On behalf of our entire Starline Overseas team we would like to wish all of our valued customers and global moving partners a very Merry Christmas around the world. Warmest wishes to you and each of your families during the holiday season.

Our promise to you is to continue to deliver the best moving services for your valuable goods to destinations all over the world (including the North Pole!) Relocating soon? Don’t delay, contact Starline Overseas today for all your moving and storage needs.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

It’s not surprising that great things come from the world’s second largest land mass.

CNN is currently doing a series highlighting superlatives of countries from around the world. Check out the following link to see ten things Canada does better then other countries and if after seeing the article you decide to move to Canada give us a call to see how we can assist with all your moving needs.

10 Things Canada Does Better than Anywhere Else

On behalf of our entire Starline Overseas Moving team we would like to wish a Happy Thanksgiving to all of our American friends.

At this time of Thanksgiving we pause
to count our blessings.
The freedom of this great
country in which we live.
It’s opportunity for achievement.
The friendship and confidence
you have shown in us.
For all of these things
we are deeply thankful.
Our best wishes for a
Happy Thanksgiving.

Moving to another country can seem like an overwhelming task especially if one does not take the time to prepare properly. One of the most important tasks you can do to prepare for any type of relocation is keep track of all the paperwork involved with the transition.

Checklists are a great tool to have especially when moving overseas because they remind you of all the items or tasks you need to complete before the move, during the transition overseas and after the relocation is complete. One checklist that Starline Overseas highly recommends utilizing is the Remember to Notify Checklist.

Click on the following link to download our free Remember to Notify Checklist compliments of Starline Overseas. The checklist is great for reminding you of all the people and service providers who might need to know you are moving. Even our staff has utilized these types of checklists with their moves in the past.

When should I start informing companies and individuals of my upcoming move? Most businesses typically need two weeks to one month of advance notice of your upcoming relocation. If you are unsure, it is best to check with the service providers.

The Canadian government announced last week that they are looking into possibly reopening the controversial fast-tracked temporary foreign workers program. Former Immigration Minister and current Employment Minister Jason Kenney, indicated he is re-examining how to reopen the program with minimal controversy.  He suggested that maybe access would only be granted to employers who are looking to fill high-skilled positions.  

To read the full article click on the following link, Canadian Temporary Worker Program.

        Many families are celebrating Halloween this week on October 31st. Check out the following link to learn more about the Top 20 cities in America for trick-or-treating according to four separate metrics that were utilized.

          For those celebrating Halloween for the first time after their move to a new city or country, trick-or-treating is a customary practice for children in many countries. Children dress up in various costumes and travel from house to house in their neighborhood in order to collect treats. Neighbors wanting to participate in the Halloween festivities typically decorate the outside of their home with decorations such as jack-o-lanterns.

Happy Halloween from the Starline Team

           Congratulations to our Vice President, Mr. Nate Edwards for being appointed on October 6^th, 2013 to the FIDI Canada Board at the FIDI Canada Annual General Meeting in Vancouver, Canada. The FIDI Canada Board works together in association with moving companies across the country to represent the views and interests of FIDI companies.

            In addition, congratulations to the following individuals who were also appointed to the FIDI Canada Board:

• Brian Jones, Brytor International Moving – President
• Derek Duffy, Armstrong International – Vice President
• Nate Edwards, Starline Overseas Moving – Secretary
• Arthur Drewry, Taylor International – Treasurer
• Bob Johnson, The MI Group – Director at Large
• Russ Taylor, Taylor International – Past President

               There is just over a week until the 51st Annual IAM Conference, which is being held from October 7-10, 2013 in the beautiful city of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This annual event is a great time to meet with moving industry leaders and associations.

                On behalf of the Starline Overseas team we would like to welcome all delegates and organizations attending the conference to Canada. We look forward to meeting new members and catching up with fellow colleagues. We want to ensure that you enjoy your stay here in Canada and are prepared for what we have to offer. The following link Welcome to Canada is a great representation of how things are somehow a little different here. Enjoy “Eh!”

