Relocation doesn’t have to be a stressful experience

Moving house can be a stressful and difficult time.

Add in the fact that Bermuda being so remote means that when moving into or out of the country, the only way to get your belongings to where you want to go is either by ocean or air.

“Unfortunately we can’t just pack up a truck and drive our belongings where we need to go when leaving the island,” says Abigail Kempe, international relocation specialist at Bermuda Forwarders.

Thankfully, there is help at hand with Bermuda Forwarders. They can get your items where you need them – safely and with as little hassle as possible.

Packing

From coming into your home and packing your items into specially designed, durable boxes to arranging for the shipment of belongings – either by ocean or air – Bermuda Forwarders can help.

“We start by doing a survey with our clients to provide an estimate for the cost of shipping. It’s best to come to us as early as possible so we can make the best possible plan to get your shipment to you safely,” says Ms Kempe. “It’s an estimate only so that they can pare down what they need and keep the panic low. Moving is stressful and we try to make it go smoother.”

Many people believe that shipping by ocean freight is the cheapest way to get goods out, says Ms Kempe. But it can actually be more flexible to ship by air.

“Everything that gets shipped by ocean out of Bermuda goes into containers and to make it more economical we have to send it in a shared container with someone else going to the same place. We don’t always know what space there will be and there’s never any guarantee.

“With air freight there is a limit to the size of items you can send. There is only one cargo plane and they only fly into Newark (New Jersey). All other freight gets sent on passenger airlines so things can get bumped or separated.”

There are also size limits to how big of items can be sent by air.

But in terms of timing, ocean freight can take up to nine weeks to reach its destination, while air freight takes around three to four weeks.

Plan Ahead

“But it’s important for people to get to us early so that we can get a plan together. People will come to us and say, I need my stuff to get here, so can you send it this way, but it’s not always the most obvious route. It’s like putting together a jigsaw puzzle to find the best path to get there.”

The company has shipped everything from cars, artwork and personal effects to the remains of a beloved pet.

“That was difficult,” Ms Kempe confesses, “but we managed to make it happen.”

She says that having the right contacts in the industry can make for smoother sailing.

“We know the processes and we know the people to contact. If I don’t necessarily know the answer to the question, I know someone that I can call who will be able to help.”

Because goods come into the Island on a regular basis, the process of shipping items into Bermuda can be easier, and Bermuda Forwarders have helped many people move to the Island.

The company also provides an on-island moving service that can allow people the flexibility to have their items packed and moved by the company or just provide a crew to handle the moving.

“Our crew has been with us for a long time. They know how to pack so that things don’t move and can be transported securely,” says Ms Kempe.

The company can provide their customers with reusable plastic containers that can cut down on the need for cardboard boxes.

“The plastic containers are cleaned out after every use and they are eco-friendly and cheaper than buying all the boxes that you may not know what to do with in the end.

“The boxes can be emptied at your leisure and we can come and collect them when you’re done unpacking,” says Ms Kempe.

For overseas shipping, the company recommends using their specially designed boxes made for packing and shipping of goods.