Start early. The more time you give yourself to organize and pack, the less likely that you will have to pay expensive express delivery charges.
Decide which personal items you absolutely need to take with you. Heavy boxes are expensive to ship, and many items found in American homes can be easily purchased in France. There is no need to ship things like toothpaste or laundry detergent overseas. Framed posters and photographs can add unnecessary bulk to your boxes. Take only what you need.
Decide which furnishings and accessories you will need in France. If you are moving into a furnished apartment or home, you will need to ship very few items. One expat couple on ParisFranceGuides.com has written about the experience of not being able to unpack 27 boxes of books because they "haven't got any bookcases." Again, take only what you need.
Find the closest local office of a reputable international shipping company such as FedEx or DHL. The closer the shipping office is to your home, the better--and the money you save transporting your moving boxes to the company's office will add up.
Purchase the appropriate and approved size and kind of boxes for your shipping needs. Most shipping companies have specific regulations about the types of boxes they will ship overseas.
Pack your boxes yourself--it's cheaper than paying the shipping company to do it for you. Save more money by taking your boxes to the shipping office yourself to avoid paying pickup charges.
Fill out the appropriate shipping and customs forms.
Ship your boxes using the slowest method possible. In the world of international shipping, slower equals cheaper.
