KirstyLP

I can also suggest Chess Moving Perth and Keys Bros who are both members of the same network as us and are FIDI certified. You could also consider getting quotes from UK based companies to compare and provide more options? Hope that helps.

Hope that helps!

This article was posted last night by trade magazine 'The Mover' which gives a few details. Hope it helps. http://www.themover.co.uk/uk-news/2015/03/10/excess-international-movers-ceases-trading

Most international removals companies work on cubic feet rather than square metres, and it's difficult to do per cubic foot because we get better rates for higher volumes...however, as a guide, you could be looking at around £500 for 100cubic feet to £2100 for 500cubic feet (just under half a container). That's based on full packing but not including customs fees. Hope that helps.

Yes, you can ship your household goods on a bridging or even just a tourist visa.

Just to clarify, this is ONLY members of the BAR Overseas Moving Group (http://www.baroverseas.co.uk/) and not all BAR members. If you're unsure ask for a copy of their Advance Payment Guarantee certificate. There is more information about the APG here: http://www.baroverseas.co.uk/index.php/about-us/customer-protection/ - I can't advise on the benefits vs. credit card but if you've got any questions on the different levels of protection provided by each method the BAR and your credit card company should be happy to help!

FIDI doesn't provide any guarantee BUT one of their minimum standards is liquidity and gearing ratio's which aim to test the financial stability of the company in theory... but you're right, any company could go bust at any time. This is where another accreditation comes in - BAR Overseas Group. Members of this group pay into a joint fund which means that if the company goes bust while you're goods are in transit that another BAR Overseas Group member will step in and complete your move at no extra cost to you - this could provide some extra peace of mind. Big tip though, check the BAR overseas directory to ensure companies are current and up to date paying members otherwise you may not be covered. BAR try to do a great job of preventing false advertising but some members who lapse their membership could take a while to remove the logo from their advertising (which has recently caused some issues for one company that did go into administration). Hope that helps.

Hi, sounds like you're pretty organised! Well done! Hopefully I can give you some tips on what to do to arrange shipping....Now is a great time to start your research and shortlisting. Most people start the process of making enquiries around 3 months before the big move, but there is no harm doing this earlier as long as the moving company knows your rough dates the prices should stand and this gives you more time to prepare and evaluate your options. 1) Shortlist companies you want to invite to quote. Look for FIDI accredited movers, this is the most commonly recognised international certification that pre-vets removal companies to ensure they have acceptable standards of resources, processes, financial stability, experience and customer feedback to provide a professional service. 2) Request in home move consultations from 3 companies - the move consultant will assess your volume of belongings as well as discuss your individual requirements and explain to you how the move might work, what you can and can't take etc. From this they'll provide you with quotes. (This is free and non obligatory) 3) Compare your quotes making sure you take into account all the costs including insurance, customs charges and any additional services such as crating your might be taking. Make sure the quotes are all like for like before you look at price including service levels, inclusions / exclusions, volume of goods it's based on and transit time. In terms of what to take and what not to take I would highly recommend checking out the department of agriculture website http://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/travel/moving-emigrating which covers prohibited/restricted items as well as common items of quarantine concern. hope that helps!

If you're having a full packing service boxes should be included, if you're self packing then you should be given the option to purchase these from the moving company and have them delivered in advance or to source your own (but if you do make sure they are proper moving boxes and not used supermarket cartons etc).

Hi - most international removal companies offer a shared load service (sometimes called groupage) where your belongings share a container with other customers of theirs heading for the same destination. Check out the FIDI directory (http://www.fidi.com) for a list of certified international movers in your area and get in touch with a few with your list of items to get an idea of price and timescale to see if that suits your requirement. hope that helps?

Most shipping companies will be able to arrange storage for you at destination so that you've got time to look for your long term property but your belongings can be quickly delivered when you do. Some may offer a fixed storage period but will be able give you a price per week or month just in case it takes you longer than you think.

