International Removals: Why should you hire a professional removals compan...

International Removals: Why should you hire a professional removals compan...: If you have moved home before, you will understand that it is no easy feat. With stress levels rising, moving day can a terrible experience...

International Removals: How To Pack, What To Pack

When you are preparing to move overseas, the packing process should not be all too different for you than a standard local move. However, there are some aspects of international removals that do require greater care and attention for the whole ordeal to run as smoothly as possible. 

Boxes

During a local move, it is often a good idea to save on buying boxes yourself by borrowing used and unwanted ones from neighbours, businesses or anywhere else you can get them. This can be a tempting option, but can lead to problems when dealing with international removals.

Stacking boxes can be a hassle with odd boxes of random sizes, and a lot of stacking is done when shipping internationally. Using the same shape and sized boxes for all your packing is an easier option that will help save you a lot of time and stress in the long run. It could be very well worth your time to invest in a number of boxes from your professional removals company, or any other service that provides suitable moving boxes. When it then comes to palletising your boxes, the whole process should go very smoothly. The unloading should be especially very simple.

Pallets

Once you are packed, your boxes are collected and brought by the moving company you've hired to their warehouse. The palletising procedure then begins. Shipping your boxes on several pallets is very cost effective and safer then shipping all of your boxes thrown haphazardly into a shipping container. Your boxes are stacked and packed tightly on to a pallet all the way to just the right height. The pallet is then covered in bubble and shrink wrap to keep everything safe. As mentioned previously, having the boxes all of the same shape obviously makes this a lot easier. Pallets are often heat treated so the protective plastic wrap moulds to perfectly fit the stacked pallet and keep it all in place for the journey. The cargo is then picked up and delivered to port.

Be Selective

Remember the most crucial advice when shipping: only take what you really need to your new home. Use this opportunity of a fresh start to get rid of all the clutter that’s been collecting dust over all of the years. You don’t want to waste your valuable time and money on moving things that are just going to sit in your new home and collect new dust. The same can be applied to appliances that may be on their way out. Why waste time on moving your fridge when it will soon be too old and you’ll have to throw it away and get a new one. This could potentially lead to a lot of wasted money. Even your appliances aren't too old and seem to be in working order, it can sometimes cost much more than it’s worth to get them over. Fridges especially will have to be thoroughly emptied, cleaned and defrosted before being transported overseas.

These are just a couple of things to keep in mind when dealing with international removals. If you have any experience with moving locally at all, you should be more than prepared. Just be ready to be very selective with what to take, to save you money, time and from collecting any unwanted junk.

What to pack - Local and international house moves

What am I going to pack?!

When you are moving home, it’s the perfect time to have a clear out. The last thing you want to do is pack all those useless items that have no value because you are only going to have to unpack them at the over end and find a new place for them to go.

Room by room

When packing the easiest thing to do it to do one room at a time starting with the room that is used the least. Make sure you are armed with removal boxes, tape, a marker pen and a bin bag. As you pack your boxes, make sure to label the box with the marker pen with the contents and what room it came from. If you are using a removal company and you’re moving in the UK, a good tip is to have different coloured highlighters and post-it notes, from each room designate a colour and when you arrive at your new property, stick the post-it notes on the door. This makes it easier for the removal men to know what boxes go where without having to stop and ask you every time. As you are packing your household goods and personal effects, decide if it something that you will want in your new home, if it’s not then put it in the bin bag and get rid of it, there is no point hording old stuff as it will only give you more to pack/unpack and it may cost you more if you need a larger removal van or multiple trips.

International removals

If you are relocating abroad then you think seriously about what you are taking, there is no point taking empty storage boxes or crates, unless you’re going to fill them as they are just dead space when it comes to them being palletised. Think about where you are moving too and what exactly you need to take with you, you may think about selling your white goods in the UK and buy new overseas however most people arrange for their goods to arrive at the same time they do and when you are unpacking the last thing you will want to think about is having to unpack everything and then go out and buy more.

