“I Want to Move Abroad, But What Do I Do With My Stuff?”

As the late, great comedian George Carlin once said, “A house is just a place to keep your stuff while you go out and get more stuff.”

So what do you do with all that stuff as you prepare for an overseas move?

Can you walk away from your grandmother’s crystal goblets? Or those LP-filled apple crates of music from the ’70s? What about your favorite tools, the cutlery, and kitchen items you rely on every day, your tubs of sewing supplies, musical instruments… the things and memories you’ve collected over a lifetime?

When Chris Drown and Jasmine Watts first considered a move from San Antonio, Texas to Costa Rica, they may not have had a “lifetime” of belongings to consider, given that they’re both in their 30s. But they did have possessions they weren’t ready to let go.

“There were sentimental items we didn’t want to part with, like old army uniforms and gear, scrapbooks, decorative trinkets, bedding, and our favorite board games.”

After scouting out Uvita, a small town on Costa Rica’s southern Pacific Coast, the couple realized that some of their everyday items were not easily available or were much more expensive there.

If they made the move empty-handed, the couple figured it would cost them about $35,000 to replace household items they already had. And if they sold those belongings before the move, they’d only pull in a fraction of what they were worth… nothing close to the cost of replacing them.

Once Chris and Jasmine made the hard-and-fast decision to move, they realized that they already had their hands full with sifting through visas, healthcare, and banking… so they decided to outsource their shipping. They settled on hiring Pablo Arias of International Relocation Partner, as he was experienced in shipping personal and commercial goods—all the way from small packages to vehicles—between North America and the Caribbean.

After conferring with Pablo and doing some financial calculations, Chris and Jasmine decided that shipping their belongings to Costa Rica made more sense than buying everything new on arrival.

“Pablo’s services cost us $6,581,” says Chris, “and that covered placement of a 20-foot container at the pick-up location, exportation documents, international freight, customs clearance, and delivery to our new house. We obtained peril insurance for $590. And we paid $2,963 in import taxes and fees. The total cost amounted to $10,134.”

During many conversations, Pablo walked Chris and Jasmine through all the necessary steps, including how to pack and label their boxes according to what customs officials in Costa Rica would look for when their goods arrived in country.

Ship, Save, Shed

Chris and Jasmine adopted a three-step process as they sorted through their belongings: ship, save, shed. Items to be shipped went into the packing boxes, things saved were daily items they’d take on the plane, and the rest could be shed… sold or donated.

A few days before their departure from San Antonio in August of 2021, Chris says, “The container was delivered to our house, and we had two hours to load it before the driver took off. We didn’t take furniture, but we shipped 38 medium-to-large boxes containing a variety of items, including high-end electronics such as a TV and audio equipment, quality kitchen tools, small appliances, bedding…”

And of course, sentimental items—including Jasmine’s wedding dress—made it into the shipment, too.

“After loading the container, it took approximately three months for our items to arrive in Costa Rica,” Chris notes.

Pablo Arias says that’s a typical time-frame for Costa Rica, but each shipment is unique.

“For shipments from the U.S., the average time is around 10 to 12 weeks. To Panama, the time frame is usually five to six weeks, while for Mexico, it can range from one week to six weeks. Shipments to Spain generally take about five to eight weeks. These estimates include the full door-to-door process, including customs clearance.”

Once the goods arrive in Costa Rica, he adds, “The customs clearance process usually takes about three to four weeks. In countries like Panama, Mexico, and most of the EU, goods typically clear customs within a week. Remember, Christopher’s move coincided with the container crisis following the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite those circumstances, he had relatively good timing.”

Moving is Like Childbirth… Sometimes Easy, Sometimes Not

Would Chris and Jasmine do it again? “Yes,” Chris says. “I would even consider shipping a few more items that are difficult to find in Costa Rica. We’re extremely pleased with how it all turned out.”

And he’d definitely recommend hiring a full-service door-to-door resource to help with the process.

“Not having to worry about the shipping container allows you and your family to focus on adjusting to the new environment,” Chris says.

Now that it’s all behind them, Chris and Jasmine aren’t opposed to another international move. Chris does admit, though, that the next one might be a bit more complicated. Last year they welcomed a baby boy to the family.

“We didn’t bring baby gear with us when we moved to Costa Rica, so we had to purchase all of that locally. So now we have even more stuff… like strollers, cribs, and many other baby essentials.”

But, Chris adds, “Moving abroad has opened up a whole new world. And now that we know how easy it can be, who knows where we might go…”

Maybe, as some say, moving really is like childbirth. Once it’s over, you forget about the pain. And you even consider doing it again…

Moving/Shipping Resources (all are bilingual):

Pablo Arias of International Relocation Partner can help with moves to and from Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Portugal, and Spain, among other countries.

Website: www.internationalrelocation-partner.com; email: pablo@internationalrelocationpartner.com, tel: +(506) 7108 6045 Watch his podcast and many informational videos about moving overseas here.

Start Abroad will help you relocate to Costa Rica, Panama, or Portugal. Email zach@startabroad.com, or call +1 (202) 918-3118.

Sandra Baquero’s Sanestar International Shipping Services can also help with a move to Ecuador. Email sandy.baquero@gmail.com or call +(593) 99 969 0593

Alfonso Galindo drives people, goods, and pets from the U.S. and Canada to Mexico and can help with all border crossing procedures. Follow him at https://www.facebook.com/mexinvest. Email: ag.mexinvest@gmail.com or call + 52 999 1012049

For help with all aspects of moving to Spain, check out MTS Relocation and Consulting Services Email mts@mtsrelocationspain.com or call +34 (622) 922-931

Tips to Streamline Your Move

How do I find a reputable shipper? Look for one in your destination country and not your departure country. That’s because you’ll need a customs broker on the receiving end that has contacts and is very familiar with how things work in your new country. Collaboration between you, your shipping company, and your immigration attorney is critical, as a destination country’s requirements often change over time.

Start by asking for recommendations on expat Facebook groups. Just plug in “[Name of Country] Expats” in your search bar. Join several groups and ask members for their recommendations… bearing in mind that every move is different, and experiences may vary.

And if you decide to shed most of your things but still have some items you can’t part with, consider buying business class airfares. You’ll get a much larger luggage and weight allowance and can bring far more with you.

A few packing tips:

• Before you start packing, be sure you’re familiar with your freight broker’s requirements and restrictions.

• Individually wrap items in plastic wraps, bone sheets, or bubble wrap to protect them from damage that could occur in transit. For moisture-sensitive items like paper products and electronics, seal them in plastic wrap with a few silica gel packets inside.

• Pack as much in one box as possible but ensure boxes aren’t too heavy to lift or that you damage the integrity of the box. Fill voids between items with bubble wrap or packing paper. Pack smaller items inside larger ones.

• Make itemized packing lists that correspond to each box and include a value of each item. Tape two copies of the list, secured in a clear plastic sleeve, to the box’s exterior. Use a carbon paper form for this or make copies that you can keep and refer to as needed.

• Seal the box, top and bottom, with heavy packing tape and add any additional label such as “fragile” or “heavy” and the room it belongs to.

• For clothes and linens, use vacuum-seal bags to keep moisture out and save on space.

Find more helpful packing tips from Chris Drown here.