THE ULTIMATE GUIDE FOR MOVING OVERSEAS
Everything You’ll Need To Know Before Moving Overseas.
Ask the Moving Doctor
Our resident Moving Doctor, Mark Nash is in the house! Mark has been in the moving business for 33 years, originally from England; he has moved 5 times internationally and has worked in England, mainland Europe, The Middle East and for the past 19 years in the USA. If he doesn’t know the answer to the question, he has enough friends in this industry to find out for you.
He currently sits on the board of the International Shippers Association and the Commercial Affairs committee at the International Association of Movers.
Mark will always do his best to provide an answer honestly, professionally and treat this forum as a place where everyone can learn about moving overseas.
Teri
Posted at 15:04h, 01 AprilHi Mark,
I called Upak about an upcoming U100 crate move. I am planning 9n loading the cratein my garage and was told a pallet jack would be used to take them to the truck. I was told that there could be no lip or curb to the garage. Virtually ever garage in Texas a has a 1 to 2 inch lip due to settling. Ours is 1.5 inches. Friends have said it shouldn’t be a problem, but I perfer to be pro active and prepared. Can the pallet jack handle the 1.5 inch lip into the garage? If not, can I fill in that are with sand, dirt or something else?
I also read no food items, but have been told by friends who previously used Upak that pantry items (canned and boxed food) were allowed. Some even said they packed liquids such as laundry soap without issues. I don’t want issues with the crate, but also would like to take some of those items if allowed.
Thanks for all your great advice.
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 10:42h, 04 AprilHi Teri, thanks for the message. I have answered you on email but in case anyone else is reading this a 1.5 inch drop down from garage to driveway shouldn’t be a problem. Officially we will always say in writing no food stuff or liquids…….
cheers
Frank Biganski
Posted at 06:16h, 30 MarchHi Mark,
Likely due to overseas scheduling conflicts with the various shipping lines you work with, Dianne with UPak has had to reschedule my pickup date three times (to get our belongings loaded onto the 20-foot overseas container.
But since my flight for the UK leaves before the next “scheduled” loading date, I’m going to have to entrust the loading aspect to a local muscle/moving company and handle this long distance.
I’m considering Two Men & Truck as I’ll need to hire a company, who I can entrust to properly load the container without my supervision. If you know of any other moving companies in the Newport News/Norfolk/Hampton Virginia area that you recommend, please let me know.
Anyway, can you tell me if the inside of a 20-foot shipping container has tie-down loops? All of my stuff will easily fit inside a 20-foot container as it’s presently in a 16-foot POD’s container and 98% of my stuff are boxes (see link below). But I’m wondering if the overseas containers has tie-down loops to help prevent my belongings from shifting.
Here’s a pic of my belongings in the PODS so you can see the simple load I’m working with. The other images are for Two Men and a Truck so they can provide me with an estimate to load the container.
https://www.screencast.com/t/SILwsWne9JD1
Thanks Mark and by the way, my wife was born in Cambridgeshire, England, which is partly why we’re moving from the US to the UK — to spend our semi-retired years in east London.
Cheers!
Frank
Hampton, Virginia
USA
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 10:20h, 04 AprilHello Frank, thanks for the message, I have passed on to Devin in our office to contact you but in the meantime as a quick answer, yes shipping containers have tie down hooks every couple of feet at the bottom and top of the side walls.
Regarding help for loading, I have heard good things about Hampton Roads Moving and storage up there.
Also http://www.movinghelp.com might be able to help you find a loading crew.
Cheers and hope this helps
Mags bowen
Posted at 22:54h, 24 MarchHi there. I’m already in Australia but need 12 boxes sending from Calgary Canada. On your website it states “ you provide the crate” does this mean we have to pick the crate up from somewhere or can it be delivered by you guys? Sorry I’ve never done this before and having to get a friend to do it and don’t want to put her out too much. Thsnkyou
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 10:13h, 04 AprilHello Mags, I’m sorry but we don’t have a service to Australia from Canada at this time. We only serve UK and Europe at present from Canada. Cheers
Ed Bednarz
Posted at 17:03h, 28 FebruaryHow much time do I have to load the container? When it is finished do you wrap it in plastic to prevent water damage?
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 11:55h, 01 MarchHello Ed, if you mean a 20 foot shipping container, you get two hours free then its about $95 per hour while the truck and driver waits, depending where you are in the world. If you are talking about our U Crates, then you have as long as you like to load them, they just need to be ready on the collection day that you schedule and they all come with plastic covers. Once they get back to our warehouse we then load them into a 40 foot shipping container.
I hope this helps and let me know if you have any other questions or concerns with your International Relocation, Cheers The International Moving Doctor.
Tamilyn
Posted at 14:50h, 06 FebruaryI have used this company twice for moves. I want to ship only two or three boxes from the US to the UK. Is a small move worth it?
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 11:37h, 07 FebruaryHello Tamilyn, our smallest service is a small pallet which is about twice the size probably of what you have so the answer is probably no. There are other options though like Fedex, the post office or look online for a service called “sendmybag.com” which I believe is a good way to send 2 or 3 suitcases.
