Yes there are a couple of threads on this issue, but they're quite particularly phrased and don't answer my question.

We're signing a lease on an apartment, after just three weeks since I arrived, and one of them was on a cruise around the Caribbean! (just before Irma destroyed everything) so I'm quite pleased

It's time to start arranging to get everything I left in my parents' garage shipped. I had originally started to box everything up carefully before doing a bit of research on here and finding out that most movers like to pack for you in order to insure everything.

And so all I've done is pile the already-packed boxes into a pile of the other stuff I wanted shipped.
I feel like a company such as TransGlobal Express (which I've seen mentioned) is not the way here, as I can't just say "X boxes of Y size and Z weight", I would need someone to show up and appraise, and eventually pack and ship.

It'll be coming from South Wales to Queens, NY and I'm willing to look at air or sea freight prices if offered. Can anybody recommend a firm they've successfully dealt with in such a way? I'd rather go off some recommendations rather than a random Google search because my searches thus far have shown up a number of companies that ALL have some pretty shocking reviews...

I can only suggest getting a couple of quotes from companies who are members of the British Association of Removers (Overseas division). At least your money is protected if they go belly up! Here you go for South Wales https://bar.co.uk/search-result

Hi,

We've just been moved over from Oxfordshire to Philadelphia. Santa Fe were fantastic! I spent 3 days wwith the guys as they packed our house and the people in the office were always helpful too.

I'll say that because, although I'm very embarassed to admit, we let our passports be packed onto the container
My husband and I didn't realise this until the evening we left the house. We were winding down with a drink in our hotel, we'd been thrown a leaving party and we were happy... Right up until the point when Mr Jazz says to me "Have you got the passports?"
I laughed, I thought he was joking, because I was sure he had them in his bag. Only he wasn't, dammit, he really wasn't. bloody. joking

We didn't sleep that night, but Michelle at Santa Fe was absolutely brilliant. She responded to our panicked late night e-mail before 9 next morning. It's a long story, we did get our passports back and I'm very grateful for what the guys at Santa Fe did to get them back to us.

And I don't think I've answered you question either, but I am giving you a recommendation

You may have created a bit of a mess for yourself. Typically "whole house" movers come and pack your stuff, but people shipping "a few boxes" pack the boxes them selves. So paying a whole house mover to pack a few boxes may be disproportionately expensive. .... How much stuff are you shipping?

A great place to start for full service removal companies is to check out FIDI website for a list of FAIM certified international removal companies that serve your area to make sure whoever you're using is fully qualified, licensed and independently vetted for overseas moving. BAR Overseas as quiltman mentioned is also another great membership to look for due to the advance payment guarantee.

There are lots more tips about choosing reputable removals companies and your different options over on our vendor forum for International Removals advice. You mentioned bad reviews and we actually wrote a post about that - Help! My preferred removal company has bad reviews- because pretty much every moving company, including the best ones, have got at least one bad review that will surface in a google search.

Hope it helps!

p.s. @RollingStones - don't be embarrassed, you aren't the first and won't be the last to pack your passports (or mobile phone charger or kids most vital stuffed animal!). To anyone else yet to pack up, top tip - put the this sort of thing in a backpack or a box labelled DO NOT PACK and just in case remove that box from the house (maybe put it in the car or take it to wherever you're staying) before the packers come.

Thanks quiltman, I've contacted one that's local to the house for a quote from that link
Also kirstyp - I'll take a look at FIDI too.

RollingStones ... OMG! That's awful, but hilarious as it worked out for you I'll definitely check out Santa Fe as well as that's a great level of service!

pulaski yep, I'm aware! The problem I had was that I was moving out of a rented accommodation and going straight overseas. Added to that, my parents still had a bunch of personal belongings from when I'd last moved to London (I've moved a LOT in the last few years) so the most efficient way of getting everything into one place was to pack up my London house as if I were moving out (because I was!) and then add it to the stuff in my parents' garage.

By that point however, I'd already read the advice that said movers won't fully insure your contents if you've packed it yourself, so I just ... stopped at that point.