Getting Ready To Receive Your Shipment

So you've packed and moved. Now it is time to have your belongings cleared from customs. This means more bureaucracy. 


Your air shipment will arrive first so you'll need to decide where your things are going to. Are you still in temporary housing? Have you find your permanent house?


There will be lots of power of attorneys to sign and notarize for you to have your boxes cleared. And the air shipment is usually small so there are no worries there. 


But now it is time for the real deal, your container. Is someone from the relocation company or your spouse company going to be with you on the day of the delivery? You will need someone who can speak their language there with you to help you get the delivery organized. If you also have a housekeeper it's even better. And if you can afford, a professional organizer. having your spouse at home with you on the first day is also helpful. 


Oh, and depending on the development you're moving to you will have to schedule with their management your moving date. You should check this out to avoid not having your shipment delivered on the scheduled date.


The day of the delivery is extremely overwhelming. You have hundreds of boxes coming in and you will have to run around telling people where to put them. You will have a new house and will probably have to arrange things differently. And you will have to make the decisions.


I would suggest you have the movers take everything out of the boxes and take the boxes away. And I mean EVERYTHING. In Mexico and in Brazil it can be a little hard to dispose these boxes afterwords. Plus, my experience says that if something doesn't come out of the box on these days it will stay there forever. 


Also have the movers assemble everything that needs to be assembled. And installed. And hung. The company paid big bucks to them so have them do their job. And if they do a good job reward them with a nice tip. And don't be afraid to ask them to move furniture around if you didn't like the place you first put it in.


Keep a close eye on your china, crystal, collectables and other fragile items. Something will break and the movers will try to hide it from you. And you will only figure it out after you can not complain to the insurance company anymore.


Yes, you will be living with a huge mess for a few days - maybe months - but your goal is to turn your rental into a home. And it may take a little bit of time. But this is where you'll live for a few years so you might as well take your time and do it now.