I hope that helps and anything else let me know, cheers The International Moving Doctor.
Mirella Corazza
Posted at 14:01h, 04 FebruaryPlanning to move from Phoenix, Arizona to Finland around June 2022. Willing to take with me my personal effects and furniture of 1 bedroom apartment. I am considering 1x20ft container which I think will not be full. Eventually considering a few of crates/pallets. I would like to compare prices. I would appreciate to get some information about. Thank you very much!
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 11:31h, 07 FebruaryHello Mirella, thank you for your post. At the moment container rates are very expensive due to the shipping crisis and overbooked ships, lack of empty containers, port congestion and shortage of truck drivers so to be honest unless your furniture is really good quality and you are sure its going to fit in your new place, I think you might be better to ship your smaller things in one or two U Crates and save yourself some money and buy some new furniture when you get there. I am passing this on to our customer service guy Devin to contact you though and give you some prices.
Cheers the International Moving Doctor.
Marisol Greenwald
Posted at 16:33h, 03 FebruaryI am just now starting my inquiries. I will be inheriting furniture and other items in Malaga and Madrid Spain and will need to ship to Phoenix, AZ. How do I even begin to arrange this and are there different options for packing, picking up and delivering? Is the cost dependent on size or weight? What about Customs?
Do you handle from Spain to US, or only the other way around? I am a complete novice at this.
thank you
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 10:12h, 04 FebruaryHello Marisol, I will put you in touch with our local UPakWeShip manager in Spain called Steve Bridge, email Stephen Bridge
He can definitely help you and answer all your questions, Cheers the International Moving Doctor
Chris
Posted at 12:47h, 18 JanuaryI am trying to find the cost of shipping 6 cubic metres of household items from Johannesburg to Perth.
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 12:58h, 19 JanuaryHello Chris, thanks for your message. At the moment we only service moves with our own operations in and out of the USA, Canada, Europe and the UK. So unfortunately we can not help you with this move. There are many fine movers in South Africa though that can help you with this move.
Cheers The International Moving Doctor
Madeline A Tokach
Posted at 15:37h, 30 DecemberGreetings – I notice the rates shown on your website are valid from 30 miles out from the nearest terminal. Although we are planning on our move to take place next year (probably in the fall), we were wondering if the extra cost to the terminal is priced by the mile. Since things right now are so very fluid, especially with the current Covid situation I am just wondering how this all plays out. Any assistance you can provide would be helpful. Unfortunately since I do not drive, getting the goods to the nearest terminal would not be a workable option. Thank you and have a wonderful New Years’
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 10:37h, 03 JanuaryHello Madeline, thank you. Happy and Healthy 2022 to you as well.
Normally if you are a little over 30 miles it would probably end up an extra $100-$200 more depending on the size of the shipment. If you are way in the sticks or up a mountain then it could be a lot more or not serviceable by a large truck. If you need a more accurate quote drop Devin an email devin@upakweship.com and he can get you a quote for now at least to give you a rough budget even though things might have gone up a little when you actually move.
I hope that helps and let me know if you need anything else.
Cheers The International Moving Doctor
Madeline A Tokach
Posted at 17:43h, 03 JanuaryThank you very much for your prompt response. I will definitely get in touch with Devin when our plans are more concrete. Stay safe!
susan Stanley
Posted at 22:17h, 28 DecemberWhat’s the address for your Boston location? We’re dropping off our shipment there and need the details 😊
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 10:44h, 29 DecemberHello Susan, it depends what service you have booked. Once you have received your booking confirmation and booking number and paid the deposit, the address will be emailed to you. Please check with our customer service manager if you need more information. devin@upakweship.com Hope that helps, cheers The International Moving Doctor (IMD)
Liz Polasek
Posted at 14:38h, 26 DecemberHello ,
Is it possible to store my shipment in the U.S. until I am ready to have it shipped to Lisbon, Portugal. I am planning on securing a portion of a container from Washington state to Lisbon. I need to have the contents out of my home by January 20, 2022 and will not be going to Portugal until May 2022. Please advise. Thank you and Happy Holiday!
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 12:36h, 27 DecemberHello Liz, if you are using our U Crate or pallet services we can certainly store for you until you are ready to ship over to Portugal. devin@upakweship.com or dianne@upakweship.com can confirm storage rates for you. Cheers and Happy New Year to you, The International Moving Doctor (IMD)
NT
Posted at 23:33h, 21 DecemberHello The Moving Doctor! We are preparing a U-Crate 50 for shipping and are wondering how waterproof we should make our boxes. Would you recommend lining each one with plastic in addition to the plastic wrap that will cover the entire exterior of the U-Crate?
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 12:42h, 27 DecemberHello, if you have items that are priceless or irreplaceable like photos then I would say yes. If its just normal items its not normally necessary but if it gives you piece of mind and you have the time why not. Better to be safe than sorry just in case.
The simple answer is I’m 99.5% confident items wont get wet but there is always a small chance!