How your goods are shipped

You goods will either be shipped in a sole 20FT/40FT container or in a shared container depending on the amount of space you require. Shared containers will work out cheaper as you only pay for the space that you need and as long as you are using a professional international removals company then your goods will be safely packed and palletised reducing the overall cube and thus the amount you pay.

What to pack last

If you are packing the day before the move then think about what you will need in the morning such as, toothbrush, cooking equipment, kettle etc. as the last thing you want is to wake up with everything packed with bad breath. A good tip is to get disposable cups and some squash so that you can keep yourself and your removal men hydrated throughout the day and once you’re done, you can just simply throw them away.

How to prepare when moving home

The key to avoiding stress when moving home is all about how prepared you are, the more notice you have, the better. Make sure you plan your house move properly and you won’t be pulling your hair out on the day (hopefully). Here are some simply steps to remember to think about when you’re moving home that will help you keep stress-free and make the whole process as smooth as possible.

Countdown

The following information will help you focus on what needs to be done and when.

1 Month – Plenty of time

·         Notify your landlord with a written letter of notice (if applicable).

·         Book the time off work, even if it’s a weekend, give yourself plenty of time to unpack and settle in.

·         Inform your phone line company (such as BT) that you are moving and organise reconnection/installation of a line.

·         Contact utility companies with the date that you will be moving into the new property.

·         Order packing materials.

·         De-clutter and clean.

2 Weeks – it’s getting closer!

·         Contact appropriate people of you change of address and arrange paperwork (Do not send until you have moved).

·         Arrange with the post office to forward your mail to your new address on the date of the move.

·         Book your Removal Company or a van.

·         Decide if you want to pay extra and have a professional packing team pack your boxes for you.

·         Arrange for someone to look after your children and any pets.

·         Start to think (if you haven’t already) about what rooms will be used for what.

·         Start packing any non-essential items.

·         If you’re moving into a smaller property then you may want to consider Storage.

·         If you’re moving into a larger property then think about if you need new furniture – order them now and arrange delivery for the day you move in.

1 Week – Any time now!

·         De-register with you doctor/optician if you’re moving to a different area.

·         Finalise arrangements with your removal company, confirming arrival times and your address for collection and delivery.

·         Arrange with the estate when you can collect the keys for your new home.

·         Notify the bank of any changes of direct debits and standing orders.

·         Remember that you are going to have to defrost your fridge/freezer so don’t do a big shop as you may end up wasting food.

The day before the Move –Already?!

·         If you’re having you goods packed for you then confirm details with your removal company.

·         If you are packing yourself then label boxes and finalise packing, take into consideration what you might need on the day of the move and avoid packing these until last.

·         Defrost your fridge/freezer.

·         Finish cleaning the house.

The Big Day!

·         Disconnect any remaining appliances.

·         Check every room to make sure nothing is left and everything is clean.

·         Close and lock all windows and doors.

·         When you arrive at your new house, make sure all containers have been delivered and are not damaged.

·         Finally sit down and relax.

How to avoid stress when moving home

At some point in all of our lives we move house, some more than others. Have you ever finally moved all your boxes and goods into your new home, sat down after a long day of packing, cleaning and driving and said, “That’s the last time I’m doing that.” And then a few years later you’re doing it all over again.

There is an easy way to avoid the stress and hassle of moving and that is to hire a removal company, you will find that they have a lot more experience when it comes to planning and packing and as most removal companies have large vehicles, they can usually move all your goods in one go. This is essential if you are moving abroad or moving to another town or city.

In this house removal blog you will find some simply tips on how to avoid getting stressed and how to make the day of the move as enjoyable as possible.

Choosing your removal company - Get your free quote here: International removals

When it comes to choosing your removal company, you want to make sure that they are experience and that they are insured, accidents happen and sometime they can’t be helped so making sure your property is insurance is always going to take some of the stress off.

