To streamline your relocation and minimize costs, consider these tips:

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Select the goods carefully before you ship, because the cost of your shipment will increase and decrease depending on the weight and quantity of items

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  Pack your belongings in boxes.This will offer greater flexibility in choosing transportation options and can often be more cost-effective.

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  Whenever possible, use the original boxes of your items. If not, opt for sturdy, double-ply boxes for added protection.

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  Obtain necessary boxes, bubble wrap, tape, and other packaging materials from local stores like Walmart, Office Depot, or Office Max.

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  You can also obtain these boxes from us (Air 7 Seas—minimum order of $200), as long as you provide us enough notice to have them delivered to your door.

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  Once you have the packaging material, start packing the goods, mark the boxes and add them to your packing list.

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  To ensure a smooth and efficient move, create a detailed packing list, categorizing items by box. For instance

  ✔ Distribute heavy items like books across multiple boxes to avoid overloading in one box.

  ✔ Never pack your personal valuables, such as jewelry, Certificates, Property titles, currencies, Insurance Policies, Family photos, Phone books, etc., in these boxes because you should carry them with you.

  ✔ Avoid packing hazardous materials like chemicals, flammable substances, or perishable items. These items require specialized handling and may delay or complicate your move.

  ✔ Do not pack pistols, rifles, ammunition, or items requiring an export license before being exported.

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  Labeling plays a vital role in shipping and is part of your responsibility. Each box must have a Ship To address and a number, such as Box 1 of 5, Box 2 of 5, etc. These labels should be on the opposite sides of each box, as should unique labels such as fragile, direction arrow, too heavy, etc.

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  A packing list is another important part of your moving because it identifies the items in each box and is also needed for insurance, customs clearance, etc.

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  A detailed packing list saves everybody's time until the packages are in the final room at the destination.

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  Before you begin the moving process, it is crucial to estimate the number, weight, and dimensions of your belongings. This information will help you accurately calculate shipping and packaging costs and compare carrier rates.

  ✔ Household goods and personal effects:

  ☞ Weight vs. volume: Most carriers charge based on either the weight or the volume of your shipment, whichever is higher.

  ☞ Sea Shipping:

  • Cubic Feet: Calculate the cubic footage of your cargo using the formula: (Length x Width x Height) / 1728.

  ☞ Air Shipping:

  • Domestic: Calculate the volume weight in pounds using the formula: (Length x Width x Height) / 194.
  • International: Calculate the volume weight in pounds using the formula: (Length x Width x Height) / 166.

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  There might be a local pickup charge to transport your belongings to our nearest Air 7 Seas terminal. This charge depends on the size of your shipment. If you're shipping a full container, we'll deliver the container directly to your doorstep. However, for smaller shipments, you'll need to arrange transportation to our nearest terminal.

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  If your shipment is small enough to fit in your or a friend's vehicle, you can save money by bringing it to the terminal yourself. This can help you avoid the minimum $50 pickup charge.

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  Please note that, for commercial shipments, loading and unloading are your responsibility, unless you've opted for additional services like a lift gate, which incurs extra charges. While truck drivers may assist if feasible, their primary duty is driving the vehicle.

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  For residential pickups and deliveries, it's advisable to arrange for help from friends, family, or neighbors. This is crucial, especially when dealing with heavy or bulky items. Remember, a truck driver's role is to transport goods, not to handle the physical labor of loading and unloading.

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  If you plan to load your 20-foot or 40-foot container yourself, it's crucial to maximize space efficiency and minimize potential damage. Ensure the bottom layer completely covers the container's floor, and stack items securely to prevent movement during transit. Proper packaging is essential to protect your belongings.

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  Remember, self-loading is your responsibility, and any damage caused by poor loading will be your expense. Additionally, while the container is in your possession, it's your responsibility to ensure it's parked legally and safely, respect local regulations, and avoid any inconvenience to neighbors.

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  For shipments weighing less than 100 lbs (45 kg), it's often more cost-effective to pay an airline fee and carry the item as extra baggage. Similarly, for shipments under 300 lbs, it's wise to compare air and sea shipping rates, as the difference in cost might not be significant.

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  For your international shipments, customs require proper documentation, without which the shipment can not be shipped/delivered dž Dox First, Load Later.

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  There are penalties/fines of up to $1000 for late/not submission of this export documentation.

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  The shipper/consignee must provide the following documents to us on time.

  ✔ Packing List

  ✔ Value of the goods

  ✔ Personal ID

  ✔ SLI (Shipper's Letter of Instruction) which contains information required on the Bill of Lading (if by Sea or Truck) / Air Waybill (if by air).

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  Suppose we have not received the appropriate documents on time (at least 48 hours in advance, excluding weekends and holidays). In that case, we try to hold the shipment in our warehouse or at the port to save you from penalties and fines, but that may cause extra expense for storage, etc., and it may delay your shipment.

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  Sometimes, when it is too late to hold the shipment for some reason, any penalty/fine will be charged to the cargo account and must be paid before the shipment is released to either the shipper or the consignee.