Shipping times- US to UK

[lovestravel]

I haven't been on here in a while. Company was dragging its feet on paperwork but now that we have an agreement things are moving forward quickly. I have so many questions you guys are going to get sick of me by the end of it. I will post a different thread for each question to keep it simple.

My first question is about shipping our furnishings. I would rather put everything in storage & either rent a furnished place or replace everything when we get there but the company will only pay for shipping our stuff & replacement of all the electronics & appliances. I have gotten a preliminary quote from crown relocation for shipment. We won't be bringing everything because we will be downsizing from Texas sized housing to London sized housing. Everything we don't bring will either be given to our kids, sold, given away, thrown away or put in storage.

My question is how long does it take from door to door from US to UK to ship a container of furnishings? I am assuming we will be without our stuff for a while?

Are there any other recommendations for shipping companies?

We are planning to replace basically everything that plugs in once we get there: washer/dryer, tv, xbox, espresso machine, blender, toaster, hair dryer, flat iron, iron, lamps, phones, and get replacement cords for computers, camera chargers, power strips, printers.

Is there anything else I need to know about shipping our stuff?

[nyclon]

Originally Posted by lovestravel

I haven't been on here in a while. Company was dragging its feet on paperwork but now that we have an agreement things are moving forward quickly. I have so many questions you guys are going to get sick of me by the end of it. I will post a different thread for each question to keep it simple.

My first question is about shipping our furnishings. I would rather put everything in storage & either rent a furnished place or replace everything when we get there but the company will only pay for shipping our stuff & replacement of all the electronics & appliances. I have gotten a preliminary quote from crown relocation for shipment. We won't be bringing everything because we will be downsizing from Texas sized housing to London sized housing. Everything we don't bring will either be given to our kids, sold, given away, thrown away or put in storage.

My question is how long does it take from door to door from US to UK to ship a container of furnishings? I am assuming we will be without our stuff for a while?

Are there any other recommendations for shipping companies?





We are planning to replace basically everything that plugs in once we get there: washer/dryer, tv, xbox, espresso machine, blender, toaster, hair dryer, flat iron, iron, lamps, phones, and get replacement cords for computers, camera chargers, power strips, printers.

Is there anything else I need to know about shipping our stuff?

Make sure they are going to pay for shipping your stuff back to the US when your contract is over. As I replied in another thread, furnished flats will come with household electricals and you may be able to negotiate for them with the landlord even if you get an unfurnished flat. Almost all flats will have a washer/dryer (yes, it is a washer and dryer in 1) or a washer whether they are furnished or not.

When considering what furniture to bring with you, keep in mind that London flats are small. If you have big oversized furniture, it's going to be a challenge finding a place to accommodate your furniture.

[lovestravel]

Originally Posted by nyclon

Make sure they are going to pay for shipping your stuff back to the US when your contract is over. As I replied in another thread, furnished flats will come with household electricals and you may be able to negotiate for them with the landlord even if you get an unfurnished flat. Almost all flats will have a washer/dryer (yes, it is a washer and dryer in 1) or a washer whether they are furnished or not.

When considering what furniture to bring with you, keep in mind that London flats are small. If you have big oversized furniture, it's going to be a challenge finding a place to accommodate your furniture.

There was a stipend for shipping items back to the US in the contract as well.

I would prefer to rent a furnished flat or purchase items when we get there but the company will not pay for it. They are hiring a relocation company that will come pack all our stuff & ship it there. They will be paid directly but we won't get any funds in return if we don't ship everything we own. If we decide not to ship something that we have to purchase when we get there or if we decide to rent a furnished place the difference will come out of our pockets. I already know for certain that everything that plugs in will have to be replaced which we are planning to purchase when we get there. I am fairly certain that a lot of our furnishings will not fit in our new abode. I am bringing measurements of our furniture with me on this trip to see what will fit and what won't fit. I had my husband ask for extra funds to cover these items but it was a no-go for them. Unfortunately we are on our own it appears for these things. We might be without lamps, washer/dryer, vaccuum, cleaner, hair dryer, etc until we can gradually buy those items but not much I can do at this point. First item that will be purchased will be an espresso machine!! Cannot do without that.

