Shipping Furniture to Europe: Everything You Need to Know

Moving abroad is an exciting time of life as you await new experiences, adventures, and possibly a new career, too. 

However, it also comes with several responsibilities, as well. One of those responsibilities is figuring out the logistics of shipping furniture overseas to your new home. 

If you’re getting ready to work with a furniture shipping company to get your personal items sent to a home abroad, this guide is for you. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about shipping furniture to Europe. 

Find A Shipping Company

The first step to shipping your furniture to Europe is to find a reliable shipping company. Here are a few tips to help you choose the right team for the job. 

Compare Shipping Furniture Costs

Cost is always one of the first things to look at when selecting a shipping company. You want to find a company that’s affordable, but that isn’t reducing its prices by leaving out important safeguards for your belongings. 

To make sure you’re getting the best price, call up a few different shipping companies. Ask for quotes for services so that you have a better idea of how much to expect to pay. 

Ask About Arrival Times

Another important factor in choosing a shipping company is to see how long it will take for your furniture to arrive. If you’re on a tight timeframe for moving to Europe, you might need a company that can promise faster delivery times than another. 

Read Reviews

Customer reviews are one of the easiest ways to get a good read on how a shipping company will perform. Read through reviews to get details on how affordable a company is as well as what quality services they provide. 

You can also ask friends and family members for recommendations. Talking with people who have already worked with an international shipping company can give you a better idea of what to expect from your chosen company. 

Sort Your Belongings

With your shipping company chosen, it’s time to think about what items you’ll be taking with you and what items you won’t. After all, you probably have duplicates of items or pieces of furniture that you rarely need. 

To start sorting your belongings, you’ll need to think about how long you’ll be spending abroad. If you’re planning a permanent move, you’ll need a lot more furniture than you will if you’re just going for a few months.  

You’ll also want to think about where you’re moving to. If you’re moving to a remote location, you might need more items than you would in a city where you have convenient access to shops and entertainment. 

Take Inventory

Before you dive into packing up your newly sorted furniture, you need to think about what furniture you have and how you’re going to pack it. Doing so will make it far easier for you to ship your items when the big day arrives. 

The first step in taking inventory of your belongings is to sort through them. Create a checklist of all the items you have and what part of the home they pertain to. 

By organizing your items based on the room they belong in, you’ll have an easier time unloading them at the other end of your journey. Make sure to label each box or group of items, too. That way you have a detailed list of what is going into each box. 

You’ll also need to make sure that you note down which items are breakable. Be sure to take note of any boxes that contain fragile items before you load them up into a box. 

Choose A Packing Solution

The next step in preparing to ship furniture to Europe is to think about what packing solution you’re going to use. You can either pack your items yourself or you can hire a team of professionals to get the job done. 

Working With Professional Packers

Professional packers are great at using the most possible space. That means they could provide you with big cost savings on your transportation without having to leave any furniture behind. 

Professional packers will typically use empty drawers or oddly shaped spaces to pack additional items for you. This helps you get the most out of your service and to limit how much shipping volume your furniture takes up. 

When you hire professional packers, they will load your belongings onto a pallet. From there, they’ll shrink-wrap the entire pallet to keep everything secured during the move. 

Packing Furniture Yourself

Not everyone chooses to use professional packers for a move to Europe. If you want, you can also pack your items up yourself. However, if you choose to do this, your items have a different insurance coverage.  

If you’re going to package your items on your own, you’ll need to purchase Styrofoam, bubble wrap, boxes, and packing tape. You’ll also want to enlist friends and family to help you get all your belongings packed up in time for your move.

Get Insurance

One of the most important steps you should take when shipping furniture abroad is to get shipping insurance. Shipping insurance helps you protect your belongings from damages while in transit. 

Many shipping companies offer insurance as an optional add-on. By getting your furniture insured with your chosen shipper, you can save some money on the overall cost. 

If you prefer to get a private shipping insurance plan, there are plenty of options out there. Make sure to compare the costs and benefits before signing up for one. 

Shipping Furniture To Europe Made Easy

With this helpful guide to shipping furniture to Europe, making the move across the pond will become a lot easier. And, you’ll be prepared for all the ins and outs of international shipping! 

If you’re ready to get started with furniture shipping services, we’re here for you. Get in touch with us and we’ll get your items delivered to their final destination.