¿Moving everything or buying upon arrival?

Which is cheaper, ¿moving everything or buying upon arrival?

If you've been through the process of an international move or are about to do, you have surely questioned yourself what is better: to take all your stuff or to buy it upon arrival.

There are several factors to assess, as are the cost of your furniture, how complicated would it be to replace them, and how valuable are they for you and your family.

The cheapest way to move your belongings across long distances is by sea. A 20-foot container will cost at least $ 8,000 (land transportation is the best choice when it comes to short distances). Buying just three full bedrooms, a couple of televisions, a desktop computer, a dining room and a kitchen would probably cost as much, at least. Not to mention if you include a piece of art.

In addition, the cost of replacing the furniture is not only monetary, it is also time and energy you have to invest in shopping and finding things to your liking.

Neither the value of your stuff is only measured in dollars. Your house is full of priceless memories, and for the vast majority of people, being surrounded by familiar articles on a new home is quite reassuring. This applies especially to children, who will feel much more confident and less anxious about the change.

While there are appliances that will not work in your destination country for reasons of voltage, it is also true that this is easily preventable, and you can leave only those items that fall into this category. Plus there are cases that are resolved with an adapter; you do not have to leave every appliance. Check out this list of voltages and socket types in different countries.

If the cost of moving everything or buying everything are similar, and taking your belongings diminishes time and stress, then moving with everything must be the better choice.

Definitely needs of each family are different, so it is best to get professional advise, and to analyze the pros and cons for your specific situation.

We want you to help you with these and more tips; help us help you by visiting How to move to Mexico.

Oh, and follow us on Twitter @moversmexico and Facebook  Moving to Mexico  (you'll find plenty of free advice and special offers).

by Mauricio Pozas