Packing for a brief trip can seem simple in theory, but when you’re trying to stuff all the items you want to take with you in a small bag, it can become a hardship you did not see coming. This difficulty in packing a bag only becomes much more pronounced when you’re trying to move your entire life into just a few bags as you move abroad. Moving permanently to a new location is an exciting idea, but executing the move can be a momentous challenge due in large part to the hardship of packing your belongings in a way that is conducive to the distance you’re travelling. While hiring international movers can prove to be incredibly helpful, you should still understand how you can pack most efficiently and securely, so your belongings can be protected and moved in a timely fashion without any abrupt obstructions.
Find out how you should pack when moving abroad to ensure you bring your most important belongings without overpacking.
Get spacious luggage
Before you begin packing for your big move, ensure you have spacious luggage to store your belongings without any chance of compromised space in the midst of storing your clothes. If your current bags that you usually travel with are fitting for a short trip but not for a move abroad, then you should invest in new luggage with enough room to store a large portion of your belongings without having to desperately squeeze certain belongings.
Make a list
Once you have settled on the date when you’re leaving and have organized how you’re travelling and moving your luggage, it is time to make a list of what you need to bring, so you can prevent overpacking. Divide your list into what is essential to bring and what isn’t; if there is any room left over when you’re packing is completed, you can make room to bring some of the non-essentials you have listed. A list will keep you organized and grounded as you’re in the throes of chaos and will become something you often turn to when you’re divided on what items you want to bring with you. More so, a to-do list should also be developed that you can reflect on, so you can complete the necessary tasks that need to get done before you leave.
Bring the essentials and pack them last
Becoming overwhelmed when you’re packing for such a substantial move is inevitable but can be negated when you know exactly what to bring. With the help of a list, as previously mentioned, you’ll understand what essential travel documents and items you’ll need to bring that can include:
- Passport
- Travel documents
- Medical documents
- Academic records
- Vaccine qualifications for yourself or pets
- Medical insurance
- Necessary electronics
- Plugs and adapters for phone and laptop
- Clothes that are applicable to the climate you’re moving to
- Undergarments
- Toiletries
These essentials should be packed last, as you’ll be able to access them right before you move your belongings, and you’ll be more aware of where they are located when you make it to your destination.
Roll your clothes
Packing in an efficient way includes carefully rolling your clothes into your suitcases. Tightly roll each pair of pants, shirt, sweater, or coat, which is a great method to practice if you want each piece of clothing to take up as little room as possible. Rolling them tightly will also help prevent wrinkles from forming. If required, you can also vacuum seal some of these items to create even more room in your suitcases. Select the option that is best for you and your clothes.
Leave no areas empty
Fill any gaps in your luggage that have room for shoes, books, or more clothes, Whatever these storage spaces might be, plastic containers, suitcases, or cardboard boxes, make sure all open spaces are being taken up by items you want to take with you. Although, in the same breath, you should also not attempt to take everything you own with you. Because this move is so extensive, you should try to be practical in packing all of your bags to make packing easier for yourself and the international movers you are equipped to help you.
Check custom regulations
Well in advance to jetting off to a foreign location with all of your belongings, you should research the customs regulations of the country you plan to enter. Some items will require special permission beforehand, as some items will have rules and regulations implemented around them, such as some electronics. Although many items you bring will be permitted with no issue, researching custom regulations could save you time in the moments preceding your travels.