Instead of buying new, you could also try shipping furniture overseas. While there’s a high cost to do so, it may end up saving you time and money later on. 

Here’s everything you need to know about the pros and cons of shipping furniture for a long-distance move, and how to get started. 

Shipping Furniture Overseas vs Buying New Furniture

How does someone decide whether or not to send furniture overseas or buy a whole new set?

On the one hand, it’s more convenient to sell what you have and start fresh.

However, you’ll have to take the time to pack up all of your current belongings or pay extra for a shipping crew to pack them for you. 

Benefits of Shipping

Shipping furniture overseas can save you money when moving into your new home. Buying all new furniture can be expensive, and your previous belongings may have sentimental value. 

Additionally, you’ll need furniture as soon as you move in. No one wants to spend a few days sleeping on the floor while waiting for their new bed. 

You can coordinate your long-distance move with your shipped furniture so it arrives right when you do. 

There’s also the possibility that you won’t be able to acquire the same type of furniture you had in your old country. 

Challenges of Shipping

Unfortunately, there are some reasons you may opt against shipping your furniture. 

You may be moving into a smaller space than your previous home allowed. If that’s the case, then your old furniture may not all fit inside the new home.

At the very least, you can sell some of your things to cover part of the costs to replace them. It could prove more affordable to outfit your smaller home with new furniture instead of shipping your old furniture. 

Keep in mind that some items are prohibited and cannot be shipped overseas. These include taxidermy items and firearms. Check the country’s list of contraband to see what you can and can’t take with you. 

Benefits of Buying New

Some items are better off new. Rugs get a lot of wear and tear so a move provides a good opportunity to replace them. Mattresses are also not worth the cost to ship them if you can afford a new one. 

Moving into another space also allows you to completely change your design scheme. Make a bold decision or go simplistic. Alternatively, you can go thrifting and find some vintage and antique furniture that tells a story. 

Challenges of Buying New

The main downside of buying new furniture is the cost. Some expensive furniture isn’t easily replaced. You’re going to want to bring that with you rather than try to get another one. 

You’re also slightly limited by what the furniture stores around your house stock. If you find something too far away, then you’ll have to pay for shipping anyway. 

Shipping Cost Breakdown

When shipping furniture overseas, you need to consider all the individual costs involved. You need to hire a company to pick up your furniture and other items, deliver it to the plane or sea freight, and then deliver it to your new home. The movers may also pack your items for you at a cost. 

Needless to say, there are a lot of moving parts involved. 

The general cost to ship your furniture overseas can range between $1,000 and $4,500 per item. The total cost to ship a household may end up being almost $20,000. 

You should be able to talk to the shipping company about your choices. Sea freight will take longer but is much more affordable than air. However, air freight is a much quicker and safer option. 

You’ll also need to think about insurance. Homeowners’ and renters’ policies provide coverage while your items are in transit and in storage facilities. However, it doesn’t pay for damage caused by the movers themselves. 

A moving company may offer moving insurance to protect themselves and your goods in transit. You can also find these policies outside of the company. 

How to Ship Furniture Overseas Affordably 

A dedicated household shipping service is the easiest and most affordable way to move large items overseas. You can choose shipping crate options appropriate for all of your items, ranging from the smaller U-CRATE 50 to the larger U-CRATE 200. 

The U-CRATE 50 is good for small appliances and special decor items. It’s suitable for fragile shipping as well. Meanwhile, the U-CRATE 200 allows you to ship larger electronics and appliances. 

There are also 20 and 40-foot shipping containers available for shipping a household full of furniture. 

If you want to save money and avoid using a shipping container, you can always try to trim back on the larger items you can replace. It may not be worth it to ship a bed or table you put together yourself. 

Packing Tips

When you’re making a long-distance move, decide early on what items you’re taking and what you can afford to replace. Electronics are portable and can cost a lot to buy new. Small appliances are also easy to transport. 

Furniture can be a bit trickier. It’s one thing to buy a new couch to replace an old one. Replacing an entire household is a more complicated endeavour. 

If you can, get rid of anything that is worn down. The same goes for anything that was cheap or doesn’t hold any sentimental value. 

For what you decide to keep, don’t try to pack it all yourself. While having the shipping company pack your items may cost extra, it’ll speed up the process. You can also count on them doing it right the first time around and avoiding any issues in transit. 

Send Furniture Overseas With Ease

Shipping furniture overseas on your own is a logistical nightmare. It’s one thing to ship a package at the post office. However, most people are unaware of how to package their furniture and send it overseas. 

At UPakWeShip UK, we offer international removal and shipping services.

Our experts can help organize your move, fill out all the necessary paperwork, and even help pack up your items. 

Contact us to get a quick quote and find out more about how we can help you get moving. 

The post Is It Worth Shipping Furniture Overseas From The UK? appeared first on UPakWeShip.

If you’re planning on making Australia your new home, no doubt you will want to bring your belongings with you  – which is when a cost-effective way of shipping furniture to Australia is of real benefit.

