KirstyLP

This is totally a personal choice the same as most similar services in the UK, tipping is never expected and should absolutely not affect the level of service provided to you by your crew.

Anything that is typically used outdoors, garden furniture, camping equipment, bikes etc. Like with your shoes, make sure these are thoroughly cleaned to remove any traces of dirt.

Check the FIDI website for FAIM certified International Removals companies serving your area. https://www.fidi.org/find-fidi-affiliate FAIM is the only quality standard specifically designed for International Shipping and helps you identify reputatble movers. Certified members pre-vetted to over 200 quality standards to demonstrate they have the qualifications, resources, experience and systems to reduce the risk of anything going wrong. The British Association of Removers website also has links to independent reviews which might also help, look for the 'overseas remover' badge to tell which companies are qualified for international moving as well as local. Hope that helps.

Was just typing a reply here when I realised the OP was from 2015 However, thought the below may be useful for those currently considering so am posting anyway! (Mods, please feel free to remove if this is too much of a delay!) ... Many international removal companies offer a 'shared container' (sometimes called groupage) service to Australia. Your belongings are collected and then loaded in a container with customers moving to the same destination and at the other end they are customs cleared and separated back out (don't worry, they are carefully labelled, inventoried and separated to avoid mix ups) and delivered to your new home. A large Move Cube is around 220cubic feet which you should be able to get as a shared load service easily within that £1500 budget (for a standard move with easy access and no special packing requirements). Check out the FIDI website for a list of certified and independently vetted professional movers you could contact to ask for quotes.

As a guideline, in the industry it's generally accepted that there could be up to a 10% variance in volumes between different surveyors as it's a human process. A good idea to check this isn't because of an error is to ask the companies for a copy of the inventory list of items their volume is based on and check that there aren't any items or rooms missing that might have caused the variance. hope that helps?

I've just had a quick scan, one thing not mentioned is the bio-security inspection charges, most companies exclude these as you don't know what they are until afterwards so you pay them locally (some include them but both methods are common), but I presume they've given you some information on what the potential charges are so you can factor this in. Another tip is check the list they provided, make sure nothing is missed off (if you haven't already done that). Are the dates for going back to do the loading at your storage unit agreed as part of the price or are these open? Only reason that I ask is that if they are open ended then just make sure that your price covers you whenever that is and that your price won't change if the dates slip. Shipping prices can tend to vary seasonally so some quotes are only valid for 28 days unless dates are specified. Indemnity fee for external cleaning is another one that all removal companies do differently and that's your preference. There is always a risk you'll need it but there's also the risk that you'll pay it for no reason! If you want to check your level of comfort with the risk ask them for some stats on how many containers they've had recently that require the cleaning and then make your mind up from there. Hope that helps!

It's next to impossible to compare one person's quote with another too closely because there are so many variables in putting together an international removals price, which is why we typically say 3 quotes allows you to benchmark your own move, so as long as you're happy the PSS quote includes everything you've asked for and need then that looks in the right ball park for a 20ft container to Australia. Crates are a personal preference, they are great if you're worried about something getting damaged that is of more than just financial value to you, but if you're happy that your cover allows you to replace it and you don't mind doing so if it does get damaged then that's probably a risk you're willing to take for the saving in cost.

Hi Simon and Sian, Yes, this is standard practice so don't panic. Are they a member of BAR Overseas? if so your payment is protected by an Advance Payment Guarantee, meaning in the event that the worst happens and they go out of business after you've paid but before service is completed that another BAR member will step in to complete the service OR you'll be refunded. If they aren't a member, please check with them if they've any payment protection or guarantees in place. In terms of double checking your quote, make sure you've asked if anything is excluded from your quote, that you're happy they've covered all the services you've asked them for (e.g. any crating, dismantling etc.) and that their move plan (time scales etc.) meets your needs. If you've had other quotes to compare (3 is the magic number) then make sure there isn't anything on the others that jumps out as missing or vastly different that you'd want to double check (e.g. if the volume was much different). With the insurance check that it covers the period of time your goods are in storage too. Hope that helps!

If the quotes are completely like for like in all but transit time (e.g. they are providing the same services (any crating / dismantling etc.); have the same inclusions/exclusions; are quoting for the same volume; insurance fees etc.) then it comes down to your evaluation of their quality of customer experience (e.g. based on reviews you've read; your experience of their service so far; their professional qualification etc.) and how important that transit time is to you. As @rammygirlsays if this is your deciding factor then ask for the proposed sailing date and find out if there is any likelihood this could slip, is it estimated and could be more than 10 days if they struggle to fill the container or is this guaranteed? Hope that helps!

Hope this helps!

