International Moving Companies and Expense ...

I may be getting ahead of myself here as I only just sent my settlement visa app out yesterday.  But, I'm a planner so I'm thinking of international moving for my home.  I have a one bedroom apartment and not too many things since I had just moved back from England last November.  However, all the stuff I have is new.  2 new TV's (I think they say 240V on the back which I think means it works in England?), couch, chair, bed, dresser, 2 coffee tables, 4 end tables, 1 computer table and clothes.  Oh, and some framed artwork and other small boxes full of old journals etc.

Would anyone who has made the move recommend the cheapest route?  I've gotten a couple quotes from companies which are between $1200-$2200 and heard other people say to ship over via post office.

Any suggestions?

Also, anyone know if you can ship a leased car over?  I'm thinking not but you never know.

Also, anyone know if you can ship a leased car over?  I'm thinking not but you never know.

We had a leased car and looked into this for a nanosecond -- our lease wouldn't allow it.  Double check your own lease paperwork, but it was a big old no for us.

I shipped a car over international while in the military.  The guidelines then were that you had to own the car (as in, fully paid for and have the title in hand...no leases or loans).  You never know though...you'd have to check your individual policy...but I'd guess a big fat N-O.  Keep in mind that there are a lot of little things that are different in the UK that could affect the vehicle (like the different octanes of the petrol as a small example).  Also, would it be difficult to adjust to driving a lefthand car on the left side of the road?  I've heard there can be problems doing this because of depth perception (or something like that) and it makes it hard to judge how close the car is to the line and oncoming traffic (since you're not sitting on the "inside" of the car).

Don't really have any advice about the moving company except to make sure they have a good policy in the event things get damaged, broken or lost.   When we shipped the belongs of our 2 bedroom house from Virginia to Italy (almost 10 years ago), it cost $7,500 (and took 3 months to get there and half the stuff was damaged and the other half was lost) so the quotes you've obtained sound like a pretty good deal.  I can't think of anyone offhand who has recently shipped heavy, bulky furniture...most people leave that type of thing behind and may hire a company to ship a few small boxes of sentimental things and clothes.  It's usually cheaper to replace the items than to ship them.

You wont be able to ship the larger items via Post Office if thats what you were implying.  You can only ship boxes under 50lbs that way and it is usually much more expensive than using a company like UPakWeShip.   I would only suggest using the Post Office for books and things which you can send media mail.

I had a bedroom set which was only a year old when I moved and I decided to sell it in the US rather than ship it.  Keep in mind that shipping (via boat) will take 2 months or so. (IME at least)

All shipping requests state the shipment would take 4 weeks.  As for the post office, I was referring to small boxes if at all.  If I'm going to pay for a container then I would just put everything in there.

As opposed for selling off, I had considered that already.  However, to get a really lovely couch set you would spend about $1200 so to spend that amount and ship what I already have which is not even a year old, makes sense to me, as it might be more cost effective in the end. 

My parents were hippies, so sleeping in a sleeping bag in England while waiting for my things is no big deal.  lol

Thanks for the input.

I used Sterling International to ship a 20' container from the US to the UK.  It holds 1100 cubic feet.  The container left my home in Ohio on May 13, went by rail to NYC where it was loaded on a container ship that departed New York on May 25.  It's due to arrive in Felixstowe, UK tomorrow, June 12.  Once the container is passed through customs, it will go by lorry to my home.  All the people I have worked with have been absolutely excellent.  When the container arrrives in the UK, I get to use it for five days before I am charged for extra days.  The surprise is that customs doesn't work on Saturdays and Sundays so the container sits in port using up two of my "free" days.  I am told that if the container is not x-rayed by customs, it will take 24-48 hours for it to be released. 

You may want to check out movingscam.com under the international section.  That's where I learned about Sterling International.  I couldn't be more pleased with the service they provided.  I worked with Marina who is located in Louisville, KY. 

Thank you Woodlily for the info.  I have just sent them an email and hope to hear from them shortly.

Happy to hear  your move is going well and you got your stuff really quickly.  I've been told anywhere from 4-6 weeks from pickup so your timeline sounds much better.

Do you mind me asking if it were costly?  I'm not sure if I would need a 20 foot container as my place is a one bedroom apartment and I have the basics. 

The container ship was due to arrive in Felixstowe on Saturday so I still haven't received the contents of the container.  If the ship was on time, delivery should be this week.

When you receive an estimate from a moving company, the cost is based on estimated weight.  Once the container is loaded. it is weighed before being shipped to a US port of departure. The cost to ship a 20' container with 3600 lbs. from my residence in Ohio to my UK residence was $5933.  There is an additional cost of insurance which you must determine based on the value of goods shipped.  The $5933 includes packing boxes and wrapping furniture by the movers, all cartons, paper, etc., loading the container, shipping the container, getting container through customs in the UK, shipping the container to your UK address, unloading and unpacking, disposing of wrapping paper, etc.  If you use an international mover, you cannot pack your own goods if you want them insured.  Because you have so little to bring, you may want to check into sharing a container with another person.  An international move is not like a local or cross country move.  Again, Marina at Sterling International in Louisville, KY is excellent.