Why the moving inventory is our first tool (and why it matters for every international move)

Back in 2013, I was part of Pickfords’ corporate competitive team, managing what we called “cradle‑to‑grave” moves. That meant owning every stage: from the first enquiry, through survey, packing, shipping, customs, delivery, unpacking, and even settling insurance claims.

When a move was surveyed and the total volume was known, we built the customer’s quote from dozens of cost lines: materials, packing labour, trucks, parking permits, warehouse handling, cargo prep, haulage, ocean freight, customs clearance, final delivery, unpacking, and debris removal. That’s a lot of moving parts.

Pickfords is a UK brand, but well known among British expats worldwide. We regularly handled moves from all over the globe to the UK—and compared international quotes daily from different partner movers. Each used their own terminology: some quoted in CBM, some in cubic feet, some per 100 lbs. Some included unpacking; others didn’t.

Then came customs. Depending on the destination, it wasn’t always possible for the origin mover to include every destination charge. Mandatory inspections might be billed by the hour. Import duties could be value‑based. Not every exclusion was a hidden fee; sometimes the cost simply couldn’t be known in advance.

After years of building international quotes and working with mover tariffs daily, I became fluent in that jargon. Even so, with 10+ years in the field, I still had to take time and care to compare quotes properly. The complexity is real.

Most reputable movers aren’t concealing charges. The information is there—but it’s presented in a way that’s confusing and hard to compare. Customers are effectively asked to decode an entire industry’s terminology without a guide.

I also noticed that people start requesting quotes very early. Corporate moves happen on short notice, but many private moves are planned a year or more in advance. People saving for an international move want to understand potential costs long before their move date.

That’s why the first tool we built at MYEXPATGO is an inventory tool. It’s not meant to replace a professional survey—that still happens closer to the move, once you’re certain what you’re shipping. It’s designed to kick‑start the planning process.

By creating your move inventory, you’ll know:

• The likely size of your move
• Which shipping options are realistic for your volume (e.g., LCL vs FCL, groupage vs dedicated container)
• How to start budgeting and request more personalised quotes without undergoing full home surveys with multiple movers

But volume isn’t the only factor. Access and property conditions matter just as much:

• Can a large container truck park outside, or is a shuttle vehicle needed?
• Are parking permits or suspensions required?
• How far is it from the front door to where the truck can park?
• Are there stairs, narrow hallways, or elevator constraints?
• Will any items need dismantling beyond basic beds and table legs?

Most movers include basic dismantling (standard beds, simple tables). As a rule of thumb: if it takes more than ~30 minutes or needs specialised tools (e.g., full IKEA wardrobe systems), it’s likely outside standard scope and may require a handyman.

In Europe, external elevators are often needed due to narrow staircases. In extreme cases, windows may even be removed to get large pieces out. These are all billable extras outside a “regular” move.

That’s why giving movers as much detail as possible about both your origin and (if known) destination property is critical. A simple inventory gives you a base price, but without context on access, stairs, elevators, and special handling, that base can be wildly inaccurate.

When we started designing our tool, we realised it had to be more than a checklist. We needed a self‑serve survey that guides users through the information professional movers actually need to produce accurate estimates. Most people don’t think about a move from the mover’s perspective; they assume a list of items is enough. But a household move has many variables beyond the inventory.

That’s why our first shipped product is a full Self Survey Tool for people who want to be organised and budget accurately for their international move. Early access is available in Q4 2026 through the Founding Planner program.

Users can take their self‑survey report to request quotes from their chosen movers—or from MYEXPATGO’s verified partner network. Our partner network is not monetised; MYEXPATGO exists to provide unbiased, practical support to people moving globally.