kimberleyclarke2

We are moving to NZ in a couple of months but dont know how much stuff to take with us and how much containers cost. Can you share containers if so how do you go about doing it? Are there different sizes? Whats the furniture like over there is it worth selling here and buying new there?

Stoof

yes you can share containers - most companies will offer this service - per cubic foot it's more expensive and the length of time from your current home to your new nz one is a month-6 weeks longer cos they have to factor in extra time to consolidate the load etc. (apparently)

20 foot container currently costs somewhere between 3500-4500(£) and 40 foot around 1-2k more (depending on which company and where you coming from/going to)

most companies do free home visits and quotations... most people on here recommend getting three quotes - companies i've seen regularly discussed/recommended lately include PSS, John Mason, Crown and Allied Pickfords... they've all got websites with details on

we rang last month and most could get to visit within a fortnight - each spent around an hour going round and quotes arrived within a few days of the visits

also seen people saying that most companies are open to negotiation... worth a go!

HTH

nukiwi

We got 2-3 quotes (Anglo Pacific, PSS and John Mason). They all came out and gave a free quote and determined what size container we would need. We used John Mason (who we found to be the most informative) and we got two quotes, one with furniture and one without. To bring all our furniture and belongings from the UK to Auckland would have cost us £2,900 and without furniture £2,350.

Obviously we could not replace our furniture with the £550 we saved but we had catered for buying our furniture here. Depending on where you go you can get some good deals but a lot of furniture is very pricey.

steelblue

We too have just had PSS and Anglo Pacific round to 'measure-up' moving all our belongings (beds/bikes/kitchen sink/tat) to NZ. Both companies basically offered the same service but both mentioned different things! Big difference in price too!!

Both will us NZ van lines on the 'other side'.

One of the chaps told us: "If you're moving within 3months and planning to purchase a new electrical item or something big... have it sent direct to them for shipping purposes and you can reclaim the VAT" Bonus!! But when we mentioned this to the other guy, he said "you'd still have to pay TAX in NZ as the item was in it's original packaging and unused".
Also, one didn't tell us that 1 in 3 containers are selected for routine custom inspections/fumigation.... another $500 please!
Oh and YOU MUST be in the county for the container to clear customs!! (no good sending it on ahead and not being there yourself!)

When the big day arrives and the container is parked outside waiting to be loaded, they have advised us to have two lists of items for packing: a 'MUST/WILL GO' list and a 'IF THERES ANY ROOM LEFT' list. Which is a really good idea we thought!
All in all, they're really helpful. Get them round and measure up. (it's free!!)

P2L

We went with Crown and our fees included MAF inspection and any possible fumigation. It's worth considering.

Also worth knowing in the current climate, is that you can instruct your solicitor to settle your bill with Crown upon competion of your sale. We did this as our sale hadn't gone through by the time we left the UK

As for the selling up and buying new in NZ, have a look at these websites, they will give you a good idea of cost and what is available here.

www.noelleeming.co.nz
www.harveynorman.co.nz
www.freedomfurniture.co.nz


Others might have some more sites they can recommend

HTH