Meet Aaron Livie: An International Moving Expert at Laser International | Part 1

Aaron Livie joined Laser International after spending approximately 25 years in the corporate travel industry. After years of moving further away from direct customer interaction in his previous career, Aaron was drawn to Laser because the role gave him the opportunity to work directly with customers again.

After more than two years in the international moving industry, Aaron says the role has delivered exactly what he was looking for: the opportunity to build relationships, help customers through an important transition and experience the daily reward that comes from making a difference in someone's move.

What Questions Do Customers Ask Most Often?

According to Aaron, two questions come up again and again: How much will it cost? And how long will it take?

The answer to the first question isn't always straightforward. The cost of an international move depends on a number of variables, including the origin city, the volume being shipped and the type of move.

Timing also has variables, but Aaron says there are generally more predictable elements that allow him to provide customers with a reasonable timeframe.

There's another question, however, that Aaron wishes customers would ask more often: What makes a moving company stand out?

Customers are typically comparing several companies, and Aaron believes it's important to understand what differentiates one company from another.

For him, one of the biggest differentiators at Laser is the business model. As a Relocation Manager, Aaron serves as the customer's primary point of contact from start to finish. His goal is to successfully guide the customer through the process and ultimately deliver an experience worthy of a five-star review.

International Moving Is More Complex Than It Looks

One thing Aaron wishes every customer understood before beginning an international move is just how many moving parts are involved.

An international move isn't simply a truck picking up your belongings and delivering them to another location. It can involve packing, transportation, ocean shipping, trucking, customs, multiple handoffs and numerous variables along the way.

Each part of the process needs to be handled properly because an issue in one area can affect the rest of the move.

That's also why Aaron encourages customers to look beyond price alone when comparing moving companies. Cost is important, but customers should also understand what they're getting for that price and why one quote may differ significantly from another.

A major part of Aaron's role is helping customers understand what happens throughout the process and keeping those complexities from becoming overwhelming.

The Biggest Misconception About International Moving

Perhaps the biggest misconception Aaron encounters is that an international move is essentially a domestic move that simply travels farther.

In reality, the two have very little in common beyond the fact that you're moving your belongings.

International shipments involve shipping lines, ports, customs and other factors that can be outside of a moving company's direct control. While a mover can provide realistic timelines and carefully plan the shipment, there are still external variables that have to be navigated along the way.

That's why Aaron believes having someone who can help guide customers through those variables is so important.

One of the Biggest Mistakes? Waiting Too Long.

When asked about common mistakes customers make, Aaron's answer is simple: Waiting.

That might mean waiting too long to secure a moving date or waiting to return customs documents and other paperwork.

While Laser can accommodate last-minute moves, Aaron says that giving yourself more time generally means less stress and more flexibility.

The sooner customers complete the things within their control, the more smoothly the rest of the process can come together.

And that includes being responsive when their Relocation Manager needs information or documentation.

An international move already comes with plenty of moving pieces. Delaying the pieces you can control only adds unnecessary pressure.

How Far in Advance Should You Plan an International Move?

There's no one-size-fits-all answer.

Some customers have been thinking about their international relocation for years. Others find out unexpectedly that they're taking a job overseas and need to move within weeks.

For general planning, Aaron recommends thinking in terms of approximately 8–12 weeks whenever possible.

That gives customers time to consider not only the shipment itself, but also the many other pieces of an international relocation, such as visas, schools and other arrangements associated with establishing life in another country.

When it comes specifically to securing the moving service, Aaron offers a more specific guideline:

• Off-season: Approximately 3–4 weeks
• Summer/high season: Approximately 60 days or more

These are general guidelines, and availability ultimately depends on the dates a customer needs. The earlier a customer starts, the more opportunity they have to build a plan around the dates and circumstances that work best for them.

Before You Start: Two Things to Consider

Aaron also offered some advice for people who are still in the research stage and haven't contacted an international moving company yet.

1. Are you legally allowed to live in your destination country?

That's the first consideration. A moving company can help transport your belongings, but the customer needs to make sure they have the appropriate ability to live in the country they're moving to.

2. What are you actually taking with you?

The contents of your shipment will influence the cost of the move, the size of the home you'll need and what you may need to purchase once you arrive.

Aaron recognizes that international shipping isn't inexpensive, and customers sometimes look at their belongings and think they aren't worth the cost of transporting them. But replacement cost isn't the only consideration. Personal value matters, too.

The goal is to make those decisions thoughtfully rather than under the pressure of a last-minute move.

Groupage or Exclusive Container: How Do You Decide?