     Relocating to a new neighborhood or better yet another country entails more then just packing up your belongings and transferring. Inevitably one of the most important aspects will be the process of selling your current home. If you want your home to look like it is worth every penny of the asking price you are currently requesting then it is important you show your home’s best features. The following guide of tips can assist with selling your home quicker.

1.  Freshen Up. Giving the walls of your home a fresh coat of paint can make a big difference to potential homebuyers. Many realtors recommend toning down strong colors for more neutral paint choices such as warm earth tones.  Re-painting certain rooms in your home is a great idea especially if you are on a tight renovation budget.

2. First Impressions. The outside living space of your residence is just as important as the inside. Potential buyers will judge your property the moment they drive up to the property. Make sure to fix any broken gates, the path is clear and the front entrance area is well maintained.

3. Pets. If at all possible, take your pet(s) with you during viewing times. You may love your pet(s) but that does not mean everyone else does. Also, make sure any pet(s) within the residence do not make any mess before a viewing. 

4. Keep Clean. Remember to focus on making your home look spotless for viewings and open houses. Extra attention should always be given to the kitchen and bathroom(s) as they need to look inviting and hygienic. 

5. De-Clutter. You may personally be a fan of all your small trinkets, pictures and keepsakes around the home but they will mean very little to a stranger. Getting rid or storing away these types of items will allow potential buyers to imagine themselves living in your home. 

               Starline Overseas Moving appreciates all the feedback that we receive  from our customers. The moving reviews we receive allows us to celebrate our outstanding customer service but also allows us to focus on any improvements if needed. As long as we maintain this tradition of excellence, we can exceed our customers’ expectations on each and every move.

                We received the following letter of recommendation this week from a lovely couple we moved this past summer from Calgary, Alberta to Brisbane, Australia. We would like to share an excerpt of their thoughts and suggestions. Thank you to Laurie and his wife for taking the time to write to us. We appreciate the overseas moving review and wish you both all the best at your new destination.   

To whom it may concern:

Over the summer of 2013 my wife and I moved from Calgary, Canada to Brisbane, Australia using Starline Overseas Moving.

The following was our experience:

1) Initial contact and discussion about the move plan.

We initiated discussions with three movers found using internet searches. Our initial contact with Starline was materially different to our contact with their competitors. Grace Stypka was knowledgeable and helpful from the start, and went out of her way to provide exceptional responses to our questions.

2) Obtaining the quotation.

We obtained three quotations. Once again, Starline was the “lowest friction”. The quotation was right the first time and Starline were able to match pricing with their competitors.

3) Signing the contract.

We read the fine-print of several contracts and the Starline contract was the fairest. Competitors included clauses (for example) that gave them unilateral possession of our entire shipment in the event that we were late paying any additional charges. The Starline contract was more balanced.

4) Responses to questions during the lead-up to shipping.

Starline were extremely prompt and very courteous in response to the multitude of questions we had about the move – the “flurry of dumb questions”.

5) Load day.

The load crew were prompt, efficient and friendly. Everything that we hadn’t packed was expertly packed and arrived in one piece.

6) In-transit.

Starline provided ship details and we were able to watch the progress of our shipping container across the oceans on-line.

7) Arrival and quarantine/customs clearance.

Starline managed this process thorough their local Australian agent. It went very smoothly with only a few trivial items removed during quarantine and no issues at all with customs clearance.

8) Management of local agent.

There were some communications and customer-service issues with the administration arm of Starline’s local agent in Australia. When advised of the problems Starline immediately worked to rectify the problem – responding after-hours (Canada time) and on vacation days. We were impressed with their customer focus.

9) Delivery and placement of items.

The delivery process was seamless. The local agent’s delivery crew arrived and placed our items with care.

10) Condition of items in shipment.

All boxes and items were intact. We have experienced only a couple of minor breakages caused by our own packing – everything Starline packed arrived in one piece.

A move of this nature is a huge undertaking. Starline made it less painful. We would not hesitate to use them again.Additionally, we would recommend Grace Stypka at Starline as an expert at international relocations. Her customer service ethic was the best we have ever experienced.

Sincerely,

Laurie