Read on to discover how to trim your shipping costs right back when you relocate to Australia, without compromising on the safety and security of your possessions as they are moved from one continent to another.

Pack Less and Pack Smarter

It’s common sense to declutter before you move, even when planning a local move. When every ounce of weight is potentially going to add to the cost of shipping, make sure that you only pack items you really can’t bear to be parted from. Remember that, particularly for cheaper items, it’s probably going to cost less to buy them once you’re in Australia, rather than paying the shipping costs.

As well as keeping the number and weight of the items you choose to ship to a minimum, it’s worth considering their dimensions as well. Shipping is cost by the amount of space items take up, as well as how much they weigh. Expert packing, including disassembly of larger items, frequently results in a shipment that has more compact dimensions.

If you’re struggling to minimize the size of your shipment, or are shipping furniture to Australia and are wondering how best to pack it to reduce the volume of space it takes up, it’s often worth enlisting the help of professional international movers, who have plenty of experience in packing goods in a space-saving manner.

They’ll not only be able to advise on the best way of stowing your goods, but they’ll also provide suitably durable containers to hold your items during their journey. If you’re shipping items that are fragile, have significant sentimental value, and/or that are costly to replace, get advice from professional movers to optimize the chances they’ll arrive at your Oz address in one piece.

Consider Import Taxes

The good news is that if you’re taking up residence in Australia, you won’t usually need to pay import tax on your personal belongings. You will, however, need to complete the appropriate paperwork for your belongings to be processed by the Australian customs officials. It’s important that the paperwork is completed correctly, or you could face anything from delays in your belongings being cleared by customers through to demands for import tax, or even goods being impounded.

In addition to completing the Australian Customs and Quarantine Declaration (B534), you’ll also need to provide a copy of your passport, as well as an inventory that details everything in your shipment. 

The correct paperwork doesn’t just help to ensure the speedy passage of your goods through customs, it also minimizes the risk of incurring additional charges that may be applied if your shipment hasn’t been accurately inventoried.

Inventories can be particularly challenging to complete – if you haven’t completed one before, or aren’t sure how to go about making one, an experienced, international shipping company can help.

Check Restricted Items

To minimize the risk of alien diseases, parasites, or pests being introduced into the Australian ecosystem inadvertently from abroad, there is a long list of items that can’t be shipped into Australia, or that need to be declared and subsequently cleared before they can enter the country.

As well as items that it’s fairly obvious will be restricted (alcohol or guns, for example), items such as seeds, soil, animal parts (such as tanned hide), fruit, and many other items with an organic origin are either banned from entry into the country or will need to be declared.

Importing banned items, even if they belong to you and aren’t usually considered dangerous or illegal, could still see you potentially fined and your items confiscated. The easiest way to avoid the expense and inconvenience of customs hold-ups is to make sure that you’re prepared!

If you can’t face having to cross-check all your possessions against the list of banned items, or items that need to be declared, enlist movers who are used to dealing with Australian customs regulations. 

They have the expertise not only to quickly identify items you will need to declare (or not bring), but also the experience to ensure your goods reach Australia safely and on schedule.

Save Money – Use An Established International Haulage Firm

When you opt for a seasoned haulage company that’s used to shipping to Australia, you’ll be working with a business that knows all the tricks and tips to keep costs as low as possible.

Not only can they advise on everything from the right packing materials to the cheapest way of moving your belongings from a to b, they can also help with tricky topics such as:

• the right sort of insurance for your goods when they’re in transit.
  
• how to safely transport fragile and/or awkwardly shaped items.
  
• the cheapest and safest way to ship vehicles, boats, machinery, or other large possessions.
  
• the right container size for your move.
  
• the type of timescales you’re looking at to get your goods moved.
  
• how your goods are tracked and what happens in the unlikely event your belongings get lost in transit.

UPakWeShip Offers An Affordable Straightforward Shipping Solution

If you’re moving to Australia and want an economical way of shipping your possessions to your new home, UPakWeShip is the solution. 

We provide secure crates in a selection of sizes so that customers can tailor their crate to the size of their move. 

There are also options to access pallet shipping and container shipping.

Get in touch with UPakWeShip for a FREE discussion of your requirements and a no-obligation quote.

The post Shipping Furniture (and Other Household Goods) To Australia On A Budget appeared first on UPakWeShip.

But does it financially make sense?

You may feel your furniture is invaluable, but it’s still worth exploring how to get it from A-B in the most cost-effective way possible.

Well, your options will vary depending on what furniture you’ll be bringing with you. If you’re shipping 95% boxes, but want to ship a sofa or a bed, it can hugely increase the price of your quote, and it’s usually cheaper to buy that item brand new when you land.

Consider the layout of your future house. Will your furniture physically fit into your new rooms? Will the aesthetic be the same as the house you’ve just moved from?