Hope that helps, cheers The International Moving Doctor (IMD)
Jana
Posted at 09:48h, 20 DecemberCan we build our own crate (larger than your standard pallet or pre-made)? What size or weight restrictions are there for a self-built crate if we want it to ship from the US to Portugal via Rotterdam? How do we get an estimated shipping cost?
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 10:11h, 20 DecemberHello Jana, you can build your own pallet or crate. Just send us the dimensions and we will confirm the rate. Just bear in mind if you go much bigger than our U Crate 100 specs, it might be difficult to load and unload with a pallet jack at the origin and destination. The weight limit will depend on the crate size but generally 1000 lbs is about the mas to safely move on a pallet jack on and off a truck with a tail lift. I hope that helps and let us know if you have more questions on this or call our sales manager Devin for a quote or email devin@upakweship.com
cheers The International Moving Doctor.
JEFFREY ELLIOTT
Posted at 08:52h, 07 DecemberHello Mark, I am moving from USA to Sweden. I have minimal stuff and I am going to purchase 2 pallets for the move. Can you tell me if there is a particular pallet grade, certification, or material I should purchase for international moves? Thank you ~Jeff
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 11:03h, 07 DecemberHello Jeffrey, any purpose built pallet from a manufacturer or heavy duty plastic pallets are fine on that route. Rules are more stringent to Australia and New Zealand though.You can often find a pallets or two on industrial estates or behind stores if you ask or buy them from Amazon.
Hope that helps and let me know if you have any other questions, cheers The International Moving Doctor.
Deb
Posted at 17:06h, 05 DecemberHi Mark
We will be moving to Portugal in Jan 2022 and we are looking at a U crate 200, we live in Tampa, Florida and I am checking to see how much we could save by driving our stuff up to the Charleston Terminal and packing it there. Thank you.
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 13:20h, 06 DecemberThanks for asking Deb, I will ask our Sales Manager Devin to contact you by email and give you the options, cheers The International Moving Doctor.
Mohammed Ibrahem AlSobay
Posted at 16:13h, 02 DecemberHi My son is moving from VA to Saudi Arabia (Riyadh).He has his car and personal things (clothes, 2 TVs, kitchen small appliances and other things).
Container is too big and expensive. how can I ship it cheaply.
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 13:15h, 03 DecemberMahaba Mohammed. My advice would be then to leave the car behind and just take the personal things. A U Crate 100 would probably fit all the personal stuff so you would save a lot rather than shipping a container. If he still wants to take the car, look around for a roll on roll of service which you might be able to get from Baltimore to Jeddah or Dammam port.
Cheers
Dave Y
Posted at 12:48h, 28 NovemberHello. My family and I are moving to Portugal. We want to ‘test the waters’ before actually moving too many of our belongings. I understand that Portugal has a ‘baggage certificate’ that is available to immigrants for up to 1 year after establishing residence. I’ve also heard that UPakWeShip will ship through The Netherlands so that the entry into the EU is not in Portugal. Does that mean that we could ship 2 years out instead of up to 1 and avoid the baggage certificate all together? Obrigado.
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 12:03h, 29 NovemberHello Dave, you can ship 1 or two as many times as you want via Rotterdam using our pallet and U Crate services without the Baggage Cert but if you choose a 20 or 40ft container to load then that would be shipped into Lisbon direct and you would need the Baggage Certificate to clear through Customs in Portugal. I hope that helps and if you need more clarification, please email me at move@upakweship.com
Cheers The International Moving Doctor
Don Beu
Posted at 14:00h, 25 NovemberHI we are planning to use your services in the next month or two. I had read elsewhere, that the 100 container arrives flat, and can require 3 or more people to assemble. Is that correct? How hard is it to put together? Thanks. Don
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 11:58h, 29 NovemberHello Don, yes it arrives flat and weighs a little over 100 lbs so if you needed to take it upstairs you might need two of you but for assembly you can do it yourself but it might be easier with two of you but not essential. Its only 4 pieces, a wood pallet bottom with a cardboard floor, two sides and a top. Then of course the straps and cover but all can be done with one person if need be. I found when loading myself, a small step ladder helps to get to the top layer but I’m only 5’8 so a little short! Hope that helps, cheers The International Moving Doctor.
Barbara Gary
Posted at 05:13h, 11 NovemberWe have a storage unit in NYC with clothes dishes glasses records prints rugs that we we want shipped to Cormons Italy near Trieste andvVenice. If it is collected in Feb what time frame for delivery? The unit is 5x10x7
Thankyou
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 13:18h, 11 NovemberHello Barbara, as you probably know, shipping logistics is a mess right now so estimating transit times is difficult but as long as we can get space in February on a ship then the transit time would be around 8-10 weeks. We would be able to confirm that more nearer the time but hopefully that help you for the moment.
Cheers The International Moving Doctor
Bob Wenger
Posted at 17:21h, 03 NovemberWe are moving to Porto, Portugal, from Orlando, Florida. We are considering a pallet crate. Where would we need to get the loaded pallet to for shipping.
