International Shipping Companies - Time Frame

I willbe moving from Buffalo, New York to Liverpool sometime next summer.  I won't be bringing any electronic appliances, but I will be bringing a bedroom set, a dining room set, some living room furniture, clothing, personal items and LOTS of books.

My question is how long will it take the movers to deliver this stuff to my door in Liverpool from Buffalo via the usual sea-container service?

I plan immediately to look for a flat as soon as I arrive in Liverpool.  My furniture will be in a storage facility here in Buffalo, until I find a place and then I will telephone the movers to start packing and bring my things over.  I think this is the best way.  Do any of you have a better suggestion from your previous experiences?

Any other suggestions?  Anybody care to recommend any reputable moving companies?

Thanks!

You can of course ship it to the UK and then when you find a place, you just call up the receiving shippers to deliver what you need.  Probably a lot shorter that way.  I would hope that storage fees would be similar to what you would pay in NY.

I just shipped my household and it took about 8 weeks door to door.  Most quote about 3-6 but because of recent security scare, I know the ports have been backed up.  So I would say it would take somewhere around 4-8 weeks depending on what happens on the terrorist front.

I think mine was about 6 weeks, but that was 3 years ago. Kitsonk is right -- it might take longer these days.

Ours took just over a month.  The shipment arrived at Thamesport within 10 days and then sat in the warehouse for the rest of the time.  They couldn't get movers to bring it all to us before then.  We had door to door service.  That was 2005.

We moved last week....our stuf was packed up from New Jersey on the 4th, 5th and 6th of October and it arrived at our house in London on the 7th of November.  That was by sea.  Our air shipment arrived 5 days before that. 

We had United pack us up in the states...they were great, nothing was destroyed or missing.  We had John Mason movers when we got to London...not sure if they have branches anywhere else....but they were wonderful as well.  Helped me unpack everything, took away the rubbish/boxes, etc and put together my furniture that was taken apart for the move.  It was smooth on both ends. 

IMO I'd definitely ship it before finding a place in the UK...get the ball rolling as soon as possible.  It's easier to live without your stuff in the US than it is to live without it in the UK