Expat Blog - Sarah's Insights on Moving Preparations to Italy

Expat Blog – Preparation for Removal from the UK to Italy

Can you tell us where you’re moving from and to, as well as the reason for your move? Could you also share your personal experience with the moving process?

I am relocating to Italy to a mountain house in a very small village. The experience was very positive and easier than any other international move I have done (now 5). The moving company Mercia Movers & Storers were professional, helpful and had a competitive price. They handled all aspects of the move, from contracting a Luton van, customs and all transit documents. The communication was excellent and the contracted man with van was professional and very flexible. He not only navigated a very difficult road over 5km up the mountain but also helped with moving the furniture up a steep hill and steps to the house. All the furniture was well cared for and loaded carefully.

Selecting the best moving company is stressful, we know that. How did you manage to find the perfect one among the thousands of existing ones?

I researched over 8 companies before making a decision. Many were very expensive and some suspiciously cheap. The least expensive conceal the fact that it is a shared load and many promise you delivery of your furniture on a requested date, but the small print only guarantees delivery within a two-week time slot. The most expensive deliver a good service but were £1500 more than Mercia. Previously on a shared lorry, all my furniture was broken and so I was adamant I wanted a van exclusively for my things. Mercia offers this as they contract tried and tested man with a van.

Take us through the moving day – did everything go as planned?

The van arrived to collect the furniture early on Wednesday but waited for a respectable hour before letting us know he was there, as he was booked for 10 am. The loading all went smoothly and the furniture was handled carefully and packed well. Some items were delicate antiques and all were looked after well.
The driver arrived on Thursday, he had cleared customs and was not due to deliver until Friday but called to see if we would like him to come sooner. Sadly, we were not able to get to the house but met him late that night. He slept in his van happily and was up early to move the furniture in. The driver took great care and worked so hard. He took great pride and enjoys his work.

What advice would you give to others based on your own moving experience? What are your top tips to make the process smoother?

• Ask lots of questions before committing to booking a company to move your things.
• Explain very clearly what you want and what you don’t want.
• Always look at what different companies are offering at different prices as they often have a cheaper option and a more expensive option. The least expensive have flexibility on times for delivery which may suit you, but can sometimes be difficult.
• Small print is important when booking a removal company for an international move.
• Customs should always be cleared before you load the van.
• Some companies will take payments in two instalments, but most will need payment at least ten days before the move in full.
• Make sure all your costs of transit, customs and any other costs are accounted for in the quote.

Were you surprised by the cost of your move?

I have moved five times internationally and know what it costs to move. To move around Europe the size of one Luton van is usually between £1700 and £2800. If you were to do the move yourself with van hire, tolls and customs, plus one night and insurance it will cost around £1500 with a lot of hassle.

Disclaimer: the views shared on this blog belong only to the client. Sirelo is an independent platform and the expat testimonials provided are intended for informational purposes.

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