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 11:52h, 04 NovemberHello Bob, all you have to do is pack and load your pallet on your driveway or curbside and we will collect it and deliver it to your driveway or curbside 6-8 weeks later in Porto! For more information click here. https://rates.upakweship.com/service-category/florida/florida-to-portugal/ Cheers The International Moving Doctor
Diane Mandle
Posted at 08:47h, 03 NovemberCan I ship Ancient Tibetan singing bowls and some antique family heirlooms I would like to have in my house in France from California ?
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 12:51h, 03 NovemberHello Diane, I have no reason why they could not be unless the materials are banned or they are wanted back in Tibet meaning there is some dispute over ownership or there is some ban on shipping items from Tibet?. If these are just you normal personal effects though they can be shipped with any other china and glass that you might be shipping. Cheers The International Moving Doctor
Amanda
Posted at 18:07h, 25 OctoberHi Mark.
My husband and I will be moving back to the UK from the US (Arizona) early 2022. Depending on when our house sells we would probably be looking to send our belongings in a 20ft container ahead of our own journey on March 26 (possibly 6 weeks ahead).
I’ve spent time on the last few months or more looking at your website and we had pretty much decided your company was the way forward. However, I have not seen any updates on your website relating to the current situation regarding shipping container shortages, shipping backlogs, shortage of drivers to collect the containers etc. We are also concerned about the possibility of our container being delayed at the port in the UK due to the current backlog/driver shortage issues and incurring a significant additional fee by the port authorities.
Can you please advise regarding this situation? Is all the info on your website still current, or have things significantly changed due to these unprecedented times?
Thank you so much!
Amanda
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 09:40h, 26 OctoberHello Amanda, thank you for your comments which are quite correct. We have all be so busy here we have not done well at keeping the blog up to date with the latest developments. Which are as follows:
In a nutshell, the ships are full, there is no room for more containers in the ports, the is a huge lack of truckers in the USA, Europe, the UK and probably elsewhere as well. Shipping rates keep going up and yes due to the delays in getting a container on and off the ships and through the ports, the shipping lines charge lots of extra charges for container storage which has the fancy name of demurrage.
The British Assoc of Removals has just issued this report below.
Moving companies and their customers need to be aware of the following:
1. Freight rates will increase for 2022, both as part of contract renegotiations, and as
shipping lines continue to apply congestion or service surcharges, often with no notice.
2. The shortage of space will likely continue well into 2022 and beyond, this means longer
booking times are required to obtain space on a vessel, which are already in many cases
in excess of 6 to 8 weeks.
3. Service failures may be much more common; either issues with haulage meaning the
container isn’t loaded or changes to the vessel schedule, which are both likely to cause
delays and additional costs to the customers.
4. There may be a reduction in service offerings. Shipping lines are likely to suspend
certain trades and offer less port coverage as they streamline their services.
Having said all that negativity, some routes are working better than others and its easier to get truckers booked on time to do local work rather than long distance. Here in Charleston where I am based for example we have truckers we use every day in Charleston but try and get them to drive upstate to Greenville at the moment, they are not interested. This is the same in many port cities. Unfortunately to be honest this does not bear well for Arizona. Trucking rates are increasing all the time and service failures are common. These is obviously the same whichever moving company or shipping company you use.
Here are some suggestions you might like to consider.
Ship your personal items in a couple of U Crates. ( we truck them into Charleston and load out of here in a consolidated container most weeks ok)
Store your larger items in a self store and reconsider shipping later in 2022 or just sell the larger items.
I am sorry to sound negative, if you still want to try it we will obviously do our best but I would budget possibly a couple of thousand extra for delays and storage.
Its not a lot of fun in the international moving business right now!
I hope this helps and feel free to contact me if you need to chat further about this. move@upakweship.com
Amanda
Posted at 19:47h, 26 OctoberMark. Thank you so much for your prompt, honest and comprehensive reply. It certainly gives us a lot to think about and we will be considering our options carefully. I know these must be trying times for you and your team. We will hopefully be in touch in the near future. Thanks again!
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 14:41h, 29 OctoberHi Amanda, how about using U Haul containers to ship your things to Charleston, we can then load the container for you from Charleston. https://www.uhaul.com/UBox/ let me know if this might work for you, cheers
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 11:10h, 29 OctoberHi Amanda, thanks for the reply. There is one other option but it involves a road trip! That would be to rent a U Haul and you drive everything to our office in Charleston SC and load the container in our yard. We could have the container sitting here ready for you and you could have all day to load it. It would avoid extra charges and service failures and obviously the rate from Our office to the UK would be a lot less than from Arizona. Yes its a long drive but the price is probably about $3,000 cheaper with no service failures so ever paying for the truck rental you would be saving. However I appreciate that’s a long drive but it is an option!
We are also starting a new service in conjunction with a domestic carrier in the next few weeks where we can drop a 250 cuft crate on your driveway or two of them and it gets collected and trucked to Charleston. We would unload the domestic crates and load into our U Crate 200’s and Ucrate 100 and ship it that way.
Just some other options to consider if you like.
