Self shipping our container. The pics!!!!
 

As promised here are some snaps of us loading the container. It was a long day, but we were helped by friends and family and afterwards we all went to the pub! The haulage/shipping company were brill. They turned up early and gave us 6 hrs to load up before they fumigated the whole thing and sealed it.
We were prepared for everything, customs documents all printed up with everything that needed to be checked (thanks Larissa)! Boxes clearly labelled, numbered etc Most importantly bikes and garden equipment free from mud and cleaned with Jeyes!

All in all a busy day, really enjoyed it. We'd packed everything well; bubble wrapped, shrink wrapped, vacume packed! You name it, we packed it! Considering the day was sandwiched between our work leaving do's I think we did pretty well!

Fly in 6 days, very excited. Just spent w/e with Nanna in Devon. Took lots of snaps, Nan cried - very emotional but it has to be done. We have to do this for us (boy you have to be strong). She even said to OH "I wish you were living nearer" - this was through all the tears!

Well better dash,still recovering from the drive to Devon (very depressing plus it rained)!

Re: Self shipping our container. The pics!!!!
 

Unfortunately I see no pics!?!?!

Re: Self shipping our container. The pics!!!!
 

Glitterbabe, have I gone blind, were are they love lol lol

hugs LAce xxxx

Re: Self shipping our container. The pics!!!!
 

any tips to share?
Must feel fab having that done! Well done!

Re: Self shipping our container. The pics!!!!
 

I know I keep trying but not on broadband anymore as staying in holiday home! You need an imagination; large 20ft container, lorry and hubby loading it! Oh and the containers a rusty colour red! Will try and see why I can't attach pics!

Re: Self shipping our container. The pics!!!!
 

hi there, were doing our own also, can i ask what info uou got from larissa??? any tips appreciated :)...............cant see you photos!!!! :)

Re: Self shipping our container. The pics!!!!
 

Ooooo loads of tips! Go with RH freight (Danny, lovely bloke)! Start packing and itemising items plus cost 3 mths before so you're all ready to go! For customs note any items of wood etc Clean bikes and garden equipment! Pack everything really well and put in some of the silica gel sachets incase theres some damp (we brought ours from ebay). Print off some 'heavy item' and 'do not use blades' stickers for sofas, canvas prints, pictures etc. We slapped them on just incase customs offloaded items. Oh and buy a shredder! Fabulous for getting rid of all that old documentation! Use it to pack out your boxes. Ahh glad its over. Its a weird feeling seeing all your life go off on the back of a truck! Still no joy with snaps, sorry :(

Re: Self shipping our container. The pics!!!!
 

fantastic! We're hoping to have sent stuff in about 3 months. Can you pm me your movers details when you have a mo? Tx!

Re: Self shipping our container. The pics!!!!
 

pic from hubby's mobile!

Re: Self shipping our container. The pics!!!!
 

Well done for persevering. Better than nothing I suppose! ;)

Re: Self shipping our container. The pics!!!!
 

Here you go, from my mobile! Last to be loaded, the TV. It has to be in original boxing or crate and we put it on a pallet (storage depot lifted it on with forklift for us). We used loads of rope and rachet straps (from poundland) to secure everything. Tip from hubby - do it yourself, don't let anyone else load it; let them help, but not load otherwise you lose things or they get packed incorrectly! Heavy items at the back and bottom, fragile on top and towards front. Use mattresses to pack out and buy some tarpauline to secure as well as dust sheets to cover bikes etc. We wrapped everything well then covered individual 'awkward' items (ironing board, beds etc) with cardboard (brought in rolls from Yellow Storage centre). Fragile tape, bubble wrap, large boxes also came from storage depot.

Print off the itemised lists for shipping company and photocopy all your passports plus visas. Always state approx cost for individual items/boxes of goods (shipping agent has to have an approx valuse for customs).

Re: Self shipping our container. The pics!!!!
 

Glad to hear it all went well, bet you are knackered after all that! ATB with the flight, fingers crossed your stuff will get through quickly.
Take care x
Larissa

Re: Self shipping our container. The pics!!!!
 

Hi Glittababe

Would be interested to hear how much you consider you saved by doing it yourself (quotes for shipping a 20ft container seem to be £3500 - 4000)

Cheers

Buzzy

Re: Self shipping our container. The pics!!!!
 

ahh thanks for the info, were just packing our stuff up at the moment....stuff not leaving untill beining of June...can you tell me if weve missed anything?

were getting a clearing agent, who did you use??
insurance is being sorted by hubbies work
we have labelled all the boxes (box 1, then full contents)
kept a list for us of whats in each box and one for customs
labelled shoes boxes and bike that all been cleaned with jeyes fluid
also made a note of all the tips above.........................so is it just a clearing agent we need???? who can you recommend?? and what do they do exactly??

anything else????

cheers for your help, sorry for all the questions :D

Re: Self shipping our container. The pics!!!!
 

We got a really good deal with the clearing agent. The shipping company organised the clearing agent and they do everything - including organising delivery of the container to your new address. Larissa has given some advice about this too. Depending of where you're heading, you can do a search online or look in the yellow pages and there's lots of them. Everything your doing is right. On the list we put items that need AQIS checking in red; however we've been assured that as our container and contents are being fumigated, customs might not check individual boxes. They'll put a sniffer dog in to check it, check the fumigation certificate then it goes back to the hands of the clearing agent. The total cost with clearing agent etc is £1900. Hope this helps! XXXX