• Packing one room at a time is helpful but not always feasible. The most important thing is to have each carton properly labelled with its contents and its destination (e.g., kitchen, bathroom). You do not need to be extremely specific here; a general description will suffice.  If you have many of the same types of item, you may want to be specific. For example labelling boxes as textbooks, magazines, children, fictions, cookbooks, etc. will make unpacking that much easier, and will tell what room in the house that particular carton belongs to.

• When labelling boxes, avoid “Miscellaneous”. US Customs does not see this as a valid description, and labelling of this type is more likely to cause your shipment to be marked for inspection and delayed at the destination port. US Customs has the right and authority to hold any shipment for up to 30 days. Immediate clearance is a courtesy, not a requirement. Appropriate and complete labelling may not prevent an inspection, but it does make the Customs inspector more comfortable in granting an immediate release.

• Once the packages are labelled, each piece needs to be numbered. The piece number and contents are transferred to a “HouseHold Goods Inventory” worksheet . This document accompanies the cargo from beginning until end, and it what US customs sees when the shipping documents are presented for clearance. The inventory also serves as a packing list. If you turned over 50 pieces to your mover, based on your packing list, when you arrive at destination, you should receive the same 50 pieces. If any piece is missing, you can identify the missing piece based on your numbered inventory.

• Keep the weight of your boxes reasonable. If possible, put heavy items in small boxes to make them easier to carry.  Mark heavy cartons as “HEAVY”. This helps identify this piece as something that can be loaded in the bottom of the stack.

• Don't apply tape directly to any wood finishes. Removing the tape could ruin the surface – permanently. Instead, use movers blankets or paper pad to completely surround the piece, then apply tape to the packing material.

• Use good boxes on fragile items and add plenty of cushioning. Make the outside of the box as such with “Fragile” labelling.

• If you are comfortable packing furniture items, be certain to cover completely with cloth pads, paper mover’s pads, and/or stretch wrap. This technique keeps furniture items from rubbing against one another and marring. It also keeps your furniture clean from dirt found on the trucks, trailers, and hands of your movers.

• If you are uncomfortable with packing furniture and large items, call in a mover for help. It makes no sense to ship a valuable item unpacked or poorly packed, then have it arrive damaged or destroyed. On move day, have all drawers, cabinets, etc. unpacked and available for your packer. Furniture cannot be moved loaded with material. Attempting to do so can severely weaken the furniture. Movers pack quickly and thoroughly. Use post it notes to identify furniture, artwork, etc that are being shipped.  Secure all important documents (passport, check books, leases, etc) that you may need immediately. Once packed, it can be very difficult to retrieve important items from a stack of boxes.

• Plan well for your move. Packing is tedious work and often slow going. You will need a good deal of time to properly pack for your move, so begin early and keep a good supply of packing materials.

Moving into or out of the VI is normally a two to three week process, depending on were you are coming from and if you meet the cut-off dates. You will want to bring essential items with you, or better yet, mail them to your final destination. The cut-off days vary depending on the ship line we recommend, and the port of sailing. Managed Freight positions you with the right ship line and gives information about ship line schedules and cut-offs.  Call or mail us to plan your move.  (info@managedfreight.com)

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