When I emigrated to Canada just over a year ago, I'd flogged most of my bulky possessions so only needed a shared contained. Containers can take several months to arrive, particularly shared ones as you have to wait until the container is filled before it leaves. So you have to bring other essential items over as hold luggage. At the time each person was entitled to 2 pieces of hold luggage.

I was recently looking to buy something from Britain that isn't available in Canada, and decided to see how much a courier would be. Well it worked out pretty reasonable, and delivery is within a few days to Canada from UK.

A 30kg shipment measuring 80x60x40 cm will cost £108.04. The company link is http://www.interparcel.com/. I thought this was quite reasonably priced, and anyone looking to move their stuff should consider splitting into

1. must-haves
2. essentials-but-can-live-without-one-week
3. non-essentials

Take items in category 1 with you as hold luggage, checking you don't get slammed with over-weight charges by the airlines (I mean for your bags).

Most items should probably go in category 3. For example, you come over in the summer, don't pack your favourite "reindeer in a santa hat" jumper in your hold luggage.

All other items that you can live without for a few days, that are expensive to completely replace when you arrive, should go in category 2. This might cost you £100-200 extra, but that's a small price to pay for getting it delivered to your door, and more or less when you need it. You may have to pay a bit extra for insurance, but overall saves lugging it over yourself, or waiting several months for it to swim the atlantic.

Anyway, just a thought...

Paul

HI Paul, this is exactly how we have done it. We will be bringing with us the essentials needed for the first week or so. Have some boxes sent out by cargoexpress (thanks to another poster on here who said they were reasonably priced ) on monday next week. Hopefully that means they will be there either when we land or very soon after. The last of the stuff will stay in the house until its sold and then we will have it shipped over. Mind you have not quite decided on that yet, waiting to see prices of furniture over in BC.

Thanks for the tips - am moving shortly and have been worrying about how best to move my stuff. Out of interest how much do you have to pay to rent half a container?

I used a company called Robinsons (in UK) and they charged about $1300. I'm not sure if this was exactly a half container, but perhaps close to it. Problem is that we DID wait quite a time before it left British shores, although that was fortuitous as we didn't end up needing it until a few months after it arrived, so paid no storage fees.

I would recommend them as everything went well and they kept us informed at every critical stage. Packaging was very thorough. The company they use at this end (BC) is called Williams who were equally efficient and friendly.

If you have any specific questions there's loads of people with similar experiences on this forum.

Hey Paul, this has been a most helpful post to me. Thanks.

I'm just know I'm going to pack some 'must have' item to go into the container though... I just know it. I hate this. But just can't wait.

Hey Wasabi,

I just noticed from the number of posts you have to your name, you must be a veteran of this site. So, I'm even more humble and pleased this helped. Where are you moving to?

When I say $1300 I mean £1300.

Don't be fooled by the number of posts I've made... most of that number is bs and smut.

I'm moving to Calgary... in aboot 2 hours! :scared:
( well much of my junk is... I'll be along shortly thou )

Hey!!!!!!!! Have you been peeping through my windows?

Well that was quite painless!

We have a house full of junk (sofas, tv, beds, tables, desks, computer, loads of electronic gadgets etc). Is it actually worth bringing any of this with us? Would we be better selling it in the UK and buying new/used in Canada once we arrive? Could you give us an idea of what you have shipped seperately in a container?

The shipping costs, delays, storage and potential damage seem more risky than a completely fresh start. We have nothing of sentimental value that won't fit in luggage in the hold. There are only two of us (plus dog!). We both even need new wardrobes and are holding out buying clothes here in preperation for moving to Canada.

I am certain we are overlooking something or underestimating just how much we will bring with us. Initially (whilst we have money to move from the UK) we are expecting things to a be a little cheaper than we're used to here. Obviously once we are earning in dollars then everything is based on what a dollar can buy and not what a pound can. Initially (12 - 18 months) we are thinking of renting before buying to save a sufficient deposit and get a handle on the areas we would like to live in.

Finally, could you give us an indication of how much money you took to Canada in pounds and how far that went / how long it lasted?

Thanks in advance
Jase & Heth

Very cute dog! Such a cheeky look on his face.

Do you have to list EVERYTHING you are taking? I only have clothes, laptop and half a suitcase full of random junk!

He is a cheeky dog! A bit daft, but we love him to bits

I'm glad - what you're packing sounds like all we'll have to pack anyway. I was just a little concerned that other members were taking their entire home contents to Canada. We really don't have that much that we want to keep and I suspect that we could limit it down to exactly what you're taking. We really don't want to take any furniture with us. I have spotted several posts with people filling containers to ship over and that panics me a bit because I don't think our house would fill a container! We've also heard some horror stories from friends/family who've moved to Australia and Spain with delays, damage to goods, insurance claims etc.

Besides, a fresh start is more exciting... appealing... expensive!

Advance warning beds here are very expensive in my opinion. Check out a few sites so you're prepared for the shock on arrival.

These guys moved our stuff door to door Manchester - Toronto (Sea Freight 13 Days) and were excellent. Cost for approx 350Kg of "stuff" (12 Off 49 x 49 x 49cm boxes) was around 750 Pounds.

Contact - Gaz
Advance Forwarding Ltd
Castle Lane Industrial Estate
Melbourne, Derbys,
United Kingdom DE73 8JB

Tel: (+44) (0) 1332-865656, Fax: (+44) (0) 1332-865657
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.advanceforwarding.com

I got a really nice bed for $350, ex showroom. Look in the paper for deals when you get there. If I still have 'Rob the bed guy's' number I'll pass it on!