Moving property to the US - which service to use?

[tomuk 25]

Hi,

 

I am close to get appointment date for interview and because I'd like to be super ready, I decided to start looking for company moving property in between continents. I found out that prices varies a lot... Right now, we have three options:

 

• sell literally everything besides personal stuff and lose some money (more then with moving, IMHO)
• move just valuable items - should fit on one pallet only (expensive but fast using air, cheaper but harder to get using ship)
• move everything including furniture - this would require 20' container (I have no clue how that works at all)

 

Does anyone have experience with any company? Do you have any recommendation? Destination will be Louisiana, but it's possible to drive to Galveston, TX (there should be big port).

 

Just to clarify, if moving everything will be under $2,000 it's still worth it for me.

 

Also, how is it with customs in the US? Since it's my stuff, I assume that I should not pay anything, but not sure.

 

Maybe I'll sent also list of things to move, just to imagine the amount:

• 2 desktop PC (20kg each)
• 2 monitors
• another little electronics (Xbox, speakers)
• books and other boxes with papers and personal non-electronic stuff (total about 100-150kg)
• in case of furniture
  • sofa
  • 3x chest of drawers
  • 2x table
  • 6x chairs
  • 2x office chairs
  • 1x shelves
  • beddings
  • some kids toys (huge) and 4x bicycles which we bought when they were visiting me 
  • grill

 

Thank you in advance.

[yoda one for me 322]

I'm using this company - https://www.shipit.co.uk/ Haven't moved yet but am booked in for next month and so far their customer service has been good - they've put up with me calling them up to ask lots of questions and get variations on quotes to figure out what we want to do

 

I'm only shipping boxes of personal items (as I'm selling all my furniture and things like that) but these guys quote based on volume of what they shrinkwrap on pallets rather than making you pay for a whole container.  Sounds like you have a lot to ship so I'd expect any quote to be pricey tho tbh.

 

As I understand customs should be ok with household goods that aren't brand new, but you should probably expect a port handling fee on top of your removals (for my quote it was about $200 to be paid when things arrive). 

Edited September 3, 2019 by yoda one for me

[tomuk 25]

9 minutes ago, yoda one for me said:

I'm using this company - https://www.shipit.co.uk/ Haven't moved yet but am booked in for next month and so far their customer service has been good - they've put up with me calling them up to ask lots of questions and get variations on quotes to figure out what we want to do

 

I'm only shipping boxes of personal items (as I'm selling all my furniture and things like that) but these guys quote based on volume of what they shrinkwrap on pallets rather than making you pay for a whole container.  Sounds like you have a lot to ship so I'd expect any quote to be pricey tho tbh.

 

As I understand customs should be ok with household goods that aren't brand new, but you should probably expect a port handling fee on top of your removals (for my quote it was about $200 to be paid when things arrive). 

Thank you! What was your quote?

[yoda one for me 322]

I don't have it to hand but I think it was a bit under £800 to get my stuff to Milwaukee. Apparently that was their minimum charge for a move. 

[tomuk 25]

4 minutes ago, yoda one for me said:

I don't have it to hand but I think it was a bit under £800 to get my stuff to Milwaukee. Apparently that was their minimum charge for a move. 

Understand. Thank you. It seems they have port in Houston, where I can pick up all the stuff. Might not be necessary to get it shipped to the location.

[yoda one for me 322]

Yeah, we are aiming to pick up from the Milwaukee depot ourselves. This company will apparently send dimensions of the wrapped pallet before it ships, so we're going to wait for that then figure out if it will fit in the back of the pickup truck or if we need to rent a van. 

[Wuozopo 4,293]

2 hours ago, tomuk said:

Destination will be Louisiana, but it's possible to drive to Galveston, TX (there should be big port).

Houston is largest port, probably 300% more volume than Galveston. 

You don't pick up at the port. Containers are taken to offsite warehouses (another fee). They could be selected to go to customs compounds (more $$ for transport and storage).

You can clear your own load with customs instead of an agent. Super easy but 40 miles across Houston to CBP in an office building. Then there's dealing with the actual ship company and providing paperwork to their location.

Picking up your own things DIY can take more than a day to get all the releases, especially if your container gets picked to go to the CBP compound complete with concertina topped wire fencing. You have no clue how long it will take them to release your pallet.

What's your plan for hauling the stuff back to Louisiana?  A 2 cu meter shipment of boxes will fill a pickup. Renting a U-Haul will add to your expense. i would suggest door to door service where it gets cleared, picked up, and brought to your home.

 

 

2 hours ago, tomuk said:

• 2 desktop PC (20kg each)
• 2 monitors
• another little electronics (Xbox, speakers)

I would skip the electronics. Take out the insides of the desktops and pack in your luggage. Buy a new case with US power supply and put back together. 

 

 

I highly recommend 1st Move International https://www.shipit.co.uk/

 

Watch the packing video on this page https://www.shipit.co.uk/safer-packing.htm

 

Things to know. 

Make an inventory list of each box

Insurance costs extra and will require valuations for items.

You do not pay customs charges on your household goods.

 

Edited September 3, 2019 by Wuozopo

[tomuk 25]

2 hours ago, Wuozopo said:

Houston is largest port, probably 300% more volume than Galveston. 

You don't pick up at the port. Containers are taken to offsite warehouses (another fee). They could be selected to go to customs compounds (more $$ for transport and storage).

You can clear your own load with customs instead of an agent. Super easy but 40 miles across Houston to CBP in an office building. Then there's dealing with the actual ship company and providing paperwork to their location.

Picking up your own things DIY can take more than a day to get all the releases, especially if your container gets picked to go to the CBP compound complete with concertina topped wire fencing. You have no clue how long it will take them to release your pallet.

What's your plan for hauling the stuff back to Louisiana?  A 2 cu meter shipment of boxes will fill a pickup. Renting a U-Haul will add to your expense. i would suggest door to door service where it gets cleared, picked up, and brought to your home.

 

That was just an idea. They sent me proposal for £2,600. A little too much. I'll probably reduce the furniture.

 

2 hours ago, Wuozopo said:

I would skip the electronics. Take out the insides of the desktops and pack in your luggage. Buy a new case with US power supply and put back together. 

I will take small electronics in my luggage, however, with desktops, I am either moving them as it is or selling. It's Apple computer so it's coming as it is or being sold. All electronics which I am considering are already verified that are able to run in the US - TV is for example going to my parents as a gift (220V only).

[yuna628 9,700]

Just a suggestion but in the event any of your electronics gets damaged, lost, or somehow mishandled by the CBP or TSA, consider taking out additional special travel insurance for electronics - my husband did this, as he was hauling a lot of electronics, consoles, and PC devices with him on the plane.

[tomuk 25]

21 hours ago, yuna628 said:

Just a suggestion but in the event any of your electronics gets damaged, lost, or somehow mishandled by the CBP or TSA, consider taking out additional special travel insurance for electronics - my husband did this, as he was hauling a lot of electronics, consoles, and PC devices with him on the plane.

Thank you, very good advice. I'm making list what I will leave here and what I'm going to take.