To store or not to store...?

[TheWaters]

Hi there,

Is anyone storing stuff in the UK whilst travelling or waiting for PR in NZ? We wanna go on WHV (probably) and wanna store stuff here to avoid importation tax (and what if we have to come back). I just wanted to know if anyone done/doing this and got info on the experience, tips, how much, recommendations etc.

Many thanks, Helen. :icon_biggrin:

[MotherBear]

Just to start you off, have you had a look on Yellow Pages ? Or, if you have a shipper already in mind, they could possibly store stuff for you and, if you decide to stay in NZ, they can bung it off to you down there when the time?s right. Might be good to keep storage and shipping under the same company so you can just give one instruction when you want it shipped out. There's a list of shippers on Making the Move on the Master Website List (it's on a sticky at the top).

This company do self-storage in a locker or a room, doesn?t say what size room, but does give the price. Another one here by the name of Big Yellow .

[TheWaters]

Ta MB,

Have got lots of quotes from local companies out of ye old Yellow Pages. Wanted to know if anyone else had done it and if the quotes i had were generally in line. I can choose between several small containers (3-5) or a 20ft container or various size 'rooms' at a self storage place. [smiley=icon_confused.gif] Of course it may be cheaper to pay import tax than to store. Another thing to investigate, is there a calculator i can use somewhere?

Hadn't thought of using a shipping co. tho. Would make more sense I guess. You're so practical! [smiley=icon_biggrin.gif]

So if any of you have done this let me know.

Cheers. 8-)

[hatter5]

From our point of view we had a hitch on our completion date and so had to move out anyway or face a 60% cancellation fee!

However for an admin fee of ?250 + ?35 per week our goods were sealed (in line with customs regulations) in readiness to be shipped (19/6/6) so for each additional week it would have cost ?35.

If you were to discuss storage options first then you probaby would not incur the admin fee.

PSS

[LilAmy]

Hello,

We're storing a lot of our stuff at our parents in their attics, things like pictures and sentimental things that we dont want to throw out or sell.

Any big items like sofas etc we're selling and making some cash.

We're kinda thinking of it like this...we plan to go out for 2yrs, in 2 yrs time a lot of our things will need replaced or upgraded in some way or other so we thought if we can sell them off just now, make some money, depending on what we decide to do, settle in NZ or Scotland we can always buy new things as nowadays things aren't that pricey.

Another reason that we've decided to do that was because my friends who moved back to NZ shipped a container load of stuff across, it arrived 6-8 weeks after they did and by the time it had arrived they'd already bought new stuff.

We've just decided to take a few personal items, wedding albums and things like that to remind us of home....we've even started doing a big clear out of all our clothes and selling them on eBay - means a great big shopping spree at the other end :icon_biggrin:

[TheWaters]

Hi Lil Amy,

When u going? We hoping that some of our stuff can go to parents but they pretty clogged up too. We not sure if we gonna come back and just don't know wot to do for the best. Ebay good idea tho!

Hatter, thats usful info thanks. we never thought of storing with shippers. Was PSS the shippers u used?

Cheers Folks.

[LilAmy]

Hello,

We're getting our medicals on Monday for a 23 month Visa and then its just a case on waiting until our house sells before we move out - seems to be taking for ever its been on the market for 10 weeks :icon_sad:

We're doing the same as you guys and playing it all by ear too. I think even if we do decide to stay there's only going to be the odd few boxes to send out, we're marking everything up clearly when we're giving it to our folks so we know if we do stay out there what we can tell them to sell for us, keep for themselves or send out.

What date did you say you guys were going?

When youo do get out there and you need some cheap stuff youo can always go onto Trademe, Kiwis equivelant to eBay, loads of accomodation there as well, I meant to mention that to you in one of my other posts.

[TheWaters]

Here's hoping the house shifts fast! We flying on 20th July.

May dad made the very good point that what we can't palm off on frieds and family is prob too old and worn to be of mauch value so better to sell or dump now as will got more to store than it is worth. Convincing hubby of that tho is another matter.

Hoping parents will take new big furniture, dump old stuff like sofa, table and chairs etc and store boxes of personal stuff in lofs somewhere. We'll have to see how it goes! Think we will have several categories of stuff.

Here's a tip for those storing.

We decided to store for a year and got a quote for one co who said they would match any we found. Another co said if we book for a year get 20% off and if pay up front get another 10%. Went back to co no 1 and they said ok, we'll do a bit better and we'll give u a month free starting now so u can star moving stuff in as and when it is ready.

This came to about £650 off over the year + the free month! Well worth doing.

Thats a great price, have you also looked into prices to ship them across if you decide to stay over there?

Are you getting someone in to pack your stuff that you're storing or you doing it yourself?