Just got a quote from Maritime Cargo Services. £2K ish self pack from UK to Ontario no insurance. Very detailed email reply with a lot of tips and a good explanation of the various stages. Seems like a good deal to me.

I got a very good price as well from Maritime. But they want all the money upfront. There is no insurance on self-packed stuff. So the question is, what if they throw all the stuff out at sea and nothing gets to me? There's not a thing you can say after that, is there?

Moved from Somerset to Regina,company from Reading did everything for us,20 foot can,3 weeks storage in UK before being shipped,they packed the whole load,did a fantastic job,and got it unloaded here at a time to suit us.Total cost just under $10,000.Money well spent as far as we were concerned.

Is that $10K CAD? Expensive, but like you say, if it worked for you then it is money well spent.

If we can't get it under £3K we won't be taking our stuff.

I understand that you can insure against total loss at around 2% of the shipment value. You obviously can't insure against individual item breakage or loss.

WE self packed and got insurance with Norwich Union through a broker

cover vlaue 22,000 GBP
insurance cost 414 GBP

Excess 1.5%

Not one thing was damaged

Wait a minute,I assume you are moving from the UK to Canada.How much would it cost to go from where you live now to say Dublin? If you got guys in to pack for you ,customs clearance,any storage, insurance,you wouldn't be far short of 3 Grand.
Your choice to come here is either packing cases(not much good for the sofa),or a container,maybe you'll get lucky an be able to share one.Have spoken to people who left it all behind,bought new to try and save a few bucks,they've spent a lot more than the cost of the shipper.
Work on the basis that this move will be THE MOVE,spend the money ,insure everything,and do it properly.You'll have enough to worry about.