Cheers and I’m glad its Friday, enjoy the weekend,
Amanda
Posted at 14:11h, 15 NovemberThanks for the updated info Mark. I just spoke to Diane in your West coast location to discuss our options. I think the new service you are offering may be the way to go. Really appreciate your help and we will be in touch in early January to finalize our booking.
Kamil Konopka
Posted at 21:32h, 02 OctoberQuestion 1) I have a pallet that is in base 47 inches in length. In such case is it possible to stack 2 boxes, 24 in length each for the total of 48? They will stick out a bit from the pallet but still conform to the required length?
Question 2) assuming 72 inches height. Does that include the height of the pallet? (5 inches loss). I wanted to use 18in height boxes and stack 4 of them. 18X4 gives me exactly 72 but that does not include that pallet’s height. Would that be ok or not?
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 11:09h, 04 OctoberHello Kamil, yes you can load up to 48 inches in length no problem. The good news is you also get 72 inches not including the pallet height.
Hope that’s all good for you?
cheers The Intl Moving Doctor
Beck
Posted at 03:52h, 21 SeptemberHi, We are moving from Ireland to California. Have your customers had any problems with mold in their shipments? Is there any kind of climate control or recommended tips to keep our items from getting any moisture or mold issues?
Thank you
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 10:05h, 21 SeptemberHello Beck, thanks for the great question. Although the USA can get quite humid I personally have not seen any problems with mold but I do hear it can be a problem particularly from Asia. Trucks, warehouses and shipping containers do not typically have any climate control but with the transit time being between 6-10 weeks depending on the services you are choosing I am 99% sure if the items are clean and dry when they are loaded they will be clean and dry when they get delivered to California. Now would I store my furniture long term in a non climate controlled warehouse in Florida? Absolutely not but for a short transit time across the Atlantic it should not be a worry. You could also put some of those little moisture eating bags in with any electronics you might be shipping just to be safe.
I hope this helps and let me know if you need any more clarification.
Cheers The International Moving Doctor.
Donya
Posted at 12:31h, 09 SeptemberWhat happens if I can’t find a pallet to put my boxes on? Do you provide one that I could purchase ?
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 09:07h, 13 SeptemberHello Donya, you should be able to find one locally from the back of a store or a near by industrial estate but if not you can buy them on Amazon and have one delivered to you. I hope that helps, we can send you one if need be but it will be more expensive than buying from Amazon.
Cheers The International Moving Doctor.
Reyne Bocharov
Posted at 03:37h, 07 SeptemberI have a total of 64.5 cu ft worth of boxes to ship to Brussels, Belgium from Charlottesville VA. #20 boxes 3 cu ft each and #1 box of 4.5 cu ft. What would my cost be? When could you pick it up? Can you store the pallet in Belgium if I need more time with covid and flights/visa situations? Is the price reduced if I provide my own pallet?
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 15:19h, 07 SeptemberHello Reyne, thanks for the message. I have passed your inquiry onto Devin in our customer service department. He will be contacting you soon and will advise on costs as well as the storage charges which is no problem at all.
Cheers, The International Moving Doctor.
Carol McMah
Posted at 04:33h, 05 SeptemberI’m moving from Munich, Germany to the San Jose areas in California and need to know how many cubic feet of possessions I have to order the right containers from you.I have many books and two of the items are bookcases. What is the best way to estimate total cubic feet? Further, my shipment will go to an acquaintance to be stored there until I find a place to live. Can you advise me please?
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 15:16h, 07 SeptemberHello Carol, thanks for the question. I have passed this over to our EU office to contact you and answer your questions. They should be in touch tomorrow.
Cheers The International Moving Doctor.
Cathy
Posted at 21:01h, 27 AugustHi, just wondering if things like laptops and cell phones can be shipped? Have some old ones I’m not currently using but don’t want to get rid of
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 12:58h, 01 SeptemberYes no problem Cathy. Cheers The International Moving Doctor.
Lori Ravelli
Posted at 21:36h, 19 AugustI am looking into moving from the US to Portugal…I have read a lot about your company and will be emailing for a quote when we are ready to move forward. I am a hairstylist and want to bring my salon equipment, products to work abroad. I noticed it says restricted items are dyes…and paints. Is hair color allowed to be shipped? Also I am an artist and use acrylic paint on canvas…are those items able to ship to Portugal? This is imperative information for me to be able to pack…so you can ship. Thanks you!
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 09:27h, 23 AugustHello Lori, yes if they are relatively small amounts ie less than a box full so they are in a box with other things, and they are for your own personal use. I would also put these items in a zip lock back before packing into a cardboard box just in case there was a leak.
Cheers The International Moving Doctor.
Julia Peterson
Posted at 11:39h, 05 AugustWe will be moving from the United States to England in a few months. We are having trouble finding out if we are able to ship our pet ashes in our household shipment, or what would be the best way to ship them. This is a permanent move.
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 09:03h, 06 AugustHello Julia, yes you can ship the ashes in your shipment no problem. Just make sure they are well packed and sealed.
We have shipped ashes many time before and not had a problem.
Cheers The International Moving Doctor.
