Moving Overseas can seem like a huge task. It is wise to contact removals companies who specialise in different types of overseas removals to find the right company for you. 1st Choice Removals are specialists in this field and you can request a personal quote by clicking here.
You should invite the company to come and to a survey of your
possessions, so they can discuss with you the best way to transport
them. There are several ways to have your property transported, and
you will need to choose depending on the volume/weight of the goods,
the speed of delivery, the route and your budget.
Here is as brief outline of the different methods for moving your
possessions overseas.
Sea Freight
Full Container loads
Your possessions are loaded into large secure steel containers. They
are relayed by a container ship to the nearest container port. Ask
your removals firm to outline the different container sizes
available to you. These steel containers vary from 2400 cubic feet
to 850 cubic feet.
The cost for this type of shipment is calculated on the volume of
your full container load. Each container is for your sole use to
reduce any problems with customs and to prevent the opportunity for
unauthorised access.
Groupage
This is when the steel containers are filled with groups of
possessions from different individuals/companies that will be
travelling the same route. You wait until a container is full, so
you cannot dictate timescales as easily as the Full Container Loads.
However, this method is more cost effective.
European Removals
European Removals are handled in different ways by different
companies. Some smaller firms will travel with just your consignment
in their own lorries so you can dictate the timescales. Your goods
are packed and boxed as for a domestic move. You should discuss with
the removals company about the best way to pack in advance, if you
wish to do this yourself. Some firms will pack your remaining
possessions, but you should keep an inventory of the goods you have
packed and label each box clearly.
Airfreight
Consignments are secured in special airline pallets and are
transported in the aircraft cargo hold. Airfreight can be
significantly more expensive. However, it has the benefit of speed
and can be useful to countries with no sea access or inland
destinations.
Airfreight prices are calculated on the larger of the physical size
or volume weight.
Things to do, 12 weeks before Moving Day.
- Quotes:
Even if you don't have a definite date, contact at least three
removal companies. Choose your removal company carefully; do not be
swayed purely on price. Choose a removal company that best suits
your circumstance and requirements and ALWAYS ask for references.
- Packing:
Start packing/sorting. If you are doing the packing yourself
(European only) start as soon as you can, and certainly no later
than twelve weeks to go. We know that until you do exchange you
cannot be certain that the move will go ahead. So what about
clearing out the attic, packing up your summer or winter clothes, in
the kitchen the items you hardly use e.g. toasted sandwich maker,
fondue set, soda stream (remember them, it's probably right at the
back of your cupboard) even books and videos how often do you
watch/read these? Remember to remove any batteries from appliances
to prevent leakages whilst in transit.
- De-clutter:
This will give you a chance to sort through your possessions and
have a good clear out and also ease the stress when you get the call
to say they want to complete in a few days time. For advice on
de-cluttering go to our new section on clutter in our
Advice and Guides section.
- Pets:
Decide what you are planning to do with pets. You need to plan well
in advance and find out about quarantine regulations for the country
you wish to enter (usually this is 6 months). Our section on Moving
with Pets can be found in our
Advice and Guides section
- Car:
Decide if you are going to take your car. You need to plan well in
advance. If you are not then get your car serviced and advertised.
- Info:
Read books and publications, visit websites and ask friends if they
know of anyone who has moved to that country.
- Paperwork:
Ensure all your Visa's or Permits are being processed.
- Hotels:
If you need to book a hotel do so as soon as you can, especially if
you are moving within the summer months.
Things to do, 8 weeks before Moving Day.
- Confirmation:
Confirm your moving details with your removal company.
- Clear
Out: Arrange to dispose of any unwanted
items, do a car boot sale, sell them on eBay or give them to your
local charity shop that will make good use of them. After all what
is someone's rubbish is another person's treasure.
- Parking:
If you have any parking restrictions at
your present property, you will need to contact the local
authorities to arrange for a suspension of the parking restrictions
outside your property on and around moving day as with most overseas
moves this can run into more than one day. Remember that a removal
van can be the same size as a double decker bus and needs extra
space for manoeuvring into position. The rear of the van needs to be
directly outside your front door and if your house is on a hill,
facing downhill. If in doubt about the size of vehicle your removal
company is sending, contact them and they will let you know how much
space they require and a time scale.
- Contact
Details: Inform friends and family of
your new address. As 1st Choice Removals is a member of
The National Guild
of Removers and Storers we can
provide you with free address card templates for you to print off in
the comfort of your own home.
-
Paperwork: Start to sort out paperwork.
Put passports, visa's, flight details, birth/marriage certificates
and other family documentation aside so that you don't pack them.
N.B. If when you are sorting through your credit cards and bank statements and you decide to throw some away, we would highly recommend that you shred them. Don't throw the shredded paper away just yet, instead keep it to use as packing around fragile items.
Things to do, 6 weeks before Moving Day.
- Health:
Visit your health clinic to arrange for any necessary vaccinations.
Visit www.dh.gov.uk
for more information on Health Travel. If you are on medication
make sure you have enough to cover you until you get settled. Also
arrange to get a copy of your prescriptions and any important
medical letters and let your doctor know you will be moving.
- Vets:
Arrange for your pets to have any necessary vaccinations and fill
out any relevant paperwork etc health certificates, immunisations
and permits.
- Restrictions:
Whilst you are packing dispose of any items which may have
restrictions where you are moving to. Each country has different
rules and restrictions so please check with the customs department
of your destination country. However most countries will not allow the
following:
- Narcotics and drugs
- Hazardous items i.e. fireworks, toxic or poisonous substances
- Plants and vegetables
- Cane furniture
- Alcohol (subject to duties). Check your private wine collection will be allowed to go to your new home
- Meats and meat products
- Dried Flowers, bulbs and seeds including pine cones
- Firearms, ammunition and explosives.
