From Beijing to the World: The Ins and Outs of Moving House

Mark Karanja Jingkids

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Spring has sprung in Beijing. And along with it has come the prospect that life could soon return to what it once was. Beijing and the rest of China has slowly been getting back to business, and with the reopening of schools, it will soon be all systems go for Beijing families and professionals alike. However, due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, the world has essentially ground to a halt. The peak spring/summer hiring and transferring of schools would normally see old Beijing residents leaving and new ones taking their place. But China’s borders remain closed, in a bid to curtail the importation of the virus into the country.

This does not however mean that Beijingers aren’t taking up opportunities in other parts of China, or looking to relocate to Beijing. With that comes the headache of moving, which can be a pain at the best of times, and a logistical nightmare at the worst. It is important to get all your ducks in a row before embarking on your next adventure into or out of Beijing, by asking yourself what exactly is needed to make a move aside from a few moving men and a U-Haul.

You can choose to do it by yourself, go through the painstaking process of researching, booking, filling the necessary paperwork, check and double-check what you must declare and do all the packing. Or you could choose to use a moving company.

Continental International Moving, based in Beijing, has been taking the guesswork out of moving for international families for over 15 years and wants to make sure you are prepared for the move, long before you even need their assistance. We spoke with their team to find out more about what they offer, and what Beijing expats can expect when they make the move!

Tell us a little bit about your company. When did you start, why, and how long have you been in business?

CIM Movers was founded in 2004 under the name of Continental International Moving. We are located in Beijing’s Central Business District. Our mission is to help connect our customers to their new lives in the most stress-free way possible.

We obtained ISO 9001 certification at the end of 2019. Our moving experts are a bright bunch of people, both foreign and local, and speak Chinese, English, German, and French. Our moving crews are experienced in the moving industry with over 20 years’ experience. They’re all friendly and caring professionals. You can rest assured with such a great bunch of people: your move is in good hands. It’s no wonder we are a favorite among the expat community in Beijing and the rest of China.

We have been in business for more than 15 years. CIM is also a proud member and co-owner of Harmony Relocation Network in the Netherlands. Our network (founded in 1992) consists of over 140 members in 60 countries, serving 180 countries across six continents, providing the same level of high-quality services, local expertise and personal commitment.

What are some of the most common destinations that your company services?

Most common destinations are Europe, US, Canada and Australia. We basically cover the globe. We have even made it to North Korea despite the challenges.

What are some destinations your company services that clients might not know about?

We work with destinations according to what our customers need. Each client has a different destination and we work hard to ensure that we are able to provide our services to clients, no matter what their destinations are. Even if, due to some circumstances, they change the destination when their shipment is already on the way. We have some particular cases sometimes, but ultimately, we do what we can.

What are some of the new regulations for moving household goods and personal effects into and out of China?

So far, there are no new regulations regarding moving household goods out of the country. When regulations change, we make sure to inform our clients ahead of time.

What can CIM Mover offer an expat moving to China?

Apart from moving services, for most of the destinations within China, we can help clients apply for import permits, and do customs declarations on their behalf. We also provide handyman services in cases where furniture needs assembly or reassembly. When needed, maid services can also be arranged.

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How long does the process take?

It depends on the move. For local moves, it normally gets done within a day. Although local office moves can take longer than a day depending on the office size. For domestic moves, it takes about a couple of days to a week, depending on the distance. For international moves, it can vary from between two to ten weeks, depending on the country.

What is the price list?

We don’t have a specific price list. Again, it depends on the volume or weight of the goods, air and sea freight charges vary, same as destination costs. Hence, we normally have to do a pre-move survey at the client’s home to estimate the volume or weight in order to quote.

What are some of the problems commonly faced when trying to export household goods from China and how do you prevent them from happening?

A lot of customers have fake antique Chinese furniture and the furniture needs to be checked by the Antique Bureau office to see if it can be exported. Most of them are fakes so they present no problem with exporting, but still it needs to be stamped by the Antique Bureau. This is to avoid any potential problems at customs. We normally do pre-move surveys, and if we find some antique-looking furniture, we tell the clients about how to get it checked before moving. Besides that, we also provide the clients with a prohibited items list, so they are aware. Last but not least, customers need to have valid documents (work visas and residence permits, etc.) in order to export their goods. Some small shipments only require a passport copy of the shipping party. We would advise clients to check with us before considering moving.

Are all destination regulations the same, or how do they vary?

No, each country has its own regulations. We normally check with our partners abroad so we can inform our customers beforehand. In addition to that, it depends on the customer‘s status as well: Diplomat or not, returning citizen or foreigner, etc.

How do the potential clients contact you?

We get recommended by our old customers a lot, and that’s the best, as they know our services quality already. Apart from that, we get reached out to by our agents abroad and also by search engine.

Can a shipper bring the Chinese-style items bought here abroad?

All Chinese items produced before 1949, or Chinese minority items produced before 1966, are prohibited from exportation from China. CIM Movers can help you to do relic inspections before we start the move or after packing. With a certificate issued by Beijing Relics office, we can export these goods legally out of China.

If you would like some more information, check us out on www.cimmover.com

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Photos: Unsplash, CIM

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