A Guide to Helping Clients Move Abroad

A Guide to Helping Clients Move Abroad
Heather Roberts

Heather Roberts

Heather Roberts is a freelance guest blogger from London, UK. She has got many published articles on various topics such as cleaning, organizing, home and garden etc. She loves to spend her time with family and friends and she also tries to live an eco-friendly life.

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Many people who don’t think they need organizing services in their day-to-day lives may feel very differently when they’re faced with a move – especially if they’re moving abroad. Before you take on such a project, you’ll want to read this article by Heather Roberts.

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Moving abroad is a serious step that requires thoughtful consideration. This is where the role of experts come in hand. First and foremost, keep in mind that this is an overwhelming experience for your clients. Your primary job is to make it as stress-free as possible. You should be well acquainted with the needs of your clients and the difficulties they may encounter while getting ready for moving abroad. The most efficient way to prepare is by identifying all the activities that call for thorough planning. With this section you will be able to pinpoint the details that you and your clients should take care of prior to the actual moving.

Moving House

If you think that figuring out finances is the most confusing part of going abroad, you will soon find out that moving houses is the real deal. Here is where your planning skills will come into use.

You should help your clients decide what to do with their possessions. There are three options: to take their items, to leave them behind or to sell them.

In the first case, you need to explain the required procedures related with shipping abroad. Transporting furniture is incredibly expensive. The costs are determined depending on the distance, the transportation vehicle, packaging, size and weight of the items. There are two ways of shipping overseas:  by air and by sea. Compare the costs of the two freights. Basically, the first is faster, while the latter is cheaper. Fragile possessions that need additional care will make the shipping more expensive. Don’t forget to warn your clients that the shipping may take several months.  It is better to advise them to consider which items have sentimental value and which can be easily replaced, and take only the most important stuff.  After all, buying new furniture may turn cheaper than shipping it overseas.

Another option is to leave your furniture. Your clients can either sell it or rent it with their property or they can leave it in storage.  In this case, your job will be to examine how much it will cost them to store their possessions.  The price will vary depending on the size of the storage place and the types of items. Art pieces, for instance, require space with low humidity.

If your client is planning on renting their current home, it is better to leave their possessions in the house. In this way, if they decide to come back to their home country they will save time unpacking. If they are permanently leaving, you can help them sell their unnecessary items. It’s good to undertake such steps as soon as possible, because the process usually takes time and you don’t want your clients stressing out at the last minute.

Your obligations should not stop with consulting your clients prior to their trip. What separates the good adviser from the outstanding one is their ability to provide clients with ongoing service. Maintaining a working relationship from a distance is difficult, therefore establishing the right client intimacy is vital.

Photo credit: Shutterstock

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