Pegs
Posted at 04:59h, 01 AugustHi Mark! I am all booked, Just trying to log in to get my Packing List generator – unable to find a log in window. Any advise? Thanks!
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 11:00h, 02 AugustHello Peggy, I’ll get customer service to contact you and sort it out. We did an update over the weekend so that might be the problem, cheers and thanks for letting us know, The International Moving Doctor
Åse Christensen
Posted at 04:41h, 12 JulyDo you ship from Namibia to Denmark?
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 10:16h, 15 JulyUnfortunately we have no services from Namibia.
cheers, The International Moving Doctor
Valerie
Posted at 12:51h, 10 JulyCan I store my belongings here in USA with upackweship until I am ready to move international to Portugal?? It may be several months.
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 10:19h, 15 JulyHello Valerie, Yes you can store your items in our warehouse before shipping to Portugal if you are shipping a U Crate or a pallet. We charge $25 per pallet position per week. This however does not work with self load shipping containers.
I hope this helps, anything else let me know, cheers The International Moving Doctor.
Peter Wetterhall
Posted at 09:42h, 27 JuneHi Mark. It is Sunday, but hoping you might answer. Sorry if you have already answered this somewhere among the 4000 comments. We searched a bit first! We are packing a 100cu/ft U-crate. Since those have a cardboard top, what is the best way to ‘even out’ the space above so that it fits ‘properly’? Also, if the total height ends up an inch or two below 72-inches, is that a problem? Do we need to add inches of stuffing?? Thanks! Peter
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 15:17h, 28 JuneHi Peter, good questions, as these U Crate 100’s have a lid and will always stay upright, it doesn’t really matter if they are not completely full. If however you fill any gaps near the top with cushions, blankets or similar it will keep it solid and stop anything jiggling around. Some people cut the edges down a few inches and then put the lid on as well which is another option and quite acceptable. It is still the same price though even though it would be a slightly smaller volume.
I hope that helps and let me know if you need more info.
Cheers The International Moving Doctor.
Jytte J Devous
Posted at 21:14h, 25 Junewhere is your warehouse in AZ?
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 15:20h, 28 JuneHello Jytte, our receiving terminal in Arizona is in Phoenix.
If you click on the link you can see our new USA terminals page.
Cheers The International Moving Doctor
Anna
Posted at 06:40h, 25 JuneHi Mark
We are receiving confusing information about our move back to UK from Spain in October.
According to the HMRC TOR team, we should qualify for TOR relief and hence pay no duty or taxes on our possessions.
It has been suggested that the removal company has to complete the TOR on our behalf (and at a cost no doubt). The HMRC say they would prefer we completed it.
I would be very grateful to learn the process that happens at customs. We are assuming (perhaps naively) that, once we have supplied the company with our URN, the process should be smooth at customs.
Many thanks for your advice.
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 09:45h, 25 JuneHello Anna, thanks for the question. I am based in the USA and we move a lot of returning Brits from here back home. We always suggest they apply for and obtain the TOR themselves and provide us with the TOR number so we can input it into the system for Customs when your shipment arrives in the UK for customs clearance.
Personally I do not think the mover should be completing this as its your goods and the questions are asking for personal information that the mover should not know. We have the form and an explanation help presentation on how to complete the TOR form here. Hopefully that should help you. Once you receive your TOR number and give it to the mover they should take care of customs for you. They will also need a packing list of what you have in your shipment and a copy of your passport.
If you need more help let me know, cheers The International Moving Doctor.
Peggy
Posted at 12:10h, 21 JuneMy family is planning to move from Hong Kong to Portugal. Upon consulting Upackweship, it seemed this is not a route that’s covered unfortunately. I have consulted different international movers locally, the quote appeared to be fluctuating like the seafood pricing and some would not help with the necessary documentations or being vague on the custom clearance aspects etc. and there are mixed comments regarding the service quality online. I wonder if you could by any chance having any partners in the region that you might have worked with that is reliable/reputable to recommend for reference? Thanks very much!
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 09:42h, 22 JuneHello Peggy, thanks for the question. I don’t know how much you want to ship but I suggest if possible to ship through a groupage service to somewhere like The Netherlands and then have your things transported to Portugal by road. This is a much easier route to avoid the strict customs procedures that are implemented at the Portuguese port of Lisbon. I believe an old friend called Andy Mak from a company called Asian Express would be able to help you with this. Andy Mak | Asian Express
Send him my best wishes. Any other questions or advice particularly about the European end of your relocation, dont hesitate to ask.
Cheers Mark Nash
Peggy
Posted at 20:11h, 22 JuneThanks so much for your tips and advice, Mark! We will get in touch with your friend Andy@Asian Express and explore further. And thanks in advance for the kind offer, will absolutely reach out should we have further questions on the European end of relocation. You have a great day, take care. 🙂
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 12:13h, 23 JuneHi Peggy, I realized the email address didn’t publish right for some reason! Lets try again!
amak@aemovers.com.hk
Christine
Posted at 18:33h, 14 JuneHello
I am about to make a deposit for my booking but I am confused about timing and dates. I need a container to be at my house in Canada on either 29th 30th 31st July or 1st or 2nd August to load up to go to United Kingdom. I also need a time so I can book a moving company to help me load a 20ft container. When will I get this information please.