When it comes to choosing between groupage and an exclusive container, Aaron says there's more to the decision than simply the price.

He considers factors including shipment size, budget, timing, flexibility and customs considerations.

In general, smaller shipments are more likely to use groupage, while larger shipments may make more sense for an exclusive container. But every customer's circumstances are different.

That's why Aaron approaches the decision as a consultation rather than a one-size-fits-all recommendation.

The goal is to understand what the customer needs and determine which option makes the most sense for their move.

What Should You Look for in an International Moving Company?

After two years in the industry, Aaron says his answer to this question has become very clear: Look for a company that specializes in international moving.

Not every moving company handles international relocations as a significant part of its business. Aaron encourages customers to understand how much international experience a company actually has.

He also recommends looking at long-term experience. Laser, for example, has more than 30 years of experience in international moving, and Aaron says customers should look beyond a company's website or branding to understand how long it has been operating and serving international customers.

Finally, he recommends checking online reviews. Reviews can help customers narrow down their options and understand what other customers have experienced.

Aaron's advice can essentially be summed up in three areas: Specialization. Experience. Reviews.

Importantly, Aaron doesn't believe customers should simply take his word for which company they should choose. He acknowledges that there are other good companies in the industry and believes it's ultimately the customer's responsibility to research their options.

The Moves Aaron Remembers Most

Some of Aaron's most memorable moves aren't memorable simply because of where the customers were going. They're memorable because of the people behind the move.

1. A Retirement Full of Hobbies

One couple Aaron worked with was retiring and planning to move to a small town in the mountains of Portugal.

They weren't giving up their hobbies in retirement—in fact, they were taking them with them.

The couple had equipment and materials for everything from metalworking and glasswork to sewing, electrical projects and music.

They ultimately needed two 40-foot containers to transport everything they wanted to continue doing in retirement.

The logistics of getting all of that equipment to a small town in Portugal were complicated, but Aaron found the story behind the move fascinating.

2. California to Italy and Madeira

Another memorable move involved a customer relocating from California who was building a new home in Italy while also purchasing a furnished Airbnb apartment in Madeira.

Their belongings were being divided between destinations, creating a complex logistical puzzle.

Madeira presented its own transportation challenges, making the move particularly intricate.

But once again, Aaron found himself fascinated by more than the logistics. The opportunity to hear how people are designing their lives and what motivates them to make an international move is one of the things he enjoys most about his work.

It's the People, Not Just the Destination

Aaron has traveled extensively throughout his career, so while he enjoys hearing that someone is moving to Zurich, the south of France or another destination around the world, the destination itself isn't necessarily what stays with him.

It's the story behind the move.

Why are they moving? What prompted the decision? What are they hoping to do when they arrive? What will their new life look like?

Because Relocation Managers communicate with customers throughout the moving process, they often get to know the people behind the shipment.

Sometimes those stories are exciting and adventurous. Other times, a move may be happening because of difficult circumstances.

Either way, Aaron sees his role as helping customers navigate the process and making the move as stress-free as possible.

The Most Important Lesson: Communication

If there's one lesson Aaron has carried throughout both his corporate travel career and his time in international moving, it's this: Communication matters.

In a fast-paced industry, communication is important internally—but Aaron says it's even more important when working with customers.

And that becomes particularly important when something goes wrong.

Bad news doesn't get better by waiting to deliver it.

Aaron believes customers should receive information quickly and clearly, along with options for how to move forward.

That kind of communication gives customers the information they need to make decisions rather than leaving them wondering what's happening.

A Personal Approach to International Moving

When asked if he had any final thoughts to share, Aaron returned to something that has become a recurring theme throughout the conversation: the people behind the move matter.

Aaron says he feels privileged to work at Laser. He describes the company as a smaller organization with a great deal of experience, where the team shares a common objective and genuinely enjoys working together.

He believes that comes through in the customer experience.

While larger companies may offer their own advantages, Aaron says he values the personalization and trust that can come from working with a smaller team.

Most importantly, he wants customers to know that the people they work with at Laser genuinely enjoy what they do and are invested in helping them through the process.

“We like working for Laser. We like being a part of this. We like doing what we're doing.”

And perhaps that's what comes through most clearly in Aaron's interview: international moving may involve containers, customs, ports, paperwork and countless logistical details—but at the center of every move is a person or family starting a new chapter.

That's the part Aaron enjoys being a part of.

What’s Next?

Now that you’ve heard from one of our relocation managers. Sit back and let our team help you plan your own international move.

Get a free, no-obligation quote and start planning with confidence.

Fill out our international moving form or call 800.880.3086 to speak with an international relocation expert today.