Moving to a new home is often described as one of life’s most stressful events, but with the right preparation and advice, it doesn’t have to be.
Whether you’re relocating in Bermuda or making the big leap off-island, understanding the nuances of residential moving is key to a smooth process.
We met Joe Vieira, CEO, and EJ Carreiro, chief of operations at Best Group, to get some practical advice for staying organised and confident every step of the way.
How far in advance should you book moving services?
Ideally you should at least book a tentative date for a local move two or three weeks in advance of your moving day, Mr Vieira said.
“Sometimes people put off booking moving services because they don’t know where they are going to move to, but they don’t consider the fact that almost all residential moves in Bermuda take place in the last week of the month.
“If you wait until the last minute to make arrangements for your move, you might find it hard to secure the ideal truck for your situation on the date that you need it.”
What’s the most common mistake that people make when preparing for a move?
“A lot of people tend to underestimate the time that it can take to load a truck at one location and then unload it at the other end,” Mr Carreiro said.
“It’s a good idea to clear your schedule for the entire day and have a contingency plan for anything else that has to happen that day, such as picking up children from school.
“Occasionally we have arrived at a house to unload and discovered that the previous occupants have not yet finished packing up, or that there are workmen present who are in the midst of completing a repair.
“Of course, we will figure out a contingency plan in any situation, but people need to understand that delays can happen.”
The difference between a professional moving service and a ‘guy who owns a truck’
“In Bermuda there are a variety of moving services available but there are only a couple of companies that have enclosed box trucks,” Mr Vieira said.
“We have a variety of purpose-built medium to heavyweight trucks so we can send the ideal vehicle, regardless of whether you are moving a piano or the contents of a four-bedroom house, or live in a condo development with a lot of stairs or at the end of a narrow estate road.”
“Moving two loads of furnishings in an open dump truck might seem like a good idea on a sunny day but you need to keep in mind that all of your possessions will be exposed to the elements in bad weather.
“We get everyone to complete an online questionnaire when they book a move so that we can make sure that you get the exact services you require – and, if necessary, we can also come to the house to provide a free estimate in advance.”
How can you prepare before moving day?
In an ideal scenario, all your belongings will be packed in small, sturdy boxes with reinforced bottoms. Each box will also be clearly labelled on the outside with the name of the room where the items should be placed upon delivery.
Failing to prepare for your move sufficiently not only increases the risk that items will be lost or broken in transit, but it can also significantly increase the final bill.
“Believe it or not, we sometimes arrive at a house to start loading the truck only to discover that there are toys all over the floor and nothing has been prepared,” Mr Carreiro said.
Leaving the island
When shipping items overseas, whether by air or sea, it’s essential that everything is professionally wrapped using bubble wrap, plastic or cardboard to ensure protection.
Since your shipment will be handled multiple times before reaching its destination, representatives of the moving company typically handle the packing process and generate a detailed manifest of the shipment’s contents, enabling comprehensive insurance coverage from end to end.
“As a rule, an overseas move should be booked one to three months in advance and it usually takes three or four weeks to ship a fully loaded container to the US,” Mr Vieira said.
“But, as you might expect, the price and the duration do fluctuate depending on the volume goods being shipped and the delivery destination.”
Relocating to Bermuda
Whether you’re moving to Bermuda for business or personal reasons, the myriad of steps required to relocate to the island can seem overwhelming.
Thankfully, there is now an online platform providing access to all the information needed to familiarise yourself with island life.
The brainchild of Sylvia Jones, managing director of Corporate Concierge Bermuda, www.bermuda-relocation.com offers a step-by-step guide for arranging shipping, home-finding, school placement and obtaining a driver’s licence if you are new to the island.
“The platform gives a snapshot of life in Bermuda from an expat’s perspective and the many services, including banking, utilities, sports clubs and social activities, that they can avail themselves of to make the transition easier,” Ms Jones said.
“Our property search services are unique, in that we take the guesswork out of finding a suitable place to live, and yet we are not a real estate agency and we do not charge commission.
“Think of us as an extra pair of eyes to help shortlist the properties that would best suit your needs.
“We then ask the questions that, as a new islander, you would not know to ask, such as whether there are any moild issues or how big the water tank is.”
For further information on The Best Group, visit https://best.bm, email [email protected] or call 292-8080.
For further information on Corporate Concierge, visit https://bermuda-relocation.com, email [email protected] or call 296 8663.
