International moving from Reno and Sparks

An overseas move has more steps than a move across the country: packing for sea or air, customs paperwork, and a carrier at the far end. O'Brien's takes care of the home end, where the estimator, packers and loading crew work, and connects the shipment to a partner carrier that handles the international leg. The same service covers Carson City, the Carson Valley and Lake Tahoe: the estimator comes to the home, and the crew packs and loads there.

At a glance

• Partner international carriers
• Itemized estimate with a not-to-exceed number
• Itemized inventory and condition report
• Full-time employees on the crew

How the work is divided

O'Brien's estimators visit your home, count what you plan to ship and prepare the estimate. The crew packs and loads, and when the shipment is crated or containerized, the partner carrier takes it from there. Because the home-end work happens in Sparks and Reno, you meet the people who handle your goods.

The estimate to ask for

A good international estimate is itemized, and it includes a not-to-exceed number, which is a top figure for the work described on the estimate, provided the scope of the move does not change. Ask the estimator to list what is included, such as packing, crating, loading and origin services.

Inventory and condition report

Before anything is packed or crated, the crew makes an itemized inventory and a condition report of your goods, ideally with photographs. That record is your reference if a question about damage comes up. Read the guide on the moving inventory to see how to check it.

Customs, documents and rules

Customs rules depend on the country you are moving to, and they change. U.S. Customs and Border Protection publishes the rules for goods leaving or entering the country, and the Federal Maritime Commission oversees ocean transportation intermediaries. Check the receiving country's rules early and ask the estimator what documents the carrier needs. The guide to moving overseas covers the process in general terms.

Pack for the journey

Overseas shipments are handled many times, so packing matters more than usual. Custom crating protects art, glass and antiques, and the crew can crate pieces that need it. See custom crating, and call 775-359-6683 on a weekday between 8 am and 5 pm to schedule your estimate.

Before the estimate visit, gather the list of items you plan to take, the items you will leave or sell, and the address and country of your destination. The more specific that list is, the more accurate the estimate. Keep your passport, visa papers and medicine with you rather than in the shipment.