NZdreamz

Hiya we are a family of 4 (2 children 16 & 11 my husband and myself) seriously considering a move to NZ. We will be going on a skilled migrant Visa as I am a midwife, we have already had an initial assessment, got enough points to apply just a bit overwhelmed with the enormity of it all so any tips or reassurance from others who have done it or are doing it would be greatly welcomed!!!! For example; Is it worth going with a migration agency or is it doable without the added expense of this? Is it best to sell our furniture and buy when we get there or ship it over??

MattandJax

its very do able without an agency! total rip off from what we've seen. theres lots of form filling in to do, but theyre self explanatory...and if you get stuck on anything- just ask on here. theyre the REAL experts!

as for shipping your stuff..take it with you if its decent. furniture and white goods are quite expensive over here, and some good quality furniture is hard to come by...like garden tables/chairs etc...
we brought all our stuff except washer (on its last legs) and fridge freezerand cooker (were built in). (some dryers may not be compatible in NZ tho- do a search on here , theres lots of info for that)

also you may not need standing wardrobes. all houses here seem to have fitted wardrobes in all bedrooms. leaving ours behind, freed up a good bit of space in the container as theyre so bulky...and we havent needed them at all.
we fitted it all our house in a 20ft container. door to door service was approx £2,800 + insurance (insurance usually much less if bought independantly from your packers)

will you be renting or buying? most rentals also include dishwasher and cooker too.

lots of things to weigh up!

Genesis

No to the agents, yes to the furniture. Sweet as.

Tray

Hi there fellow Lancastarian! I would third all the above advice, and if you'd like a detailed 12/6/2 month down to the last 2week account/guide of what to do & when, let me know & i'll pm it to you kept it for the memory Tray

Justcol

You dont need an agent, and bring EVERYTHING you have with you.
that crummy old sofa you've got will cost A LOT to replace when your here
and will seriously eat into any much needed money you will need to get set
up and settled in once you are here

hazeandsteve

If you do buy over here, spend the extra few bob and avoid the discount superstores.
M<y suite I left in UK had done a good twelve years, just starting to fade and fray.
the one we got here from (ahem)...www.bigsave.co.nz is only three years old and I want it gone!

nero

I would leave your electrical goods behind. Although our fridge freezer has survived. Our TV lasted about a year and washing machine died in the first few months. The condensation in the ship did nothing for the circuit boards. We may have been unlucky.

If you do bring you washing machine remember to use the right washing powder .i.e. Top loader vs Front loader. We didn't and our front loader was swamped by bubbles and may have been the cause of our failing circiut boards. Although everything was pretty rusted when we looked at them.

dannigirl

That website is a crime against furniture

sirplug

We bought everything electrical. The only thing that died was the washing machine (as we expected) so we bought new here.

If it fits in the container, no matter what condition, bring it. If you don't use it, you'll be able to sell it on Trademe!

BevK

Can I please just ask who you used to ship your goods?

LukeandJo

At Down Under Live at the weekend, we were talking to one of the shipping exhibitors who told us that white goods are very expensive. If we can include them on the stuff shipped over.

concretepump

we took every thing last time we moved, this time because of cost, we are not taking white goods, 600 cu ft £2200, full container just under £4000
you can buy a five piece bed set for $2,000 most white goods are about the same

NZdreamz

Thanks everybody that's all very helpful, thanks for the pm Tray (ps we're in Lancashire not Lancaster, but hey they're not that far apart). Lukeandjo we were at down under live at the weekend too!! Iv also had opposing advice about bringing our TV's (we have a large flat screen HD LCD and 3 smaller ones) will they work over there? and what about if stuff gets damaged perhaps due to damp or condensation like Nero said, does the insurance cover that? I think we will rent initially then buy once we're sure of the area we want to live. Did anyone else have trouble with their children not really wanting to leave friends/family behind? My 11 year old son is super excited about going but my 16 year old daughter keeps saying she doesnt really want to go but has agreed to give it a year and come back to England when she's 18! (we dont plan on going until Dec 11/Jan 12) I hate that idea!!!! I am hoping she will realise when we get there just what NZ has to offer her as opposed to the UK these days. I am also dreading telling my mum bracing myself for the 'guilt trips'

Woodlea

Ooh I don't think so, white goods are jolly expensive in NZ, bring your pommy ones!

NZdreamz

I hope you don't mind me asking, have u moved back to the UK now and are planning on going back to NZ? If so why did u move back and what's made you decide to give it another go?