Retirement has taken on new meaning in the last few decades. For many people, it is a time to explore new places and experience things that were previously impossible while raising children and working 50 hour or more weeks. While some people look forward to settling into retirement close to home, others decide to relocate to faraway places. Some even decide to move overseas and retire in a different country.
If you are considering moving overseas for retirement, you are not alone. This common trend will likely increase as more baby boomers reach retirement age. Obviously, retiring overseas involves a lot of important decisions. Perhaps the biggest decision involves deciding where you actually want to move overseas. There are a lot of countries and regions in the world to choose from, whether you are interested in retiring in Costa Rica, France or Italy, Greece, Sweden, Australia or Thailand.
Some of your decision about an overseas retirement will be based on your own preferences in terms of region and culture. Decisions about your overseas move will also be influenced by your financial situation. Certain locations in Central America and Asia are recognized to provide especially economical options for your overseas retirement.
Regardless of where you decide to retire overseas, one thing that is certain is that you will need to figure out a way to transport your household items abroad. You might also want to ship a car overseas or some other type of vehicle. Ocean shipping is the most economical way to get your household goods overseas. Choosing a dependable and affordable international cargo shipping company is a big decision, especially since you are entrusting them with your favorable and valuable personal possessions.
When you are ready to start planning your overseas move, and you are looking for an international shipping company, here are four important things to look for in a cargo shipper while you are trying to make a decision.
1) Reputation – Make sure the company you choose has an excellent reputation in the cargo shipping business. An excellent reputation usually begins and ends with many satisfied customers. Take the time to find out what their customers are saying. Do they have satisfied customers? Are they safely transporting cargo overseas? Are they making deliveries on time? Do their ocean cargo deliveries arrive in good condition? Choosing a cargo shipper with an excellent reputation is the first step in making a good choice for your overseas move.
2) Transparency – When it comes to international cargo shipping, you do not want to have to deal with a lot of hidden and unexpected fees and costs. Make sure that the cargo shipping company you choose makes it easy to understand pricing and other related fees and paperwork involved in shipping cargo abroad. Is it easy to get a free freight quote from the cargo shipping company? Do they provide you with different shipping options? For example, if you ship a car overseas, you might want to choose between cargo container shipping and roll on roll off or ro ro services where your auto is rolled on and off of the cargo ship. Choose an international cargo shipping company that is transparent about their fees and conditions so that you feel comfortable with the shipping services you are purchasing.
3) Customer Focused – When you pick an international cargo shipping company, you want to make sure to choose one that puts customers first. This means finding a cargo shipping company that is focused on meeting and even anticipating your needs and wants. Some cargo shipping companies offer cargo tracking tools that allow you to keep track of your overseas shipment as it travels from your home to your designated final destination. Mobile apps for cargo shipping that provide fast and free international shipping freight quotes are another nice feature that makes planning for an overseas move a little easier. It is also helpful to choose a cargo shipping company that is willing and able to provide door to door pick-up and delivery service so that your household goods are safely transported from your home to your final destination.
4) Experience – When it comes to choosing a cargo shipping company, you want to make sure to go with a cargo shipping company that has proven international shipping experience. This includes years of industry experience, combined with all of the appropriate professional licensure. If you decide to hire a cargo shipper that is a Non Vessel Operating Common Carrier, or a NVOCC, then you know that they have received their ocean transportation intermediary (OTI) license from the United States Federal Maritime Commission. In order to receive the OTI license, companies are required to pass certification through the Federal Maritime Commission’s Bureau of Certification and Licensure. This means that they are in compliance with regulations from the Federal Maritime Commission and the Shipping Act.
Retirement planning is an exciting time with many important decisions to be made. If you are thinking about an overseas move during your retirement, finding a dependable and reliable overseas cargo shipper will be a first step in getting you safely and comfortably to your new destination. Bon Voyage!
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