Whether you’re moving to Portugal to retire by the coast, moving to Italy for your studies, or have decided to start a new career in Germany, there are a myriad of reasons why you may be relocating to Europe. There are so many wonderful cities, towns and villages in Europe, from the cobbled streets of Prague to the blue-hued rooftops of Santorini, so it’s no wonder that many people from the UK dream of relocating and starting life somewhere new.
However, when it comes to relocating to Europe, there’s more to think about than which swimming costume or sunhat to pack. While your chosen destination may only be a few hours away by plane, you also have the additional pressures of packing up your belongings, making sure you comply with all relevant legislation, and transporting your whole life from A to B. Moving house can be stressful when you’re moving to a new city, so there’s no doubt that relocating to a whole new country can throw up some more challenges.
That’s why it’s recommended that you hire an international removals company to assist you during the process, and to help you move your belongings from your current home to your new one without any problems. With so many factors to consider, it’s certainly advisable to hire all the help you can get. Here we discuss how a professional moving company can assist your European removals and why you should consider hiring one for your move.
An international removals company can:
Help you pack
They say you never know how much you really own until you have to pack it all up. Although your bedroom may look perfectly minimalist, you’re sure to be surprised at how much you have when it comes to filling cardboard boxes, item by item. Taking the time out of your day to take care of this mundane yet absolutely essential task can be stressful, especially when you’re working full time, which is why it’s a good idea to employ trained professionals to take care of it for you.
This is a service that good removals companies will offer, and is particularly beneficial to those people moving abroad. After all, when you’re having your belongings shipped from country to country, the last thing you want is to pack your items poorly. You won’t be overseeing the process of loading and unloading the van or lorry yourself, so you’ll want to make sure that your belongings are packed in such a way that you can rest assured they’ll be kept safe on the journey.
An international removals company, on the other hand, will be able to pack your possessions in a way that minimises the risk of damage with only the highest quality materials. At Essex Removals, we only ever charge our customers for the space they need. When loading our fleet with boxes and parcels, we’ll also group together items destined for the same place. This helps us to cut down on fuel costs and time, allowing us to deliver an affordable yet efficient service to our customers.
Transport your belongings from country to country
Of course, when you’re moving house, it’s always advisable to keep your most valuable possessions on your person during the relocation. Irreplaceable pieces of jewellery, laptops and precious photographs can all be packed into an essentials box that you transport yourself to prevent them from getting lost or damaged. However, it simply isn’t feasible to do this for every item you own. There’s no possible way you could fit an entire house worth of belongings into suitcases to take on a plane!
That’s why items are shipped from place to place, not just for your convenience but also because it makes sense logistically. An international removals company will be able to take care of this for you, loading your belongings into the vehicle, unloading them at the destination, and then transporting them from the port to your new address. If your new destination is landlocked, it may be that your belongings have to travel by road through various different countries, and therefore whoever is driving them will need to have a comprehensive knowledge of customs duties and legislation to make sure they’re crossing borders legally.
Take care of all relevant paperwork and insurance
Moving your belongings abroad isn’t just a case of loading them into a van and hoping for the best. There’s paperwork to be completed and insurance policies to be taken out, designed to not only ensure that your cargo is kept safe, but also to make sure that it complies with all appropriate legislation.
Currently, for members of the EU, no documentation is required when clearing customs. However, export documentation is required if you’re importing or exporting items from a non-EU member country. The type of documentation you need will depend on what you’re shipping and which country it’s being sent to. This can seem overwhelming and confusing to grasp, which is why we recommend working with international removalists. They’ll be able to take care of all paperwork and regulations so you don’t have to.
All removalists should have comprehensive insurance to make sure they’re covered in the unfortunate event of an accident, but this is particularly important if you’re moving abroad. If you’re hiring a company to ship your belongings across the world, make sure they also have maritime insurance.
Track your belongings
If you’re moving to another address in the UK, you’ll be able to follow the removals van and track your belongings during the move itself. However, when they’re being shipped to a brand new destination, this level of access simply isn’t possible. Freight forwarders will also be responsible for transporting huge quantities of cargo, and therefore your cardboard boxes aren’t likely to receive the same care and diligence as they would if you were to hire a dedicated carrier company.
When you hire an international removals company to assist you during your European relocation, they’ll also make it their top priority to keep you informed on the progress of your belongings. You won’t need to chase the shipping company or worry that your possessions will never arrive in your new home country – a quick phone call to your removalists will reassure you that your valuables are on their way. They’ll also be able to alert you to any delays or hiccups in advance so that you can make alternative arrangements if need be, such as arriving at your new property a couple of days later than planned.
Offer container storage for any belongings you’ve left behind
People move abroad for a myriad of reasons, and some people plan to return to their original address at some point in the future. For instance, it may be that you’re heading abroad to study, but will return home once your university course has finished. Or, it may be that you’re moving abroad for a couple of years for a job, but will likely leave again once your contract is up. Whatever the reason, it’s probable that you’ll want to leave some of your belongings in your home country until you need them again, especially if you have lots of furniture that has no place in your brand new Spanish apartment.
Fortunately, all good moving companies also offer reliable storage solutions, giving you the opportunity to keep your possessions safe and in one place until you need them again. When finding storage solutions, it’s always a good idea to source a company who also offers international removals services. Developing a great relationship with one company is sure to be much less hassle than finding two separate businesses, so make sure the storage company you have in mind also offers relocation assistance.
Essex Removals: Essex-based storage and removals company specialising in house removals, commercial relocations, and international shipping services
If you’re planning to move somewhere in Europe, look no further than Essex Removals for relocation services you can rely on. As one of the UK’s most trusted national moving companies, we specialise in a whole range of relocation services, including domestic removals, commercial removals, European and international shipping, and trusted storage solutions – all from our headquarters in Essex. Whether you need to transport a couple of boxes of goods or ship an entire boat, we at Essex Removals are the company for you.
For more information about our range of services, or to discuss how we could assist with your European adventure, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team of removalists today.
