Movers, Agents and Relocation Specialists

I cannot even begin to tell you how important this is!  Choosing the right mover can save you a ton of time and MONEY!

Let's talk about the overall process here. 

Movers and Agents

First, you are going to need TWO movers.  You will need one mover for your home country who will be in charge of getting your goods from your home to Costa Rica, usually through a port such as Miami.  If you live in the USA, ALL post 9-11 international moves must have ALL items packed by the mover who then certifies the contents of every box.  I have heard that this MAY have changed and you are now allowed to pack your own items.  I have no direct verification of this, but if you can (and DO), be sure to work closely with your Costa Rica mover to make 100% SURE all the items are on your manifest and what is in the boxes is exactly what the manifest says is in the boxes. Errors like that can be very costly and a real problem fix.

If your mover does the packing and inventory manifest, after they pack a box, it is sealed.  Under the old rules (9-11)  if you open it again or ask them to do so, they must re-certify it prior to shipping.

NOTE:  Anyone who has recently (2007 or later) moved here, I'd like to get the current policy on packing.  Please take a moment to contact me here and include your email and phone number as I want this page correct.

They will then get your goods to a Costa Rica port of entry, most often Puerto Limon.

In Puerto Limón, the ship will be unloaded and the goods taken to a customs warehouse.  There, they will remain until you, your Costa Rica Mover or agent comes to pick it up.

Seems simple enough, right?  In principle, it is, but in reality, it is far more complex.

You have two options when choosing the mover in your country (the local mover).  You can open the phone directory, ask around, use a mover you have used before... whatever.  Option two is that you can retain the Costa Rica based mover FIRST.  Why do that?  Because most experienced Costa Rica movers have counterparts in most countries... people they have worked with many time before.  They can direct how items are packed, how boxes should be labeled, how to avoid over taxation by using the wrong type of insurance.  They can give YOU some very handy hints on how you can minimize the tax bill here by properly valuing your stuff.  Your local mover simply cannot do this from the USA.  Can you really save money?  Oh yeah!  The difference can be thousands of dollars for a large move (full house).

Either way, whether you choose the local mover or use the one recommended by your Costa Rica mover, it is time to negotiate! 

While there are a fairly limited number of reputable Costa Rican movers, there are about a zillion US based movers.

When I moved here, I called eight.  YES EIGHT including the one my Costa Rica mover recommended.  They all sent salesmen to the house, counted rooms of furniture, nosed around, asked questions and wanted to send me a quote.  At that time, I told them I was shopping for the best deal and as I felt all the other seven movers were honest and reputable, the best price would get the deal.

Every one of them told me that shipping rates (tariffs) were set by the state, or the US government, or whatever.  THAT friends, is horsepucky!  While two quotes were almost identical, there was a $1,800.00 difference between highest and lowest bids, and most of THAT was in the cost per hundredweight.

The rates charged by US movers are NOT set in stone, and they have ways to sharpen those numbers! I did not try to do this at the Costa Rica end as I was scared to death of moving here, and I wanted a friendly-faced mover at this end.

Once your possessions arrive in Costa Rica, they are placed in a warehouse for inspection and collection of taxes.  Here again is where your local Costa Rica mover can help.  While most won't do anything illegal (mine didn't) the ones who have been in business here for years know all the employees in those warehouses and at aduana (custums)!  The process can either go fast or slow, and if there is a question, a ruling can either go for or against you!  The good agents here know how to get things to go your way.  Choose your CR mover very carefully and get a bunch of references from neutral sources (i.e. do NOT ask the mover for references!).  Use the various forums and user groups elsewhere in this web site, and ask people who now live here who they used and if they had problems.

Relocation Specialist Companies

The complexities of an International move have always been a bit scary.  For years, there have been relocation firms used by business to move their employees.  Now, however, there are NEW companies, sometimes located in-country and these may be used either by businesses or individuals. 

These firms can often do an extremely competent job of easing the pain or maybe the scariness of an international move.  Being in-country, they know local schools, churches, importation laws and may well have connections with movers and agents.  Most will assist you after you arrive doing anything from helping you open a bank account to assist in getting your drivers license.  For some people, an international move is just too complex and too nerve wracking and a relocation specialist is the answer.  While they will certainly add significantly to the overall cost of your move, you may feel the extra cost is worth it. They may be just the thing to help with the complexities ahead of you.

Tips!

Whether a mover, agent, or relocations specialist... ALWAYS check these folks out and ask for references from people who have actually used them and are actually now living here.  A phone call is often best.  

Also, use the local Costa Rica User Groups to get an idea if the company is reputable and has performed as promised.