Choosing Your Mover with Asian Tigers Group Chairman - Gordon Bell

Host: Welcome to the Global Move, brought to you by Agent Tigers Group where we get insight from professional, international and sensational leaders in the business and try to help smooth your move by avoiding pitfalls. I’m your host, and today we are joined by Gordon Bell, Chairman of the Asian Tigers Group. Welcome, Gordon.

Gordon: Thanks. Thanks for having me.

Host: Gordon, we’re happy to have you and your considerable experience today. How long or when did you get started in the relocation business?

Gordon: I was 20 years old. I had just returned to Singapore. Gee, that makes it 47 years.

Host: Coming up for 47 years. That’s 47 years of experience. I understand you got started in the business moving boxes yourself?

Gordon: Yes, I did. I’m not sure they knew I was young. Listen, I was young. I had lots of energy. I’m not sure they knew what they wanted to do with me. So they put me on the road.

Host: And “on the road” – you mean you were loading trucks?

Gordon: Yeah. Absolutely. They were teaching me the A to Z of the moving business. So from. Yeah, from packing to loading to whatever.

Host: So what did you learn, from, you know, that early experience on the road that you still find valuable today?

Gordon: You know, the first thing they did because they didn’t really trust me, you know? So they gave me the books. From the books, it went to things a little bit more difficult. So I packed crockery. I then went onto bicycles. I went on to cupboards, all that sort of stuff. So, you know, it was a fantastic experience. Although I’m sure, as my mother would have, would tell you, every time I came home, it wasn’t the case. It wasn’t that fantastic of an experience. When I when I was doing it. It’s tough work. I imagine. Very.

Host: Well, I mean, you know, the voice of people out there that are especially their first international move, there seems to be an almost overwhelming number of things that hit you leading up to the move itself. And then most people feel like, oh, you know, I’ve, I’ve completed all my checklists. I’ve boxed everything that’s precious. And I’ve got my tickets. And then you hand off the boxes to you guys to the relocation company and, it’s almost like as soon as they do that, their job is done. Your job is just beginning. What is what does that all entail?

Gordon: Oh, it’s you know, I’m not sure each shipper, each client, each transferee really understands what goes into it until they actually watch us do it. You know, when all the paperwork is done, that’s really when we start. So, you know, we pack up the house. And there’s a lot to this. Number one, you know, it’s not just little boxes, it’s furniture it’s everything, you know. And once we’ve done that, we load it into a container or what we call “lift vans” in the trade, depending on the size of shipment. We then take it to the port. There’s a possibility of a customs examination. Then it’s repacked and then put on to a vessel. And the vessel, you know, you’ve got to choose a good, good vessel, a trusted, trusted, trustworthy vessel that gets to the destination in time, in the amount of time that it, that they have dictated. From then when it arrives, you know, it’s offloaded. It then goes through yet another customs inspection because it’s entering into a new country. It’s then hauled to a destination, most times the residence. And then the whole process of us packing it – it gets unpacked at the destination. So really, there’s a lot to it. And, you know, there’s a possibility that this will happen over a 4 to 6 to 8 week period. So, you know, there’s stops and starts everywhere. So yeah, there’s a lot to it.

Host: A lot of moving parts. So what would you say is different from the perspective of the relocation company, the mover, when they arrive in a place? Is it just dump and go? I mean, what are some things that go through your head that are based on experience?

Gordon: You know, the fact that I spent that time packing and unpacking, depending on which job I was given. You just learn things about what to do, what not to do, and it’s not a case of pack and run. It’s positioning. You know, you’ve got to unpack a cupboard. You’ve got to position it to the right place where the client wants it to be. It’s unpacking boxes. It’s unpacking crystal. It’s taking the rubbish away, you know, and leaving the house in a fairly good state for the start of the transferees next life, basically. So a lot to do. Absolutely.

Host: So I know there’s people watching now that are just researching their first international move. What message would you have for them on you know, the importance of and how to select an international moving company that, that you trust?

Gordon: You know, they’ve got to – I believe that qualifications, you’ve had to work at being a good mover. You have to prove yourself. That you are capable of doing it. You have to be entrusted by agents that you will pay your bills. So get a good move at to start with. Make sure there’s a few qualifications there. Secondly, you know, ask your friends, you know who they move with, etc. You know, go on to Google, find out if you know, if you’re down to 2 or 3 people that you you want to use. Go and find out what other people are saying about them, you know? But and more importantly, and I’m saying this as a sort of like a final tick, the guy who came into the house or the woman, who comes into the house just if you like them, it’s that feeling of trust. You got to trust the people who are going to come into your house. Can you imagine? You know, who who in their right mind allows strangers into their house? Trust is a is a huge thing.

Host: Trust is certainly key. So, check reviews, ask your friends and take a take an audit of the person who comes to do the survey.

Gordon: Yeah. Yeah, exactly. Great tips. Gordon.

Host: Thank you so much. Thank you for your time today.

Gordon: You’re very welcome. Thanks for having me.