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 10:19h, 15 JuneHello Christine, please complete our online booking form and under the other comments at the bottom of the page type in your pick up date window. UPakWeShip will then do its very best to accomplish those dates and match them with a shipping line booking and then confirm to you that these dates are possible. Once that is done we will then ask you for a deposit and email you our contract and paperwork that needs to be completed.
So make a booking, let us conform dates and then pay deposit.
Hope that’s OK for you and bon voyage.
Cheers The International Moving Doctor.
Hannah
Posted at 20:52h, 01 JuneHello! I have a table that is 46″ in length and I would like to get the 50 cubic Ubox. Do you think it could squeeze in there? Is the box semi-flexible?
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 10:06h, 02 JuneHello Hannah, the U Crates are not very flexible otherwise they wouldn’t do such a great job on protection, but i would think it would fit, if you place it in at an angle like / if that makes sense?
Cheers The International Moving Doctor
Andrew norman
Posted at 12:10h, 31 MayGood morning Mark,
We are moving back to the UK from nw suburbs of Chicago in about 10 weeks.
We will be using you,my question is,what is the time scale from pick up here to drop off at destination address?
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 14:19h, 01 JuneHello Andrew, First of all thank you for choosing UPakWeShip. Transit times depend a little on the service you choose. At the moment we are averaging 5-7 weeks for U Crates and Pallet services and for a self load 20ft its more like 4-5 weeks. I hope this helps. Anything else let me know. Cheers The International Moving Doctor.
Travis
Posted at 13:19h, 24 MayHello Mark,
My family and I are preparing to move to Paris, France in the near future. We are looking at using a U-Crate 100 to ship our belongings but would like to know what kind of boxes you suggest using to make the most efficient use of the space and also protect our belongings the best. Cardboard boxes or plastic totes? We’ve got a few boxes of more fragile items (FYI)
Thanks!
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 10:06h, 25 MayHello Travis, plastic totes work well if not too heavy. The only problem with them is if you stack them on top of each other and they are heavy, you end up with the bottom ones cracking. You also loose a bit of space as Totes seem to angle inwards towards the base. Cardboard boxes in this country come in all different shapes and sizes with no uniform standards so I suggest using a cardboard carton of about 4.5 cubic feet. Keep them all the same size if possible so they easily stack on top of each other. Stack around the edges and if there is a gap in the middle, that’s perfect for out of size items such as beach chairs, fishing poles, guitar in a case or in my case, my keyboard!
Wrap the fragile items up well in packing paper and bubble wrap. Screw up some paper and place in bottom of carton and on top for protection or use a cushion if you have one. Although fragile, the cartons will be probably quite heavy so place at the bottom of the stack on the base of the U Crate. Make sure boxes are full, meaning no air left in them or space so that when you load another box on top they keep their strength and shape.
Lastly, make sure if using cartons you tape them up well across the middle of the flaps and the seams along the edge. like an H
I hope that helps and let us know if you need any other questions answered, Happy Packing! Cheers The International Moving Doctor
Alpha Sesay
Posted at 13:20h, 16 MayI live in Lake worth, Florida and trying to ship a container to Sierra Leone. How can you help. I intend to ship house hold items and a car.
I look forward talking with you.
Tel: 929 575 8191
Alpha
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 10:36h, 17 MayHello Alpha, thanks for the message but not our specialty to be honest. We do more Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
There is a company called AGS if you Google it that can possibly help you with this. Cheers The International Moving Doctor
Paul
Posted at 03:13h, 13 MayHi can you please tell me if I can ship a motorcycle in your you crate 200? If not how much roughly does it cost to ship a motorcycle from Southampton uk to fremantle western Australia? Thanks Paul
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 09:45h, 13 MayHello Paul, thanks for the great question. Our U Crate 200’s are not designed for motorcycles so the answer is no we can’t I am afraid. We also find that all motorized vehicles and boats tend to delay all our other customers shipments in the container as well as increase the risks of extra Customs scrutiny so we therefore do not ship them in our consolidated containers.There are however companies that do specialize in shipping bikes and cars if you Google it.
I believe Australia has some strict rules on importing bikes so do check out the rules and regs first before shipping.
Cheers, The International Moving Doctor.
Carolyn
Posted at 23:01h, 12 MayCan I pack cosmetics, lotions, deodorant. Contact lenses in my shipping container going from US to UK?
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 09:48h, 13 MayYes you can as long as they are for personal use. I suggest putting them in zip lock bags first before packing them into a box named something like bathroom items, just in case anything leaks.
Cheers The International Moving Doctor
Carolyn
Posted at 22:56h, 12 MayCan I pack used cosmetics in my shipping container- lipsticks, eyeshadows, face powder, lip glosses, lotions, etc?
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 09:50h, 13 MayHi Carolyn, yes you can see the reply in your other question above. All ok and no problem.
Happy Packing!
Cheers The International Moving Doctor.