If the answer is yes, you have three main options for shipping large items…

A U-Crate 200, is specific to UPakWeShip – the largest self-packed crate we offer. Other companies may have similar sizes, and these crates are shipped alongside other movers’ belongings in a shared shipping container. The benefit of the U-Crate 200, is that whilst it is enormous, it is still a pallet-based-crate, which means the cost is lower and there is a flat rate… if it fits, it ships!

The U-Crate 200 is large enough to fit a couple of your most prized furniture items, alongside boxes. Prices will vary depending on where you’re shipping from and to, but you can find out precisely how much it will be via our immediate online rates!

Always bear in mind, not all companies offer up-front costs with customs and taxes included. Our self-packing service is notably lower due to not using a packing service. If you find quotes much lower, ensure they’re inclusive!

However…

…A shipping container may be exactly what you’re after! In which case, you can opt for either a 20-ft container, which is roughly the size of a one-car garage, or a 40-ft container, which is the size of a two-car garage!

A shipping container will be perfect for those looking to ship a reasonable amount of furniture, plus boxes and any other belongings you’ve decided to take with you. Shipping containers are also the best option if you’re looking to send a vehicle abroad too.

Quotes for shipping containers vary, but the sheer size of them means they are the most expensive option for movers. However, if you’re going to ship a large number of items, you might as well utilize the space! No matter how much space is used in your container, the price will be the same, so if you’re between a U-Crate 200 and a 20ft container, it’s worth bearing in mind!

The short answer of whether shipping furniture is worth it is simply, it’s up to you.

Many international moving companies will encourage their customers to ship more, as it raises the prices. But as mentioned, shipping furniture is usually more expensive than buying it brand new in your destination.

If you do choose to move furniture, ensure you’re working with a reliable mover with up-front costs and no-hidden-fees, so you don’t receive a nasty surprise at the end! With offices in the EU, Canada and UK, you can be confident your prized possessions will get from A-B safely and securely!

The post How Expensive is it to Move Furniture Abroad? appeared first on UPakWeShip.

Whilst others are out looking for the best school districts, you’ll most likely be looking for cities with the best expat communities or those which are renowned for being friendly and safe.

Your destination city will make all the difference to how the rest of your stay plans out. Which is why it’s so important to make an informed decision.

If you have the means, it’s highly recommended to visit wherever you’re seriously considering moving – although, this isn’t always possible.

In the meantime, with a lot of internet research and chatting to anyone you know who may have visited, you should get a solid idea of your new home before visiting.

Here are our top European cities for solo travellers:

Vienna, Austria

Full of beautiful architecture and limitless coffee shops, Vienna should be the destination of choice for any expat who dreams of lazy Sundays on European plazas, drinking cappuccinos and surrounded by buildings which are hundreds of years old.

The Viennese are extremely friendly, there’s a great expat community and, on the border of not just one or two – but seven countries, (Italy, Germany, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Switzerland), you will have plenty of opportunities to explore the rest of Europe.

Lyon, France

Those who believe Paris is the be-all-and-end-all of France, are very much mistaken. France has a number of beautiful, vibrant cities, but the one which comes out on top in our opinion, is Lyon.

Don’t let the size of Lyon put you off, it’s very bike and pedestrian-friendly, so you will rarely need your car within the city. The city isn’t too far from the Italian/Swiss border and is perfectly situated for a quick ski-break to the mountains. As is the way of France, expect bakeries on every corner and a 35-hour working week, ideal.

Bruges, Belgium

If your European dream resembles cobblestone streets, fairytale-esque buildings, and picture-perfect buildings along canals, welcome to Bruges.

The Belgians are a notoriously friendly bunch, and are extremely proud of their country and heritage. Bruges offers a more laid-back expat lifestyle but is the perfect place to meet locals and other expats alike, as people are very friendly. If you’re stuck for directions or inspiration, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a local who isn’t willing to give you some guidance.

Stockholm, Sweden

Scandinavia is renowned across the world for its progressive reputation on equality and tolerance, which makes it an extremely safe area of Europe for expats. However, Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, has our hearts.

The main drawback of Stockholm (or any Scandinavian country), is that the language is notoriously difficult. If you can’t be persuaded by the laidback aesthetic Swedish life, perhaps the proximity to the Northern Lights will persuade you. A quick trip to the North of the country will provide you with one of the most incredible experiences of your life.

Dublin, Ireland

Ranked as Number 12 in the Global Peace Index, Ireland is one of the safest countries to visit in the world – and where else to live but the nation’s capital, Dublin.

With thousands of expats each year, it’s impossible to walk the streets of the city without hearing a different accent or language. From Temple Bar, notorious for its pubs and clubs, to the beautiful squares, with buildings covered in Ivy, there’s something for everyone, and you’re bound to have the time of your life.

Looking at moving to Europe? If moving across the pond is on your horizon, it’s important to find a reliable international mover with no-hidden-costs to take you through the paces of emigrating.

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