A good removal company will offer a packing service, where they can arrange to come to your property and pack and load your items for you. Typically most experienced removal men are good at Tetris so letting them pack is a good idea, this leaves you time to concentrate on other important things such as utilities, meter readings, changing address on important documents etc.

De-clutter and Clean

There is no better time to go through a clear out of anything that you want to throw away, there is no point taking any of your old clutter to your nice new home. Work through one room at a time going through all cupboards, cabinets and drawers and don’t forget to check the garage and the loft.

Once everything is packed and out of the way, now is your chance to give the whole house a good clean. You should leave the house the same way you would expect to find your new home.

To me, to you

When it comes to moving home, 2 men and van is the best solution, they can carry any large items together such as sofa’s and white goods, also this reduces the changes of any fragile items that are tricky to handle (e.g. TV’s and mirrors) being damaged. A good removals team won’t stop for a tea/coffee if they are charging by the hour but it is always nice to offer them a cold beverage to keep them going.

Save time and money

If you want to make the whole house removal process as cheap and quick as possible then it’s advisable that you make sure you pack your own items the day before, making sure to clearly label all the boxes (there is nothing worse than hunting through 20 boxes for a bottle opener) and make sure they are easily accessible, such as placing them in the front room. Arrange a time for the removal team to meet you at your home and if you are being charged by the hour then you may even want to assist with carrying boxes to the removal vehicle.

I hope that you found the information in the house removal blog useful, if you have any more questions then I will let you ask the experts – House Removals Worldwide

The Day of the Move

International removals 

So the day of the move has finally arrived, all of your planning has been leading up to this one day and you’re wondering what happens now? Follow this simple guide to make your big day as stress-free and exciting as it should be.

Keep yourself refreshed

By now you would have most likely disconnected your fridge and packed away your kettle and your coffee machine, make sure that you plan ahead and keep aside some bottles of water, a flask of tea/coffee, snacks such as fruit and make sure you make some sandwiches in advance to keep your energy levels up. If it is a hot day then make sure you drink plenty of water.

 

Think about what you want to unpack first

When you arrive at your new home chances are that you won’t want to unpack everything straight away, so make sure you think about what you want to unpack first such as your bedding, clothes, towels etc. After a long day of what could be a dusty/dirty day, all of these would come in handy.

Don’t pack away any important document such as driving licences, deeds, ownership papers, passports and birth certificates, make sure you have them with you at all times.

Check every room before you leave

There is no harm is going over every room one last time just to check that you haven’t left anything and that everything is left in good order. If you were renting then it may even be worth taking photos in case there is a dispute in getting your deposit back. Once you’re happy with that you have everything packed and loaded you will need to go over a quality check with the removal team leader so that there is a clear agreement of the condition of your goods. You may even want to take photos of any fragile items; this will help you claim against any damages that may happen during transit.

Don’t be so hasty

Make sure that you are the last to leave; you need to be confident that you have everything and nothing is left be hide otherwise when it comes to unpacking and you can’t find that one thing you are looking for you will only blame yourself, and so will everyone else.

It is always useful to keep your home phone plugged in on the day of the move and leave it to last to disconnect so that you can make any necessary phone calls. Alternatively if you have a good battery life and reception on your mobile phone then keep this on you. Again you may want to have your home phone easy accessible just in case you don’t have a very good reception at your new home.

Finally check that all gas, electricity and water supplies are switched off at the mains and that all windows and doors are securely shut and locked.

Arriving at your new home

When you arrive at your new home, firstly make sure that all fixtures and fittings such as curtain rails, carpets etc. that were including in the sale are present and correct. On your inspection of the house if you find any faults or damage to the property, make sure you tell your surveyor as soon as possible. It is also advisable to take meter readings and that all utilities are working.

Once you have done all of this, relax. You can delay unpacking for now and just enjoy the moment, open a bottle of wine and put your feet up.