There are a couple of other value options depending on how much you want to move and your time requirements. Ask your preferred removal companies about groupage or part load services if you're moving less than a 20ft container as often this can save you money by sharing the freight costs with their other customers moving to the same area. It' takes a bit longer but if cost is your priority you might be happy to make that compromise? Self packing is also an option to save a little on cost, but make sure you understand what implication this has on insurance with your chosen removals company as some only provide certain levels of cover for owner packed boxes. In terms of guessing your size then best thing to do is shortlist a few removal companies and invite them to do a home survey, it's free and no obligation and the best way to get accurate quotes and volume estimates. Hope that helps.

Hi, quotes can vary massively depending on your individual circumstances, type of goods, packing requirements, volume etc so your best bet is to invite 3 companies to do an in home move consultation and provide you a free, no obligation quote. You can find a list of FIDI FAIM certified (the professional international moving qualification) companies on their website http://www.fidi.org. Hope that helps?

It's a good and valid question I'm not advocating either way... the choice is down to the shipper, there are pro's and cons of each company and each method which are totally up to you to evaluate and decide on. There are lots of things that vary that might make one policy better for you than the other based on your individual circumstances/possessions - from premiums to the extent of the cover, from the period you have to notify claims to the excess payable and any limits on claims.... I'm just saying factor insurance in to your overall cost comparisons, many people forget and only compare the initial shipping cost. This might be the difference between your company choosing your preferred mover or a cheaper option you're not comfortable with...

If your preferred company doesn't appear to be the lowest price then there are a few things you can do before presenting the quotes to your company. (I wrote a blog on negotiating with removal companies which can be found on google, but to summarise...) first.... 1) Check the quotes are like for like - volumes, service level, transit time, level of packing etc all contribute to costs so make sure you're getting exactly the same, if something is included that's not important to you that's a great place to start to lower the price, just ask the company to review their price given XYZ requirement is different. 2) Make sure your price comparisons include insurance and any additional costs. half a % insurance premium on a high value of goods can make a big difference to overall cost. Is there any period of storage involved and are there costs associated for that? are there any exclusions that might mean additional charges once you get to destination? Make sure the price you are comparing is a total all in price. If you've done this and your preferred company is more expensive then be ready to be open and transparent - go back and let them know you want to use them but they are £X more expensive and see what they can do. They might ask to see the other quote to confirm it's like for like first, but then they might make some suggestions on either how they can adapt their move plan to save some costs without cutting corners, some potential dates that might mean they can operate more cost effectively and pass on savings to you or simply offer to provide you with a goodwill discount because they would like to book your business. Hope this helps and that your company agrees your preferred mover!

Check out the FIDI directory for a list of companies who are independently audited and certified to the FAIM International Moving quality standard.

Hi Mike, hope this isn't too long a list but here's some helpful questions you should consider to help ensure your move experience is a smooth one and to help you compare the companies on a like for like basis. Costs/Cost implications What costs/possible charges are excluded from the price? (things like customs inspections or periods of storage if necessary). What are they likely to be? Have they included everything? all the items you want to move? (Check their inventory, don’t forget the garden, loft spaces, outbuildings and any other items you’re planning to buy before you leave)? Have they included all the services you asked for? (anything like crates for fragile items, dismantling/reassembly, hanging pictures, unpacking into cupboards etc.). Do you need to arrange anything like parking in advance that would be payable separately? What assumptions have they made and what happens/what charges are there if things are different (e.g. if you don’t have a destination property yet have they assumed it’s within 30 miles of the city you named with good access not above a 1st floor? what happens if it's not?) Is the price fixed (providing your requirements don't change) or variable based on the actual volume that is collected? If variable, how is the actual volume measured and what are the charges for any variance? What is the process? (This is REALLY important if you’ve not had an in home survey from the company you're using) What are you responsible for doing in advance of the move? What circumstances and value does your insurance cover? What doesn’t it cover? How long do you have to claim and what is the process? Dates What is the estimated door to door transit time for your move? How do the dates work? Are these flexible based on the movers schedule (sometimes this is offered to offer you a more competitive price for part loads if they are already in your area) or are they fixed to fit in with your schedule? Does the cost include any weekend work if you can’t be available on a week day? If your move is a shared load, what happens if it takes the company longer than they think to fill your container, do they have alternative options for transport or does your consignment just get delayed? Quality/Credibility/Experience How will they address anything you’re specifically concerned about. Have you had a bad experience before? Is there an item of furniture that is particularly fragile/valuable? Do you need something to happen in a certain way? Is the company FIDI FAIM accredited? Is the agent being used at destination FIDI FAIM accredited? Are they a member of BAR Overseas (Providing an advance payment guarantee)? Can they provide previous customer feedback/reviews? Are there any from an independent source too? There are probably lots more regarding the softer factors that other forum members will have but hopefully the above will get you started! Hope it helps!

