When planning a move abroad, you will need to take the time to plan how you intend to transport all of your worldly goods.
There are three main options to consider: using a professional moving company, which is often the only way when emigrating to Australia, the USA and other far afield destinations, hiring a man with a van or driving yourself. Needless to say these last two options can only really be considered when emigrating to Europe.
Going with the pros…
There is a lot to be said for arranging your shipping through an established and trusted removals company. With everything that you will have on your plate attributed to moving to a foreign country, having the professionals come in and take care of everything for you will be a weight off your mind.
When deciding which removals company to go to, be sure to ask around, visit Internet forums on the subject and read testimonials from past customers. Always choose a company who are registered with the British Association of Removers (BAR) and it is advisable to get at least three companies to provide you with a quote – you might be surprised at how much prices differ between companies.
Moving your belongings is not a cheap process and one important way of reducing cost is cutting down the amount of stuff that you want to transport. It may be hard to part with your children’s old toys or the piles of books that you read once and then left on the shelf to accumulate dust, but if you bear in mind that every item you want to take will cost you money – being ruthless should come a little easier. When it comes to culling your items, consider whether or not it would be cheaper to buy new when you arrive.
The major benefit of a removals company is that they will come in, pack up all your goods in materials designed to withstand the vibrations, bumpy roads and extreme temperatures associated with removals, and then deliver them to your new home. They also deal with all of the paper work associated with customs which can be a real pain when emigrating. They quite literally do everything for you and many believe that the service is more than worth the higher cost.
Man with a van…
If you are looking for a cheaper option and are within reasonable driving distance of your new home, then hiring a man with a van could be a good idea. These guys are more likely to offer a more personal service and save you a few pounds but when you take into account costs of EU motor insurance, fuel, ferries and the road tolls that they will encounter when driving – it might be better to go with the professionals and save yourself the hassle.
Doing it yourself…
If you are a fan of a roadtrip and can’t bear to let your belongings out of your sight for even a moment then transporting all of your belongings to your new home might be fun! It could save you money as well but be warned – packing up all of your belongings is a time consuming process and moving furniture is back breaking work – do you really want to deal with that after several days on the road?
Essential things to remember…
No matter what method you choose, make sure that you make an inventory of everything that is in your load so that each and every item is accounted for. The best idea is to number the boxes and keep a corresponding list of what is inside. This will help should there be any breakages or missing items that you need to claim on insurance.
Insurance is the most important thing to consider when moving all of your belongings to your new home. You wouldn’t pack everything that you own off with a complete stranger without making sure that you are covered would you? Usually insuring your belongings will cost anywhere from 1.65 – 4.5 per cent of the total goods shipped. Although this is a substantial amount to add on, it’s a necessary evil.
For a free guide to moving abroad download The Overseas Guides Company’s free Emigration guide by clicking here.
For a free report on how to save money when making currency transfers, whether they be regular pension payments or to complete on a property, click here, or visit the Currency Zone.