Do you dream of relocating to another country, but are worried about the scale of the upheaval? Here at Ballards, we are experts at moving customers to other countries, with France being one of the most popular destinations of choice.
Moving to another country and establishing your home there needn’t be a worry. Whether it’s red tape, logistics, cultural clashes or the weather, we’ve helped clients to make a successful move abroad in all manner of circumstances.
Moving internationally is no small task and it can be very stressful, which is why Ballards has a brilliant team to help make the process as seamless as possible.
There are some things that you’ll need to consider though when moving to a different country, such as:
Will my furniture be suitable?
Many different cultures have different architectural styles, which could result in your current furniture not being suited to your new home. For example, rooms may be a different shape or layout which could result in your sofa or dining table not being the right size.
It’s a good idea to see what sort of furniture is typically used in that country and obtain an accurate floor plan of your new home, so that you can work out whether to keep or sell your items.
You may also be able to see what the previous owners did with their interior layout for inspiration – if you don’t have furnished photographs, you may be able to request them.
After all, there’s not much point shipping everything over if it’s not going to fit in when it arrives!
UK border issues
You’ll know that there have been some delays and long queues for the Dover crossing recently – some of our trucks were caught in tailbacks for 16 hours at its height – but things are much smoother now.
We’re regularly transporting our clients’ belongings back and forth between the EU and the UK so we’ve become adept at going through the new checks and procedures at the borders.
On a good day, there are barely any queues at all, but even if there are, we’ll be there every leg of the journey.
When you hire Ballards to transport your things, you can make your own trip across, knowing we’ll take care of your belongings. We will ensure that your belongings arrive as planned, no matter the wait.
Moving my belongings
International moves can be a bit of a headache – but not with us by your side.
Our team has the knowledge and experience to move you anywhere around the world – including packing, transporting, delivering, assembling and unpacking your valued possessions. We’ll also handle all of your customs paperwork, so it leaves one less thing to worry about.
We’re proud members of the British Association of Removals, which is an organisation that represents international movements.
This means we’ve got bundles of experience and reliable partners who understand the country that you’re moving to. We can provide specialist support based on your local area, once you’ve arrived at your new destination.
If you choose to use our International Removals Service, you simply need to tell us your destination and we’ll do all of the heavy lifting. An estimator will assess what you need to move, how it’ll need packing and what container size you’ll need.
We can also offer our guidance on timescales, transporting unusual items and how to take your beloved furry friends with you.
The safest way to move your possessions is by using an overseas shipping container – one 20ft container will usually have enough room for the furniture from a three bedroom house. If you’ve got more than that, then not to worry – there’s also 40ft containers available too.
Packing for your overseas move
Professional packing is essential when moving overseas, as many countries don’t like owner-packed goods. Usually it is these that tend to be selected for intensive customs examinations once they enter the country.
Our professional packing service includes:
- Our team of expert packers will pack everything up in your home over a period of 2-3 days. We will provide strong, high quality materials and pack efficiently to ensure that your goods arrive safely.
- Our crew will create an inventory for all items to help gain customs clearance on arrival, and save long delays. We will supply all of the crucial customs forms required to ensure a smooth move.
- Our team will carefully load each item into the shipping container on the move day, adding a seal on the door for extra security.
- You’ll be kept updated on sailing times so you can keep track of your belongings and know when to expect them at your destination.
- Once your container arrives, we can organise temporary storage if needed. When you’re ready, we’ll deliver the container to your home where our local agents will unload and unpack, ready for your new chapter.
“Brilliant throughout” – glowing testimonial from Geraldine West
Geraldine recently moved to France with the help of our expert team and she couldn’t praise our hands-on approach enough.
Here’s what she had to say about how the move went:
“Brilliant throughout. Matt was so understanding when dates changed and Ballards handled all admin for goods being taken to our new home in France, including my car. [The] lads arrived on time in Northumberland and were a brilliant team.”
“Nothing was too much trouble. Everything arrived safely. Loading and unloading [were] done so carefully. The whole team helped immensely to complete a move that could have been massively stressful. Thank you so much. We can’t recommend you highly enough.”
If you or someone you know is considering a house move abroad, please urge them to get in touch with us today to enjoy a seamless, stress-free relocation at the hands of our industry experts.