shipment)

Vanpac GroupAsia crew are trained to a high degree in the latest packing techniques and are specially briefed prior to each move to ensure that the individual requirements of different moves are catered for. Our president personally monitors all customer feedbacks, and the staff are paid by performance incentives scheme based on your rating and packing performance.The crew supervisor will take a complete inventory of everything to be moved. Each package is carefully colour labeled. This label includes your name, item number and descriptions of items. You  will be asked to sign the packing inventory to indicate the number of packages and a copy will be given to you.
Packing & Loading MethodShipping by sea is usually the most cost effective way to move your household effects; it is also the most popular method. There are several ways to ship your belongines. The one that is right for you will depend on your budgets and the volume of goods.InternationalFCL – Full Container Load– this involves access to your own, exclusive use container. If you have good access, we may bring the empty shipping container to your residence and all packed items can be loaded directly iinto the container and sealed outside your home in your presence, giving you maximum security and a peace of mind. The sealed container will be returned to the port of exit for loading to the next vessel to your destination country. This method provides the fastest transit times as there are no  delay waiting for other shipments to fill the container.LCL – Less Than a Conttainer Load(Cased) – this is useful if you are sending a selected number of items or if you haven’t got enough to fill a full container. Your items would be sealed in liftvans prior being shipped.Groupage (Share a Container )
This service is provided by Vanpac GroupAsia to the more popular destinations worldwide. Several shipments to a common destination are consolidated at our operation centre prior loadnig into a shipping steamship container. Because freight costs are shared, we are able to pass on the saving to you.Air Freight
All items are loaded into air freight containers for safe transport to final destination. Although air freight is more expensive than sea freight, it is worth considering sending a small portion of essentials in advance of your sea shipment. Many people send anything from baby’s cot and toys to vital work related documents.

FAQ

Q1 Do I have to present on packing day ?

A1 Yes, Vanpac GroupAsia suggests that you be available at all times throughout the packing and loading. If you are unable to do so, please arrange your authorized representative to be around.

Q2 Will the packing crew use the original packing materials for my TV and other electrical appliances?

A2 please show the crew supervisor the original cartons and packing materials and decide to use these or Vanpac’s packing materials.

Q3 Since I have two small children, Can I stay in my house throughout the move?

A3 Yes, if you prefer to live in your house throughout the packing  and loading job, please set aside a few important items and make the items that you wish to pack last. Whrere possible, the crew will pack the master bedroom last to make you stay as comfortable as possible. Please understand the crew has a schedule to keep so as not to miss the vessel.

Q4 Can I pack my clothes in a chest or dresser?

A4 lightweight clothing- sweaters, shirts, clouses, and lingerie may be left in the drawers. Do not fill drawers with heavy items such as book, table lines or sheets, which can damage the pieces of furniture during the transit. Be careful NOT  to leave fragile items, money, jewelry, watches or other valuables items in the drawers, as well as anything that might spill or leak.

Upon your Arrival

• Call Vanpac overseas partner to confirm your contact telephone and delivery adress (if necessary). Do make sure that they have all the required forms and documents prior vessel’s arrival for importation of shipment.

• Warn them of any parking restrictions or difficult access. Our overseas partner will notify you of the actul arrival of the vessel and customs clearance dates of your shipment and when you can expect delivery.

• Should you need additional services (i.e. storage, split delivery, maid/handyman services) please inform Vanpac GroupAsia so that we can make necessary arrangements.

Confirmation

Confirmation Procedures

• Complete original Acceptance of Quotation form.
• E-mail & mail the original Acceptance of Quotation form to Vanpac GroupAsia.

If your company is responsible to pay for your move, please ask your company authorised personnel to counter-sign and stamp the Acceptance of Quotation form.Upon receipt of your email Acceptance of Quotation form,your Vanpac groupAsia Consultant will contact you immediately to confirm packing and shipping dates. He/she will send you the following:

• Confirmation letter confirming packing date and time of your move.
• Destination Customs form (applicable for some destination countries).
• Insurance Valued Inventory form.
• Customer’s comment form (to complete after packing).

All forms are kept to an absolute minimum and it is best to return all required forms together with a copy of your passport back to Vanpac GroupAsia. These documents will allow us to start planning your move.

We have moved 15 times form country to country in the past 25 years, so I can say with some knowledge that everything about Vanpac International scored high. Alvin deserves a special mention for being courteous, professional, attentive to our needs and very reassuring. I was impressed when he showed his specially written software on his Ipad which he use during the survey which allowed him to discuss with me on the volume of our shipment on the spot. Something which the other movers were unable to do. On the whole, I am very impressed with your company’s professionism.”

Quotation

Read carefully through all the three quotations and identify the different types of quality services that each moving company provides. It is important to ensure all moving companies are quoting on the same basis (i.e. volume estimates, type of shhipment and packing/shipping method). Ensure that any additional costs such as insurance, special crating, storage, and special handling of grand piano has been identified.To determine a fair price, all three moving companies must take a complete inventory of your possessions that you want to be moved. If the estimated volumes vary widely apart, then the best method is to compare the pre-move lists from each company to ensure that all items are counted for. In evaluating quotations, price should not be the only factor. It is also not necessary that the most expensive company will offer you the best service. Similarly, if the company is too large and is involved in too many other activities, it may not react as fast as a click of switch. Also review the performance of the Relocation Consultants and the management behind the company.At Vanpac GroupAsia, we make it our job to provide you with the most accurate costs for your move. You will be not surprised by hidden costs. Our rates are straight-forward and include everything except the additional special services (i.e. duties/taxes, customized crating, storage charges, etc).Vanpac GroupAsia Consultants and the management team are always involved in your move. We will answer any questions you may have and offer assistance whenever possible, making your move more efficient and cost-effectives.Be sure that the all three companies are given the same list. Remember to show them the articles in the attic, basement and garage as well as any new articles you intend to buy.

• Are the prices quoted just an estimate or final price ? If it is an estimated cost, find out how much more will you have to pay after the packing is completed?
• Disregard flamboyant sales pitches. Very often, the truly experienced people you deal with is the key in ensuring a smooth move.