Hi everyone, Help needed please :-)

So house is sold and time to pack.....

First question to everyone who's shipped goods.....

Who did you use? How much does it cost (not a full container) and can you pack your things yourself to keep costs down?

Secondly - contents list, I know that you have to number everything that is in each box but how much detail do you need to go into? Is it just a case of setting up an excel sheet and numbering each item and what that item is? or do you need to note what that item is made out of? Is it wise to take pictures of the items too in case of any damages / loss?

Thirdly - what to take!?!??! We want to take our sofas which are made out of leather - any problems with taking these? Also we have a fridge/freezer - i'm tempted to take as i've heard they are pricey over in Aus?? Worth shipping?

What is really pricey over there which you advise buying in UK? are washing machines, cookers anything kitchen related really pricey over there?

I've also read that if your items are less than 12 months old you have to pay tax on it once in Aus - how true is this and how can anyone find that out?

Sorry for all the questions

Bring everything as white goods are pricey.

I believe fridges though need to been correctly gassed- so not sure if UK fridges are OK.

We have just returned but our stuff is bobbing on the ocean at the mo- we packed some and listed 'bike bits' 'toys' etc...not details of contents, but for insurance H listed all our house contents.

We took a whole house and a huge container London to Melbourne (biggest one) cost just over £6k. (insurance extra)

Not sure about new stuff- we only had a brand new in packaging dishwasher. We have declared but it is probably only $500 so under the duty level.

My (at the time 4 year old fridge was fine on the gas) it's now 10 years old.

Bring the lot. Even if things are / aren't more expensive here, it is still good not to have to spend.

I used Anglo Pacific. For me they were fine. Some peple had trouble with them. I think it is in the lap of the gods if things get damaged or not.

Things under 12 months you do in theory have to pay import tax. However, if they are obviously household items that are used then no real problem. I declared a couple of items under 12 months old - attach the receipts if you have them, that way you'll pay the right amount {if any} - and wasn't charged anything.

I even declared that I suspected woodworm in an old chest of drawers. Nothing came of it and it got here no bother.

They did open some lengths of pine wood from B&Q (brand new) but again, they let it through. Nothing else was inspected.

Customs can put you through the ringer and it might happen but it's rare. If in doubt, declare it.

hi BonnieH,

Passed your questions to my friends at PSS Removals.

here are their thoughts;

Q1) prices are dependant on volume, if furniture is to be included a free home survey will determine this.
2) there is no real saving to owner pack goods and if done can affect insurance premiums.
2a) if personal effects only clients can pack their own goods but should take the correct advice from PSS first.
3) Contents list:- a standards packing list is completed by packers with descriptions of category ie box china/glass sofa, linen etc there is no need to itemise.
4) What to take:- always worth taking furniture, electrical items and clothing as like most things they are considerably more expensive to purchase in Australia.

5) how long must I have owned my goods prior to shipment.
Generally all goods must have been owned and used outside Australia for at least 12 months to avoid duty and or GST when importing as a migrant, with the exception of personal clothing / shoes etc if entering as a permanent resident. Please note vehicles will always attract duty and tax.

Hope this helps and if you want to get in contact with them direct drop me a line and I will give you their details.

Hi thanks for everyones replies all very helpful :-D

Fran i'll PM you now about PSS

Many thanks all x

We are currently awaiting our stuff. It's arrived in port, just waiting for AQIS to sort their stuff out

We have brought over everything that was in good condition, so sofas, beds, kids stuff, few shelving units, bikes, camping stuff. We only used a 20ft container as we didn;t have wardrobes and the other bedroom furniture was falling apart. The only white goods we brought were a fridge and freezer, which will be our back up ones and a tumble dryer, mainly because we have had integrated appliances (washing machine and dishwasher) for the last 8 years.

We are using Anglo Pacific. Were great in the UK, obviously waiting for the Oz end before giving full feedback. For insurance, we can recommend Letton Percival. Very reasonable and easy to use.

We have bought items since we got here, but we had budgeted for them anyway. Washing machine and fridge freezer were the biggest items. An LG Direct Drive 12rpm 7kg washing machine was around $620 IIRC, and we got a 610l side by side FF for $2100 approx.

Itemise stuff in detail if it is valuable for insurance purposes. If you underestimate you can't claim the full value. Itemising is useful for when the stuff arrives and you need to find things, also helps with new insurance once you get here.

Houses all have cookers as part of the fixtures and fitting here - they stay with the house, even if not actually built-in.

We brought leather furniture OK.

Get quotes from about 3 shippers. Compare and contrast what they tell you, not just the price. Some shippers spin some fantastic yarns occasionally. Get insurance independent of shippers.

We brought every single thing, apart from the fridge. We didn't bring it because we knew when we were renting with our blow up mattress and cheap chairs from ikea we also would need a fridge. So left it.

If it's of decent quality, bring it!

If it's ole tat, leave it. There's no problems getting poor quality stuff here ...

Bring as much as you can, we didn't and spent a lot replacing stuff, ESP outdoor toys for the kids. Packers were fantastic, we had a 40 ft container, wasn't full but couldn't have used a 20 ft.
LP were brilliant insurers, made a claim here and got money no problem.
My advise, clean everything in Jeyes fluid, AQIS opened our shoes, Christmas decs, OH tools and all passed.

just to correct CINCNAGHOME, the FF was $1200

We have brought everything. We used Kent movers (Australian company, who partner with GB liners in uk) I think it cost about $11,000 that's for them to pack, ship insure and unpack furniture at other end. They also knew what would n wouldn't pass through customs.
We have found that out ff wont fit in gap in rented she so brought a new one - Bosch side by side 678L got it for $1300 delivered. A lot of shops will price match.
Go luck with everything

I've only just noticed this. That's really funny! Shame it's also somewhat accurate.

my shoes weren't checked by Aquis as I put on the packing list that all soles had been washed in jeyes fluid (they had been) we did that with all the tools we brought over too I think our boxes reeked of jeyes fluid

Eamonn Andrews. Remember him? He once interviewed an irishman and asked him what he did as a job. He replied that he worked for Jaysus.

Eamonn asked him what part of the church he worked in.

He said, I make cleaning fluid.