[lovestravel]

I guess my main question is how long it takes for our stuff to get there?

I am not sure if they are shipping via air or ship yet.

I need to make plans on our living arrangements in transition. If it takes a month or a week or whatever we will need a place to stay while we are waiting- either hotel or short-term weekly rental that is already furnished and when we should plan to have kitty arrive.

[nyclon]

Originally Posted by lovestravel

There was a stipend for shipping items back to the US in the contract as well.

I would prefer to rent a furnished flat or purchase items when we get there but the company will not pay for it. They are hiring a relocation company that will come pack all our stuff & ship it there. They will be paid directly but we won't get any funds in return if we don't ship everything we own. If we decide not to ship something that we have to purchase when we get there or if we decide to rent a furnished place the difference will come out of our pockets. I already know for certain that everything that plugs in will have to be replaced which we are planning to purchase when we get there. I am fairly certain that a lot of our furnishings will not fit in our new abode. I am bringing measurements of our furniture with me on this trip to see what will fit and what won't fit. I had my husband ask for extra funds to cover these items but it was a no-go for them. Unfortunately we are on our own it appears for these things. We might be without lamps, washer/dryer, vaccuum, cleaner, hair dryer, etc until we can gradually buy those items but not much I can do at this point. First item that will be purchased will be an espresso machine!! Cannot do without that.

Also, as I mentioned in another of your threads, even if you rent a flat unfurnished you may be able to negotiate to include some basic appliances like a vacuum, iron, ironing board, tea kettle and toaster.

It is rare to see a flat without a washer or a washer/dryer so I wouldn't worry too much about that. We've brought all of our lamps with us and even though we've been here long enough that we should have had them rewired, we use them with a plug convertor plugged into a surge protector and we have never had a problem with this system.

[lovestravel]

Originally Posted by nyclon

Also, as I mentioned in another of your threads, even if you rent a flat unfurnished you may be able to negotiate to include some basic appliances like a vacuum, iron, ironing board, tea kettle and toaster.

It is rare to see a flat without a washer or a washer/dryer so I wouldn't worry too much about that. We've brought all of our lamps with us and even though we've been here long enough that we should have had them rewired, we use them with a plug convertor plugged into a surge protector and we have never had a problem with this system.

Ok- thanks for that info. I had no idea some of those things might be included or negotiated. I don't even know what I don't know!

Any idea on the length of time for the rest of the stuff? I am too old to sleep on the floor. Must at least have my bed (that is if it fits).

[nyclon]

Originally Posted by lovestravel

Ok- thanks for that info. I had no idea some of those things might be included or negotiated. I don't even know what I don't know!

Any idea on the length of time for the rest of the stuff? I am too old to sleep on the floor. Must at least have my bed (that is if it fits).

I posted that info in your "Initial Moving Expenses" post. Maybe you missed it.

We've been here for awhile and our stuff came by boat. I think it took 2 weeks, but no more than 4. We had been here for 5 months in a temporary furnished flat (everybody's deal is different).

We brought a US king sized bed and have managed to live in 2 places with a bedroom large enough to accommodate it, but not with lost of space to spare. Bringing furniture measurements is a good idea.

[lovestravel]

Originally Posted by nyclon

I posted that info in your "Initial Moving Expenses" post. Maybe you missed it.

We've been here for awhile and our stuff came by boat. I think it took 2 weeks, but no more than 4. We had been here for 5 months in a temporary furnished flat (everybody's deal is different).

We brought a US king sized bed and have managed to live in 2 places with a bedroom large enough to accommodate it, but not with lost of space to spare. Bringing furniture measurements is a good idea.

thankies! that really helps. It sounds like maybe we should plan on a temporary residence for about a month.