Airfreight is the quickest method and suitable if you're only taking the basic essentials or if you're moving with an employer who gives you an air freight allowance. If you're shipping by sea then it depends on the method of shipment. Quickest will be 8-11 weeks if you have your own exclusive use container or Less than Container Load (LCL) shipment (which is where your shipment is packed by your moving company, crated and sent via a consolidator, customs cleared and collected by your mover for delivery back to you). If you use a groupage shared load service where your removal company loads your shipment with other customers of theirs heading to the same destination you could be looking at up to 12-16 weeks. Hope that helps? Hope that helps!

technically you CAN pack your own boxes although different removal companies have different policies and yes, you're right this is mostly because of insurance as they may only be able to offer total loss coverage if they've not done the packing but also partially to reduce the risk of things getting packed that might cause customs issues. Any particular reason you'd like to do your own packing or is this just a personal preference?

Usually this is worked out as a % of your value of goods for international shipping but that % varies depending on what shipping company you use. As well as the initial premium don't forget to check the excess and any exclusions i.e. mould and mildew, pairs and sets or mechanical issues to make sure you're comparing like for like cover.

if you want to do some independent research there is good info on this .gov site on import requirements, what you can and can't take etc. as well as common items of concern (which although not banned may be subject to additional scruting) http://www.agriculture.gov.au/travelling/moving-immigrating hope that helps!

I can understand that concern, there are definitely some stories of bad experiences out there but hopefully these are the exception rather than the rule. I think this really comes down to the company you use and their processes. One thing to look out for to help make sure you only shortlist companies who have been pre-vetted for security is FIDI FAIM certification (and who only use FIDI FAIM agents at destination too). FIDI audits members to make sure their processes remove these sort of risks and that they don't have unacceptably high levels of insurance claims. With our shared containers for example the items are all collected from customers individually by our crews (with optional packing service) and loaded into a container at our depot. All the items are numbered and inventory produced for each customer at collection and you'll be provided a copy so things don't get mixed up or lost. The container is then sealed with a security seal and shipped, the only people who may access it during transport are Australian Customs (who will also open and look in your move cube) and then the whole container is collected, separated out by our crews at the other end and delivered back to you and checked off against the inventory. I don't personally know how the pricing works out for MoveCube so can't tell you if it would be the same sort of cost, so my tip would be to get a survey to check the volume and go from there. MoveCube suggest the average full 3 bed house would require 4 to 5 1/2 Large Move cubes ( know you're not taking a full house but you could work back from there) so once you know your actual volume you can work out how many you'd need and compare your costs.

I ran this list of items through our volume calculator and i'm pretty sure you'll have more than a large move cube (which holds about 220 cubic feet) so you'd probably need multiple, although the calculator is only a guestimate because the items come in so many different shapes and sizes. Best way to find out is to get a survey done by a removals company (should always be free and no obligation). If you have more but don't need your own container still then most companies offer shared container services so you'll have plenty of options. Hope that helps!

Your toddler makes a good point .... some people underestimate the power of familiarity win making your new location feel like 'home'. For some people this doesn't matter at all and new stuff is much more exciting, but for others it is more important, particularly with kids. Another thing to factor into your decisions as well as the above and the cost implications is your appetite for shopping to replace anything. Again, this is down to your personal preferences, some people love shopping and having the freedom to pick all their new things to suit their new home, others the thought of having to research where to buy stuff, best prices etc. not to mention arranging deliveries and set up can seem like a really stressful idea to have to handle on top of everything else you'll have going on getting settled when you arrive. When it comes to what you CAN'T take Australia are pretty hot on their restricted or prohibited items. There is some good info on what you can and can't take here http://www.agriculture.gov.au/travelling/moving-immigrating as well as how to prepare the items that are on the 'common items of bio security concern' list, which although allowed in are subject to additional scrutiny and possible treatment (e.g. if you import furniture that shows sign of woodworm). Hope that helps?

This is a personal choice really. Couple of things to consider: How attached are you to your furniture? Anything sentimental that you'd hate to leave behind? What is the cost to ship vs. cost to replace (you can get quotes from removal companies and ask them to provide you different options for shipping everything vs. shipping just the essentials to work out the difference) What will fit in your new home and what might you end up having to get rid of if you've got no where to put it? (As @snifter said, home sizes can vary) How do you feel about having to go out any buy everything again? some people love shopping, others find it very stressful especially if you're re-furnishing a whole house How do you feel about the process of disposal? if you're getting rid of lots of furniture how are you going to go about that? are you going to sell it all (could contribute to costs of replacement) or donate it? again some people find this a breeze, others find this hassle a bit stressful whilst trying to juggle everything else that comes with moving. Hope that helps!

