International Removals Shipping Guide
Moving Household Goods Overseas
EON Logistics understand how precious your goods are to you and your family.
If you are considering moving household goods overseas, using D.I.Y (Do it yourself) packing and Shipping, then hopefully the below additional information will guide you through the international moving process. Shipping terminology can easily confuse so please contact us to clarify anything you are not sure of.
International Removals Costs and Charges Quoted
The more information you give us, the more accurate our shipping quote can be. The rates we quote you are normally from your UK Kerbside to your Destination Port of arrival Uncleared and will include the following;
- UK Transport/Collection from your Kerbside of your packed items (not labour to carry from your house to the collection truck).Make sure you tell us about any Road/Parking restrictions as this could affect what type of truck we use.
- Export Bills of Lading and UK Export Customs.
- UK Terminal Handling and UK Port Security.
- Air freight or Sea freight shipping prices up to arrival your Destination Port or Airport.
Unless you have requested us to quote, the rates will not include;
- Any Timber Packing Cases, Cartons or packing materials, palletising or casing of your goods.
- Any special Tail-lift collection transport.
- Any destination Handling, Unpacking, Delivery, local documents, Port Security, Customs Clearance costs, Duty, Taxes on new goods or any requested Customs examination costs.
- Any destination Ministry of agriculture costs for fumigation or treating any timber packaging you use, which has not been pre-treated and stamped.
- Any destination Storage or detention costs incurred awaiting your completion of Import Customs Clearance.
- Our destination customs agents can quote you for the destination import costs, or you can obtain several quotes from other import customs agents.
International Moving Checklist
When you start planning your International removal, you may not know the volume of what you will take with you. However, for a Freight Forwarder or a UK International Removals Company to give you some budget International shipping costs, you will need to give them a good idea of what you may want to ship.
As explained in our earlier International removals page, if the cost is not an issue then we recommend you employ the services of any UK International Removal Company, who can come to your house and quote for a white glove pack, wrap and transport service. However, if you need to work to a much lower shipping cost budget and wish to know costs for Ocean Freight Shipping, then you may wish to use our D.I.Y service.
- Start by making a moving checklist of what items you wish to ship.
- Send us your lists. They must contain dimensions of your larger items.
- Confirm when you plan to move overseas or any arrival deadline.
- Give us details of your collection and destination addresses. Make sure you tell us about any road or parking restrictions as this could affect what type of truck we use.
Shipping Inventory & Marking Packages
You will need to complete an accurate shipping inventory of all the items you plan to ship. If you have lots of smaller items, this can appear to be a tedious task but it is required by UK Customs, Destination Customs and by your Cargo Insurers.
Here is the simplest way of completing your Inventory List.
- Number each package from one upwards.
- List what you put in to the package as you go along.
- Once full, seal the package.
- Address your package with your overseas address.
- Measure it in CM’s in aLWH (Length, Width and Height) order.
- Estimate the weight or use your bathroom scales if you can and add these to your Inventory List.
Once you have finished your last package, send this completed Inventory List to us and we will work out the correct volume. With the estimated weight you have supplied, we should be able to give you a fairly accurate current International Shipping quote.
Download our completed Inventory list example
Packing Household Goods for International Removals
It is very important that if you are D.I.Y packing your goods that you fully wrap to protect items and use good quality packaging.This will protect your goods from the multiple handling they will endure, throughout the voyage from the UK to your destination. Important to remember, if your goods are damaged due to insufficient or poor packaging, then you’re Insurers and the Freight Shipping Carriers may refuse to settle any claims.
Use double walled strong cartons, small cartons for heavy items like books or DVD’s and large cartons for bulky items.
Shipping hazardous items can make it very costly, if you need to ship them, contact us for further advice.
For valuable or fragile goods that you may not be able to safely or suitable pack yourself, we can arrange for a reliable Export Packing Services Company, to collect and professionally pack these items for you into a wooden case.
If you use any Timber Packing Cases or Wooden Pallets, you must ensure that your suppliers use only timbers suitable for importing into the Country you are shipping to. Timber packing cases and pallets must have the correct ISPM 15 Timber or Heat Treated Timber Stamps. Failure to have the correct treatment stamps can result in your cargo being refused entry into your destination country, possibly destroyed or even returned to the UK. With all and any resulting costs added to your account. We can help with recommending the correct packaging to use, or we can bring your packed goods back to our warehouse to improve packing by palletising or crating as required.
International Cargo Insurance for Freight Shipping
Our Cargo Insurance Brokers do not allow us to quote for Personal Effects Insurance Cover. However, Insurers can quote you directly for your D.I.Y owner packed or Professionally Packed Household items.
It’s very important that you check what is covered by any cargo insurance you buy, as normally cover will be very limited. It should be logical to you that when insuring your personal items, the insurance company only have your word that the goods are actually there in the first place, that they are in a good condition before you pack them and that they have been properly/safely packed. So hopefully it’s understandable that insurance cover will be limited for D.I.Y Owner Packed Household Effects and will have strict conditions. However, if you pay for Professional Export Packing Services, the cargo Insurance cover will be much higher, covering individual items, as an independent Export Packing Service Company has seen your goods, listed them and professionally packed them. Something you should consider for valuable or fragile items.
*Please note that jewellery, watches, trinkets, precious stones, money, securities, valuable documents, wines, spirits, tobacco, drugs, firearms or hazardous goods should not be packed within your household effects and will not be covered by your Cargo Insurance.
Insurance Claims for Household Effects
In the unusual event that your goods arrive with some damages or packages short. It is very important that you immediately do the following.
- Sign/clause the delivery drivers notes of the damage or missing package numbers (whichever applies) and keep a copy of this claused driver’s delivery note.
- Unpack and check all your numbered packages against your original inventory, making a full list of what is damaged or missing from each numbered package. “Preferably whilst the delivery driver is still with you” Notify the local Destination Customs Agent or the Carrier’s Agent of the damages/shortages and that you will be sending them a full claim.
- Notify us immediately with the same information.
- Notify your Cargo Insurance Company immediately. Ask them for contact details of their local Insurance Handling Agents and what they need from you to make a claim for your loss.
Documentation & Information for you
- You will need to supply a copy of your most recent passport, your destination address and telephone numbers.
- You will need to supply your Inventory list of packages and contents. *See Inventory completion notes. Declaration signed and dated by you.
- You will need to be in the country you are shipping to, for you to assist with the Customs Clearance requirements and in case Destination Customs wish to speak with you.
- We recommend that you make contact with the Embassy of your Country you are shipping your goods to, for clear information about importing your goods and for guidance on any special requirements, Visa’s or documentation you may need for importing your personal goods into that Country.
Documentation we give you
Once your goods have been shipped by Sea Freight Shipping or Air Freight Shipping Services to your new Country and have paid your Freight Forwarders agreed Freight Shipping charges, your forwarder will send you the Export Bill of Lading or Air waybill, together with the contact details for the local Destination Release Agents. You will then need to contact this Agent for;
- Release of your goods.
- Pay any local charges.
- Assistance with the Destination local Customs Clearance,.
- And finally for delivery to your new residence.
Any questions on the above or for an International Removals quote, contact us.
