Bellyson

Hello
We are moving to the UK for a few years, and need to move a lot of our belongings.
Can anyone recommend any shipping companies (we are in South West Sydney), approx costs, things we need to do/consider?
Really appreciate any recs or info!
Thanks!

BristolUK

I don't remember agreeing to this. Sydney who?

Mary C

Hi Bellyson

I live in South Africa and for the past 20 odd years I have been an Australian Immigration Consultant, helping people move to Aus. During this time I have recommended Bayleys International to help them with their household goods.

I am now relocating back to the UK and am using Bayley's without hesitation to move my few belongings for me.

I will call Brenda Bailey this morning and get the details of the 'sister' company in Australia for you. Or you can email her directly on [email protected] and she will give you all the relevant details.

As I am not taking a huge amount of stuff, I have elected to do a shared container and am paying about R10,000 for 3 cubic metres. I am doing 'self pack' and just having it delivered to my door in the UK. I will unpack myself.

Many of my clients used Brenda and I have received nothing but good feedback from them.

You can also try Crown International, as they were engaged by an Australian Company to move household goods for clients that were employed from SA, by an Aus company through me. Also very good feedback but I do know they are quite pricey.

All the best.

Bellyson

Thank you so much for that information Mary. I would appreciate it if you could find out some information from Brenda regarding Australian shipping details, seeing as you know her.
We don't have a great deal as we are trying to cut down our stuff as much as possible. Would be interested in finding out prices too, not sure if a shared container would be enough though.
Thanks so much for your help!

Mary C

my pleasure Bellyson. I have already emailed through to Brenda and asked her for the Australian office details.

I have been brutal with my clearing out. I know my furniture I have in South Africa, will be far to big for a property in the UK. So I am taking only the most treasured possession and limited small household stuff. It is quite cathartic to do a big turn out. If it hasn't been used or worn in 6 months then its not needed.

I have had one boot sale, and another one coming up at the end of Nov. What doesn't get sold will be donated to hospice. The worst offender however is the OH, who regardless of the fact that the stuff that is taking up all of the outside room, and most of the garage has not been used in over 8 years, is still deemed as 'needed'... who in their right might, needs 20 hammers, 5 drills 4 sanders etc etc etc... The remnants of a business that was sold over 10 years ago, and is never likely to be opened up again, yet the antiquated stuff is still considered as 'needed'. Hmmmmm nope, it's not going, so sell it, give it away or dump it.... the only other alternative is pay for a storage unit in SA and store it all there, but I am not paying for that, so 'make a plan' hehehehe.

I will let you know as soon as I get the details from Brenda.

Bellyson

Thank you so much Mary!

I had to laugh when I read about your DH's garage, my Hubby's is the same! He is being reasonably ruthless, as he used to keep absolutely everything "just in case". I just keep saying that if we need it in the UK, we can buy a new one! I am having a garage sale too, have given some away and sold some, but we still have quite a bit. Not too much furniture though, as like you say, furniture that may fit in Oz or South Africa, probably won't fit nicely in UK houses. Good luck with your move!

Mary C

Thanks Bellyson.... send a bit of your hubby's ruthlessness this way... Sherlocks idea of ruthless is to concede to throwing away paperwork that dates back to the 1970's. I am taking my own toolbox that I have established over the past 14 years, so nothing more needs to be added.

I have just been and delivered a boot full of stuff to our nearest hospice and i am sure there will be several more loads that go there over the next few weeks. Me thinks many of the trips will have to be done in secret when no one is looking. especially the grandchildren when I devoid their toy boxes of the contents. But it will be fun taking them shopping for 'new' toys on arrival. But I would rather take the stuff that doesn't sell at a boot sale to Hospice where someone else gets the opportunity. The only other option is the dump and after my last horrifying experience of taking stuff to the municipal dump here is South Africa, it is not a place I intend to go to again. Took a whole bottle of valium and 2 days in bed to recover from the experienceA.

I don't think my lounge suite would go through any door in the general house in the UK, let alone fit in a sitting room... if it did go in the humans would have to settle for sitting in the garden. hehehehe.

A vow has been made, I will NEVER again hold onto anything. If I don't use it, I don't need it. I will be a minimalist of note. If the children are ever stuck on what to buy me for birthdays or Christmas I will tell them nicely that they can rather pay for my groceries for a week. This would mean more to me than an ornament that I cant eat. Or they can contribute to my electricity or gas bill. Nothing more than they would spend on a present is necessary.

Anyway time to go and start the next round, now the cupboards are beginning to be emptied I suppose I can go and start to give them a good clean out. I am sure the new buyers will appreciate it and it will lesson what needs to be done on vacate day. Alternatively I can take a box, broom and bucket in to Sherlocks zone and see what reaction I get.... remember to put crash hat on in case he throws something at me.

I am sure that Brenda will reply to me later today so will send the info as soon as it is at hang.

Mary C

Hi again, the email just came through. Grace International is the sister company with Bayleys International. Speak to Jim Peterson [email protected] he will make sure the right person contacts you.

SUPERCAD

We used Kent from Brisbane to Bristol really good service id recommend them any time

Pollyana

Would you mind giving an idea of price? By pm if you don't want to do it publicly

Famous 5

We used Chess earlier this year from the Sunshine Coast (shipped from Brisbane) to London as they came recommended by some friends who had moved from Sydney to London. We got 4 quotes for a 20ft container and Chess were the lowest by quite a significant margin at a cost of $7700. We also air freighted some of our belongings (musical instruments, computers and clothing) which we arranged through Chess so it was packed/picked up at the same time as the rest of our stuff and delivered within 10 days. We insured separately through Letton Percival, but did not need to claim. The service from Chess was excellent at both ends.

Tom Sawyer

I have just returned to UK (Swindon) and used Allied Pickfords which was about $12,000 for a 40ft container including 2 months storage at the UK end. No problems with them at all, and used Letton Percival for the insurance.

kirstyp

You can find a list of FIDI certified international movers in Sydney (and in the UK if you'd prefer a UK mover) on their website Find a FIDI Company | FIDI

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Pollyana

Finally got round to getting a quote from Kent. OK, I only have boxes not furniture, but they have quoted me far less than I expected. I may be able to slow down the rate at which my stuff is heading for the charity shop.......

SUPERCAD

We got rid of the big staff as well although we did bring our bed room suit. the money we saved on the half container meant we could rebuy it here and have the warranties/guarantees in place things like upright washing machines dont fit in most houses here. Kent were great packing and unpacking.