'A Place In The Sun' Magazine Asks International Removals Company for the Latest Tips on Moving Overseas

Wolverhampton, West Midlands (PRWEB) June 6, 2007

Overseas moving company, Burke Bros Moving Group http://www.burkebros.co.uk, recently took questions from the UK's biggest and best selling overseas property magazine 'A Place in the Sun.'

Moving overseas is now becoming big business with an ever growing demand. More and more people are taking the plunge to move abroad. There's a great deal to consider when you're moving overseas, especially moving your personal and family possessions, therefore (from the hit Channel 4 television series 'A Place in the Sun') their associated Magazine was keen to interview Gary Burke, Managing Director of Burke Bros Moving Group, who gave them the low-down on using an International removals company to move overseas.

Gary was asked to comment on the latest considerations people needed to make & take when moving overseas. He said, "A professionally recognised and experienced international removals company is the one to go for, one that specialises in the whole removals process. Typically, these companies will do the packing, wrapping, shipping, customs clearance, and delivery or storage of all family possessions."

Gary said, "Ideally, people should give at least three months notice prior to leaving the country. The first stage is to have an estimator visit and quote exactly what needs moving and how much it will cost. Alternatively, some companies accept a detailed inventory of belongings by email. Smaller carton shipments, known as 'less than container loads' (LCL's), can be priced and collected within days."

When it comes to making the whole process run a smoothly as possible Gary said, "remove, out of sight of the estimator, all the items that don't need to the shipped. This is also good advice for the packing crews, making sure everything that is not to be shipped is well out of the way."

Gary stated, "Today, when it comes to long-haul destinations, belongings tend to be shipped across the ocean in a 20-foot or 40-foot container. A typical home using a 20-foot container takes two days of wrapping and packing and normally the container is loaded on day three. The vast majority of removals to Europe, such as Spain, are by road, with air freight being used for smaller items that need to arrive more quickly"

'A Place in the Sun' asked, "How does customs work and how does the removals company deal with this?" Gary expressed a view that "The removals company should have an agent in the destination country that will arrange customs clearance, undertake final delivery of furniture, and finally remove any waste packing materials."

Then costs were raised, especially when it comes to whether larger items should be left behind or taken. Gary said, "Cost depends on an individual's requirements. Most 20-foot containers, including services, cost from £3,500-£4,000. For 40-foot containers expect to pay £5,000-£6,000. Smaller LCL consignments cost upwards of £300. The price for a special road delivery from a four-bedroom house in the UK to a house in Spain will range from £4,000 to £6,000. The rule of thumb as to whether it's cheaper to take furniture is simple: if the individual or family can do without it leave it, but if they will have to replace the item in their new home they should take it with them".

Storage is another hot topic as some people will need to consider this too. Gary commented saying "Most companies will arrange storage prior to shipment or in the destination country. If they require storage in the UK before shipping, their belongings are collected in the furniture lorry first and when the okay is given to ship them, they are loaded into a container at a customs-bonded store". That then prompts people to ask about insurance in transit. Gary said, "Most international removal companies are registered with the FSA so insurance is offered at a percentage of the value of goods being shipped."

When it comes to important trade bodies, who represent trustworthy international removal companies, the ones to look out for are BAR and FIDI-FAIM. FIDI is the best-known moving association and is the largest global alliance of international moving companies in the world.

If, after taking the plunge, things don't work out then don't worry. Gary said "The process is completely reversible. An overseas agent will visit and arrange shipping. The UK-based company then arranges customs clearance in the UK before delivering or storing the person's possessions".

If you would like to find out more about moving your possessions overseas please visit the Burke Bros website at http://www.burkebros.co.uk or if you have any immediate questions or requirements, please contact Chris Starkey or Mandy Dawson on +44 (0)1902 714555

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