This site by the dept of agriculture is really useful, give you a list of items of concern, prohibited goods etc. http://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/travel/moving-emigrating Hope it helps...

There are two quite good sites at http://www.vesselfinder.com and http://www.marinetraffic.com , but be careful! it's easy to become obsessed and suddenly you've lost an hour looking at ships that mean nothing to you (Does that make me a geek?) Don't worry too much about ships going somewhere you wouldn't expect them to though, often a sailing to a particular desitnation wont go direct as they will make stops to pick up or deliver cargo. Your removal company should be able to give you an estimated transit time when you book and this will take into account stops the vessel already plans to take (and can usually select options for faster or slower sailings depending on how quickly you need your shipment and your budget (shipping lines charge more for more direct sailings)). Weather and other unplanned factors can also affect a route so if you are worried about something just contact your move coordinator who can find out more for you and make sure your ETA isn't affected.

many international removals companys offer groupage/shared container services where you only pay for collection, the space you use and deliver. If you know the box measurements they should be able to give you a price over the phone or by email.

When comparing make sure to check out the terms and conditions and include any excess, the type of cover (i.e. New for old OR value including depreciation), time limit for claims, any arrangement fees on top of the premiums, any limitations to the inclusions (i.e. how old electrical equipment is to be covered for mechanical derangement) to make sure you are getting the best deal for the right level of cover for you.

As well as the above maybe ask the following: - What is the best method of shipment for us? (Given your budget and the speed you require your goods) - Are there any extra charges I should be aware of? (e.g. AQIS inspection, any extra fees if volume is more than they estimate (there shouldn't be unless you add to the shipment, but worth asking) warehouse handling charges if you need to have any storage, insurance) - Are they accredited to any quality standards like FIDI FAIM, ISO 9001 or BAR Overseas to give you confidence - What other things will you / they be responsible for (arranging parking, customs paperwork, packing, cleaning, dismantling furniture, taking down fixtures and fittings) - How will they handle any items you might be concerned about (any special packing/handling equipment?) - What insurance do they offer? - Any prohibited / restricted items you might have that you're not sure if you should ship Basically feel free to ask them anything that you want to know to make you comfortable that they understand your requirements and give you confidence that everything that is important to you will happen how you want it to. They will understand this isn't something you do every day and should be happy to give you an overview of how everything works. Hope that helps?

Most international removals company offer two types of service for smaller loads. Groupage/Shared Load service is where they load all your items in a container with consignments of other customers of theirs heading to the same area so freight wise you only pay for the space in the container that you take up. This is a slightly slower service because they have to wait to collect and consolidate everyones things but the is the cheapest way if you're not in a hurry. The other option is LCL (Less than container load) which is where your things are loaded into a wooden crate and then your moving company has a larger freight consolidator ship them and then their destination branch will pick it up from the consolidator and deliver to you, again meaning you only pay for the space in the container you use. This service is almost as quick as an exclusive container so best for when you only have a small load but still need it as quickly as possible. You can ask your removal company for quotes via both methods of shipment to allow you to compare. Hope that helps?

Check out the FIDI website for a list of certified international movers, that's a great place to start to ensure they meet the strict quality standards required for international removals. Another source if you want independent reviews too is the British Association of Removers Trusted Mover (trustedmover.org) website, search for overseas group members. Hope that helps!

The Australian governments department of Agriculture website is really good for understanding quarantine issues - including a list of common items of quarantine concern, hopefully should help http://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/import/moving-to-australia Why not get a quote for shipping and compare with the cost of replacement when you get there to work out if its worth shipping? Allow for the hassle of getting rid of things here and buynig new when you arrive in Sydney. To get a ball park i'd email/phone with a list of your items to a few removal companies who will be able to give you a ball park. Try the FIDI website for a list of certified international companies.