Put in application so am getting abit ahead of myself but was just chatting with friends who were asking about shipping belongings, which got me thinking so i have a few questions i wonder if anyone can help with. Firstly what companies can people recommend and at what cost. How long roughly, and what happens to your stuff when it gets to other side obviously we wont have an address before we go. Do you let them know at a later date or does it go into storage, how much does storage cost approx? Many thanks to anyone who can provide any info on this.

I can recommend Crown so far but not got to other side yet. Also heard Doree Bonner, White & Co quite good. I had quotes from PSS and Britannia and Allied Pickford as well. Mine cost £3700 for full 20ft container from Lancs to Townsville, Northern Queensville. Also got free storage this end. All fees with Crown inc AQUIS fees included in price, check this as a lot of other co's AQUIS fees are on top of final quote so they look cheaper. My container leaves Southampton 12th Dec and arrives Brisbane 11th Jan. They come to quote and do walk through with what your taking etc. On the packing day they did another walk through just to confirm what we wanted leaving and then export wrapped and packed everything. Very polite and hardworking. The stuff arrives in our case at Brissie, cleares customs and then when you're ready the send it up by road. We still don't have an address but now we have booked have been able to give them our temporary details. They said just to let my Crown australian contact know when rental sorted and we wanted delivery.
Hope this helps
Sal

I used Anglo Pacific @ app £3400 for a 20ft. Our stuff set off 28 August, arrived 19 Oct & cleared customs and quarantine 24 Oct. As we are not going until end of Jan it is to be held in storage for around 5 months until we have arrived & found a place. I put my aunt's address on the customs forms etc (even tho she' is in Adelaide and we are going to melbourne this was not a problem). Storing in Aus is much cheaper than storing here and shipping later.

We used Crown..

The packers were awesome...

Cant rememeber cost..

just dont pack anything that looks like a fir cone. And wipe your tools with Jeyes Fluid.

Many thanks for all the info, i will get quotes nearer time just wanted to clear some things up. PS. Can you take any tools, what about generators? Also do you use that Jeyes fluid on any garden furniture, Thanks again

Don't know about tools and generators sorry but use Jeyes fluid on everything. It stinks the house out but the point is the smell lingers so when they open your container to inspect it they can smell it and hopefully lul them into subconsciously realising everything is spotless and they then only cursorily examining your stuff.

40ft container £2500

packing myself...£200

£2700

Cash in my pocket,,,, at least £1000....

Bloody hell that looks full .

Did'nt that sting a bit?

What company did you use? Do you mean you packed the boxes or boxes and container?

Anglo Pacific delivered our friend's belongings back to Oz after 2 years in the UK. No one was in, so they left all his stuff on the front lawn, totally out in the open for anyone to pinch!!
Consequently we've booked White and Co, they are due on Tuesday. 278 cubic feet for £1600. Insurance with Letton Percival, £250 for approx £15k of stuff (new for old). Takes approx 44 days so we might get all our own stuff back for Christmas
Can't say if White and Co are any good till after Tues but will let you know!