Hi Kmrg, Lots of other removal companies offer part load / shared container services, have you had any alternative quotes? If not it is worth getting comparison costs to see if this is cheaper than paying for them to drive to the Netherlands or for you to hire a van and drive it back... The FIDI website has a list of certified international removals companies which makes a great place for a shortlist, when you contact them just ask about Shared Container or Part load services and they will be able to help! If you're keen to work with a UK Company then you could also get some quotes from companies based in the UK as well as in the Netherlands to compare costs as some UK companies will have their own crews who operate in Europe all the time anyway or work with regular Dutch partners who make frequent trips between anyway so might be able to offer a more cost effective collection. Worth checking those costs alongside your van hire, fuel and ferry/tunnel costs and your time to evaluate what's the best option for you. Hope that helps? Kirsty

Hi, Full disclosure - I work for Bournes BUT I hope this advice is still useful so I hope you don't mind me joining in the conversation One big thing to look for in terms of peace of mind in choosing a reputable company is FIDI FAIM certification. There is an article on our blog about why this is important (the long version) but in short this is the industry leading professional accreditation and we (plus all other FIDI members - including PSS) have to pass regular audits which check over 200 areas of our operation, in other words someone else has pre-vetted the moving company for you to check they are qualified to safely and smoothly undertake your international move having looked at all the common areas of risk. We had our most recent audit in February and were really pleased to pass as a 'top performer'. There is a list of all FIDI members on their website so this is a really good place to start when you're shortlisting. Another good badge to look for is BAR Overseas which provides an advance payment guarantee. Reviews wise we've been trying really hard to get more of our customers to leave us reviews so sorry you couldn't find many! Some good sites for removal company reviews (which you will find us on) are Which? Trusted Trader, Facebook and ReferenceLine. Hope that helps! Kirsty

Here's a few things to check: 1) are they all like for like in terms of quality? Find out if they are all FIDI FAIM certified - this is the leading professional certification for international movers giving you peace of mind that your chosen company is fully qualified, licensed and independently vetted in over 200 areas for overseas moving. You can find a list of members on their website. You can also look for members of the BAR overseas moving group which also means they provide an advance payment guarantee. Are they also using FIDI members at destination? 2) have they all quoted for the same things? check volume of goods, transit time, method of shipment, any special packing, other inclusions/exclusions 3) check online reviews - this forum is a great place to start you could also try facebook pages, google or industry specific sites like referenceline or which? trusted traders too if you'd like more. 4) gut feeling - once all your other due diligence is done the final differentiation ultimately is who do you trust? Who has been helpful and knowledgeable so far? Who has really listened to your specific needs and made sure the service they propose fits what's important to you? although not foolproof as some companies are great at sales this may be a good indication of the type of company they are and the type of service you can expect during your move. Does anyone add any extra value like tracking or extra services you're thinking of taking up, if so include them in your review too. Hope that helps? Kirsty

The last time I asked our partner in Australia this question they said you can ship on any visa. The risk is obviously in the (hopefully) unlikely event that your visa is not granted that you may incur additional costs if you have to ship everything back, which is why a lot of people wait before shipping.

The FIDI website (http://www.fidi.org) is a good place to start when looking for reputable international removal companies as it provides a list of pre-vetted movers certified to international moving standards. Another site which i've seen mentioned a few times for US movers to check out reviews is movingscam.com You don't have to use a company in the USA if you don't want to, many of the major movers that you'll read reviews of on this site and others will also offer services to and from lots of destinations worldwide, always worth asking if you have a preferred mover in mind. If they can't help they might be able to recommend someone they would vouch for. hope that helps?

one additional thing to consider in deciding whether to pack your own boxes or not is insurance. Some insurers don't cover owner packed boxes, only those packed by a professional removal company. That might not be a problem for you but worth just checking to make sure you're comfortable with the level of protection you have for your move. It is also worth making sure you're familiar with restricted/prohibited items if you're packing yourselves to avoid fees for treating or destroying any items you're not allowed to take in, for example untreated wood. hope that helps!

Normally the removal company will pack them, especially if your husbands company does include shipping. If you do want to pack any yourself you'll likely be asked to leave them open for inspection, the crew will then check they have been packed sufficiently and that nothing has been included that shouldn't be for customs inspection purposes and can add them to the inventory. Box supply depends on the company you use, some include them and will deliver in advance, some allow you to buy them as an added extra, if they are doing the packing for you they will always bring all the packing materials along to do that. Container depends on how much you're shipping. If you're having a full container this is a big metal container about the size of a single garage, the crew will load these as effectively as possible, using all available space to make sure everything fits/your'e not wasting space and to make sure the load moves around as little as possible in transit to avoid risk of damage. If you're having an less than container load shipment which is a smaller amount of items then these are loaded (again, usually by the removals crew) into a wooden crate that will be loaded with other customers crates into a big shipping container. A 20ft shipping container is about the size of a small garage and can hold about 1050 cubic feet of belongings. The best and most accurate way is to have your shortlisted shipping companies come round and give you a free, no obligation quote - they will do the volume check for you and tell you the size of container and best method of shipment for you. If you want to get a preliminary idea before you know about your husbands relocation package some removals companies have self survey forms or volume calculators on their websites, our shipping volume calculator is here if that helps. hope that helps, and good luck with the decluttering!