- Weapons i.e. swords, knuckle- dusters, spears, flick knives
- Pornographic material
- Notify:
Contact all relevant companies that you
will be leaving the country and arrange for any outstanding bills to
be sent to you i.e. council, water, electric, gas, telephone,
mobile, internet, store cards, rentals. For a full printable
checklist please click
here. This is handy to have when
you contact companies to change your details.
Things to do, 4 weeks before Moving Day.
- Voting:.
You will still be allowed to vote if you are a British National
living overseas, in UK General Elections and European Union
Elections for up to 15 years after moving abroad. In order to
register as an overseas voter you will need to contact the electoral
registration covering the address for where you were last
registered. They will then send you out the appropriate forms. For
more information visit:
www.electoralcommission.gov.uk
- Library:
Now is the ideal chance to return any library books that you find,
no matter how long you have had them. Also advise them of your new
address.
- Subscriptions:
Cancel all organisations, charities and magazines which you
subscribe to.
- Borrowed
or loaned items: Return any items that
you have borrowed from friends and neighbours.
- Car:
You need to decide what you plan to do with your car. If you are
taking your car abroad you notify the DVLA. You will also need to renew your driving licence as
failure to notify DVLA of a change in address is an offence. For
more information go to
www.dvla.gov.uk . If you are not then get your car serviced/MOT
and advertised.
www.autotrader.co.uk or www.ebay.co.uk
- Cleaner:
If you feel you simply won't have time to clean the house thoroughly
before you leave, book a cleaner. Contact them as soon as you can
and arrange a home visit to go through what you want them to do and
always ask for references. 1st Choice Removals can organise for your
house to be fully and professionally cleaned. Please
click here for details.
- Freezer:
Start to run your freezer food down.
- Kitchen
cupboards: Go through the kitchen
cupboards and start to use up any food.
- Dismantle
& Disconnect: Unless you have arranged
with the removal company, you will be expected to dismantle any
self-assembly furniture that cannot be moved out in one.
Things to do, 1 week before Moving Day.
- Sorting:
Start sorting through clothes that you will need before and whilst
you wait for your belongings to arrive. You can take this as luggage
on the plane but check weight restrictions as all airlines differ.
- Money:
Buy travellers cheques and some local currency.
- Pack:
Separate and pack valuable documents and jewellery so you can take
this as hand luggage on the plane. Remember to pack enough clothes
to live in as it can take months if you are exporting your
belongings by sea. Remember also to pack some favourite toys for
children; this will help them settle into their new life more
easily.
- Readings:
Organise for final readings for your Electricity, gas and water.
- Outside
items: Anything outside that you plan
to take with you put either inside the garage or in a dry place.
There is nothing worse than putting soaking wet outside furniture
into a container; this could lead to other furniture being ruined. If you plan to
take your lawn mover/strimmer or any petrol run equipment with you,
remember to drain the fuel as this is a restricted item
- Children:
Arrange for someone to look after the children on moving day.
- Plants:
Start finding new homes for
your house plants as you will not be allowed to take them abroad.
Things to do, 3 Days before Moving Day.
- Laundry:
Do a last minute laundry. Have you arranged for a plumber to
disconnect the washer?
- Keys:
Dig out any spare keys you have, any spares should be clearly
labelled and left where they will be seen when you leave the house
on moving day. Please remember not to leave them in direct view of
any window. The kitchen work top is usually good as it's normally
the first room the new people will head towards and organise first.
- Fridges/Freezers:
Empty, defrost and dry out your fridge / freezer. If you don't do
this it will defrost on its own, leaking over everything around it.
- Dry
Cleaners: Collect any items from the
dry cleaners. Don't leave this to the last minute as you do not want
to be rushing around.
Things to do, 1 Day before Moving Day.
- Packing:
Aim to finish the packing today if you are doing it yourself, apart
from a few essentials in the bathroom. You will feel so much better
when you can see the end is finally in sight. Don't forget to
clearly mark the boxes with the room name you would like them to end
up in.
- Dismantle
& Disconnect: Take down curtains and
any fixtures you are intending to take with you. Make sure you have
disconnected the washer and fitted the transit brackets to secure
the drum.
- Relax:
Take time to relax before the big day. Leave some of your favourite
bath products out so you have a long soak in the bath. Order a nice
takeaway and break open the champagne.
Things to do, on Moving Day.
- Children:
Drop the children off or organise a corner of the lounge with some
of their toys and a few treats. Older children may want specific
tasks, like packing up their own personal box or put in charge of
making sure cupboards etc are empty.
- Bathroom:
Finish packing the toiletries box, and then take everything out of
the bathroom that you want to go. You can now put all the bits and
bobs that you don't want the removal men to take in the bathroom and
shut the door.
- Strip
the beds: Put the linen into a box that
is clearly marked or bin liners.
- The
van arrives: The team leader/foreman
will introduce themselves and their crew. Show the team leader
around the house and tell them exactly what is to go and what isn't.
- Check
everywhere: Once the van is loaded,
take a walk around with the team leader to ensure that all the items
to be moved have been placed on the van. It is your responsibility
to make sure nothing is left behind. Check behind doors, in
cupboards and on the walls. You would be surprised how often people
keep looking at a clock on the wall, but never remember to take it
down. Some companies ask you to sign a inventory list, check this
carefully so that you are happy that all your items have been
included. When you get to your destination and your items arrive you
will be asked to check and sign again to make sure all your
belongings have arrived safely.
- Wave
goodbye: If you are moving out of your
home on the same day as your move day say goodbye. Have a last good
look around for anything you might have forgotten. Check that all
the windows and doors are locked when you leave.
- Relax
Please click below for a handy printable checklist that will guide you through your overseas move
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