Pickup day is easier to manage when your household goods, property access and written instructions are ready before the moving team arrives. This checklist is for people preparing a shipment from the USA to Thailand. Use it alongside your provider’s instructions; it does not replace an agreed packing plan or shipping contract.

Confirm what the pickup appointment includes

Check your written quote and ask who is responsible for packing, furniture disassembly, loading and any materials. Do not assume that a service is included because it appears in a general description of international moving. If the scope is unclear, resolve it before packing or making building arrangements.

Confirm the pickup address, contact person, agreed arrival window and a telephone number for the day. Ask how changes to the volume or access arrangements will be handled. Our door-to-door shipping guide explains the stages to discuss with your provider.

Send property access details in advance

A street address alone does not describe the work needed to collect your belongings. Give the coordinator practical details so the team can assess the job:

  • Floor number, stairs and whether an elevator is available.
  • Building rules for moving hours and elevator reservations.
  • Distance between the loading area and the entrance.
  • Parking restrictions, gates and access codes provided through an appropriate private channel.
  • Narrow doors, awkward corners or oversized items that may need special planning.

Ask your building manager about any required arrangements. Do not reserve a vehicle space or assume a truck can enter a driveway until the relevant people confirm the plan.

Separate items that will travel with you

Set aside passports, travel documents, keys and other essentials you will need before delivery. Keep this group physically separate and clearly marked “Do not load.” Decide what belongs in your personal travel bags using the applicable airline and destination rules; this checklist does not determine whether an item is permitted.

Review uncertain items with the provider before pickup. Consult our restricted and prohibited items guide for a starting point, and obtain current confirmation for your specific belongings. Do not hide an uncertain item inside a general household box.

Match labels to one final inventory

Give each packed box a unique identifier and use the same identifier in your inventory. Record a useful contents description and intended room. Avoid writing sensitive personal information on the outside of boxes.

For example, box K-01 might be “Kitchen: everyday plates and bowls,” while K-02 is “Kitchen: pots and utensils.” These are illustrative labels, not required shipping codes. If your provider uses its own numbering system, agree how the two records will correspond.

Use our free moving inventory template to prepare your list. If an item is removed or added on pickup day, update the record rather than keeping several conflicting versions.

Record condition and complete a final walkthrough

Take clear photographs of furniture and other items before they are packed, where practical. Keep existing scratches or damage visible in the record. Photographs are useful documentation; they do not establish insurance coverage or guarantee a claim outcome.

Before the team leaves, check cupboards, storage areas and the “Do not load” area. Compare the collected items with the pickup paperwork. Ask about any unfamiliar description before signing, keep copies and follow the provider’s process for recording discrepancies.

Questions to settle before the truck arrives

  • Should boxes remain open for the team to check or pack?
  • Who prepares furniture and protects the floors?
  • How will the final item count be recorded?
  • Who should I contact if the pickup arrangements change?

Answers depend on your booking. Send your inventory and access details with a request for a USA-to-Thailand shipping quote so the scope can be discussed before pickup day.