My hubby and I are a UK/USA couple and he relocated here to the USA when we married. We are now seriously talking about moving to the UK.

We are not in a hurry, there is lots that will need to happen before we can go, but we are trying to get an idea of the actual cost of moving some of our things.

We would move very little furniture, quite honestly all we can think of that way that we want to take is our dining room suite we inherited from my grandparents, one sofa that is also special to us and we are debating on our king size bed -- thinking it may be better just to buy a bed over there.

The rest would all be personal belongings such as art, books, excess clothing, memorabilla etc.

Has anyone recently done this from the USA and know approximately how much we could expect to spend to ship our belongings? If I can get even a broad idea, we can then start to rebudget our life so that we can start to stash $ away. We have a handle on the costs of our pets, getting permission for me and so on.... but the cost of moving our possesions has me wondering.

Thanks for any help.

CB

sorry can't directly help, but have you searched through previous threads (for example the 'LA to London' thread).Alternatively try using the search option on this site and see what comes up. Just an idea anyway. Good luck!

Short answer: probably somewhere between $4,000 and $12,000

Long answer:

- it's the usual answer - "depends" on:

- how you send it (e.g., by a "removal" company, or via a "package delivery" company) - for large loads, former is cheaper; small loads, latter is cheaper

- who packs it (you pack it, cheaper, they pack it, more expensive)

- how big/how heavy (depening on how much stuff, weight and volume are more important)

- whether you want your own container (huge; for large loads, but more convenient because you pack as you go, then they come and pick up the container)

- it's difficult to give a ballpark figure, without having some idea of just how mcuh stuff you have (I've got books, for example - literally hundreds of them, but if I just list "books", you'd never relaize that they by themselves add a lot of cost).

- your furniture will probably raise the cost somewhat, because it will probably double the volume of what you are shipping.

Bottom line, ball park: I moved twice ('99 and '00), they packed it both times and took it away, included 100's of books, stacks of clothes and sporting equipment, pictures and household arty/craft stuff, but no furniture or really big/heavy stuff (e.g., no TV, computer) all in all it fit in a big box about 6' x 6' x 6', and cost about $4,000-$5,000.

Best bet is to call a few companies and get on Web sites. The only real way to get even a decent idea (even ballpark) is to have them come around, do a walkthrough, and provide an extimate. Most companies will do this, and there's no commitment. All you do is tell them later "Due to a change in circumstances, we'll be staying longer than anticipated, but we'll be sure to call you when we're ready".