Daniel Marczuk
Posted at 17:10h, 01 MayHi. I have a question regarding the shipment to US, I’m a mechanic and i will move to US in few weeks. I’m just wondering how i can transport my toolbox with tools to US? How i can do it? And how much will cost me transport to Houston Texas? Do you do it door to door service? Thank you for your help.
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 09:20h, 03 MayHello Daniel, thanks for the question. Obviously tools are heavy so they are expensive to ship whichever way you choose. May be a U Crate 50 could be the way to go if you have some tools as well as some other items like clothes to balance out the weight but the U Crate prices are based on 500lbs so if it is more weight than that there will be some excess weight charges. The main reason for this is the trucking charges in the USA are all done by weight. Yes we would clear through customs and deliver to your door / curbside in Texas. I am not sure where you are moving from but we have our own offices in the UK and also Europe. I hope that helps, cheers The International Moving Doctor.
Tricia
Posted at 16:39h, 27 AprilGood day Mark– First off, gratitude for your wonderful book on moving.
My family and I are headed overseas from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in USA to Singapore.
I’ve submitted info to upakweship multiple times for a quote but it seems they are the only ones that haven’t got back?
Also, when I use the instant rates system on the upakweship website, looks like Singapore isn’t an option on the dropdown menu.
It’s leading me to think that somehow, Singapore might have a different custom or upakweship doesn’t ship to Singapore?
Additionally, does upakweship take care of the custom clearance and other documentation?
I’ve been looking into DIY vs. hiring an international moving company, and outside of the option for having them do the packing, I’m not sure why someone would choose a moving company with all the bells and whistles instead of upakweship? Am I missing something here? Thank you in advance —Trici
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 08:59h, 28 AprilHello Tricia, thank you so much for the comments on my book. I am glad it has helped.
The automatic rating system is great for our popular destinations where we consolidate all the U Crates going in that direction together in shipping containers and our own offices handle the customs paperwork and delivery services.
Singapore however although a wonderful place is not one of our major destinations and therefore we have to work out a custom quote for you on this route.
With the amount of volume we are handling this year after last years slow down and the lack of shipping space available on ships right now and rising rates, its hard to keep up with some of these custom quote requests. If you could email me your details on what you need a quote for though I will work this up for you. Our rate will include customs clearance and delivery into your residence in Singapore and all related port and shipping fees. The only extras would be if something extra happened not accounted for such as a customs inspection or possible X Ray that they charge for.
Regarding the self pack verses a moving co with the bells and whistles…… I totally agree lol but in all fairness there are some that do not want to or can not or don’t have time to pack themselves or their company just orders and pays for the move and takes care of everything so the employee doesn’t have top worry about anything!
Please email me your choice of service and requirements Tricia and I’ll email you the door to door custom quote and I really apologize that you haven’t heard back from our team yet.
Presume you did check your junk email folder?
Cheers Mark, move@upakweship.com
Mark V.Ryyppo
Posted at 17:37h, 25 AprilDo you ship within Canada from Vancouver B.C. to Thunder Bay Ontario? Estimated Two twenty foot containers or single larger container.
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 09:47h, 26 AprilHello Mark, thanks for the question. We do not do any local / domestic moving in the same Country at any of our locations.
Thanks for asking though.
Cheers, The International Moving Doctor.
Kirsten
Posted at 06:57h, 18 AprilI originally used the company to move from the US to UK and now need to move back to the US. Can I use the same 48×40 pallet I originally purchased, or do I need a new EU pallet?
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 13:38h, 19 AprilHello Kirsten, thanks for the great question. The good news is yes you can use the same pallet and the rates for the UK to USA pallet service are on line here. https://upakweship.uk.com/
Anything else you need please let us know and thank you for trusting us again for your move across the pond.
Cheers The International Moving Doctor
Jon
Posted at 20:07h, 07 AprilHello,
We are moving from Ireland back home to the USA. Our items will go towards the USA, but we ourselves will first visit family in the UK before heading across the Atlantic. Concerning Form 3299, we do not know the date when we will arrive in the USA because we have not booked transport yet. We need to wait because we are unsure of how many days/weeks we expect to stay in the UK. We also know that rules are continually changing due to covid, so we would want to book our journey to the USA closer to our date of departure. How do we deal with this? I do not know how soon our household items are likely to arrive in the USA, and I also wonder if we need to be back there ourselves before the items are delivered. Thank you.
The Moving Doctor
Posted at 09:38h, 09 AprilHello Jon, that is a very good question. I am presuming you are American citizens? Technically you are meant to be in the USA when your container arrives and that is shown on the 3299 / import documents that note your arrival date and flight number. However in the last year with Covid going on, we have cleared numerous containers and delivered to a friend of the family where the owners have not been able to travel back to the USA yet.
So the official answer is you would have to be here but Customs seem to be understanding if you are not at the moment. May be an accompanying letter explaining your situation and expected eta back home could be submitted along with your documents. Also note whatever date you think you will be flying and flight number on the import documents even if it changes later. I hope that helps and feel free to let me know if you have further questions. Cheers The International Moving Doctor.