A Guide on Shipping Your Belongings Abroad

There are many contributing factors and reasons as to why you might choose to emigrate to a different country. Maybe you have found yourself emigrating overseas in search of better job prospects, or are saying bon voyage to the UK in order to be with a loved one or you could just simply be looking to lead a simple way of life under the sun.

Shipping Belongings Abroad from the UK

If you have ever moved home within the UK you will know that it is not a simple process and the trials and tribulations that go alongside an international move only complicate the process further. It’s not something that can be done hastily and you’ll need to think about a range of things beforehand to ensure a smooth transition. Unless you are planning on completely starting again in your new location and replacing all your old furniture with new, shipping your belongings to your new home is an absolute must.

Being part of the largest global alliance of independent quality international removals companies, Britannia offers only the finest removal service to destinations worldwide and our extensive wealth of experience built up from providing international removals to thousands of families and individuals worldwide puts us in a great position to inform you on how to properly ship your belongings overseas.

The benefits of using international moving companies

If you are pondering the idea of going it alone and completely writing off using the knowledge and resources of a removals company, we would strongly advise you to re-think! There is a lot to be said for bringing in the professionals on a complex job like this.

A professional international removal company like Britannia will be there to provide not only the packing, shipping and removals part of it but also to offer support and advice throughout the whole process. This can be a definite blessing when you’re trying to remember and jungle lots of things at once and all within a tight deadline.

International removal companies not only save you the laborious job of packing your life’s possessions into boxes but by having them onside it also means that you won’t have to deal with any of the tedious paperwork associated with customs. The last thing you need on top of a seemingly endless list of to-dos is a stack of customs paperwork to deal with.

Preparing to ship your belongings abroad

Before you get too deep into the moving process it is a good idea to have a sit-down and chat with someone from a removals company in order for them to do a survey that will be specifically tailored to you and your individual removal needs.

For example, here at Britannia one of our surveyors will visit you at your home to assess the quantity of goods to be transported, the specific packing requirements necessary for these items and also to discuss details such as shipping, delivery and storage options available.

This is a great chance for you to ask any questions about things you may be unsure about. As an expert in international moves, Britannia here to help on all aspects of your relocation, including schedules, transport at unusual items, insurance, pet transportation and anything else move related.

Clear out ahead of your move abroad

The more items you ship abroad the more it will cost so before the move is a good time to have a bit of a clear out. You don’t want to part company with any family heirlooms, but you will be grateful for any less items to transport. Do you really need those stacks of old magazines? What about all those bits collecting dust in the cupboard? This is a great time to overcome your inner hoarder and throw some things away, move them to storage, or sell or donate them.

Options for shipping your belongings abroad

There are several options available to you when you choose to move your belongings on a long distance journey overseas, these include:

• Air Freight: designed to give you a swift, but more expensive solution to moving your household items over large distances when moving abroad.
• Groupage: If you are finding it difficult to fill up a whole shipping container then a great economical way is to share with someone else. You can share space with others who are going the same direction to save you money.
• Full Shipping Container: You fill up the shipping container with your household contents at your home, it is then sealed and loaded and taken on a direct route to your new country of choice!

Additional services for shipping your belongings overseas

There are a number of additional services we can provide to help streamline your move abroad.

Professional packing services for international moves

When moving abroad, it is a good idea to utilise all the help you can from your removals company if you’re hiring one, this includes packing! Remember that your container is going to be packed by crane onto a ship so to avoid any damage get the professionals to pack your items, they know how to do it best!

If you haven’t made the choice to transport your belongings by Air Freight, then your belongings will be taking a lengthy journey across the sea all the way to your new home. At Britannia we provide high quality watertight metal containers in a variety of sizes and we will advise you on what size you should specifically have when we complete our survey. Your shipment will usually take 1-3 months to arrive at its destination and details of the arrive will be outlined in your Britannia paperwork.

Whilst you are packing your belongings or aiding the removals team in the process, label all the boxes and create corresponding lists (they could even be colour coded if you’re feeling fancy!). Not only will this give you peace of mind that everything has arrived safe and sound, but it will also make the whole unpacking process a load easier as you will know where to find each and every item you own!

Insurance for shipping your belongings

We strongly advise that our customers take out some sort of insurance, as would all reputable removals companies, just in case. Britannia can provide comprehensive removals insurance cover for all our moves, but you will also have other options. You can liaise with your current home insurance provider to see if international removals is already included in your policy.

Moving overseas with pets

If you’re starting new life overseas, you’ll undoubtedly want to bring your pets with you. At Britannia, we know your pet is your family, and it’s important they’re treated with the utmost care and attention when travelling. We’ve partnered with PetAir to offer safe and reliable pet transport for our customers. They bring a wealth of experience to ensure your pet is kept comfortable throughout their journey, as well as assisting with documentation and customs requirements.

Moving abroad?

Moving abroad can be an exciting but stressful time. Let Britannia do the hard work for you with our international removals service, providing efficient and reliable removals wherever you’re moving to.

You can request a quote below or contact your nearest removals office.