International Removals
Making an international move, with or without family in tow, is daunting. Whether you are emigrating from the UK this one time only, or are a long term expat used to moving from one place to another with your work, Cadogan Tate has the experience in international removals services to make your relocation simple and stress free.
The key to ensuring your international move is successful and trouble free lies in our meticulous Move Management service. We draw up a detailed Move Plan, based on your needs and cost requirements. Based on this, we take care of all practical arrangements including packing, transport (including parking suspensions), storage, shipping, Customs clearance and extended liability.
We’ll even manage, or assist you, with specialist tasks such as moving fine wines, shipping cars and relocating pets.
- You are in safe hands
- Move Management
- Packing & Unpacking
- Customs Clearance
- Storage
- Liability
International Removals London
International Moving Guides
We have prepared helpful and detailed guides on relocating to some of the most popular international destinations to which we regularly transport customers’ belongings.
Click on a location to view the moving guide for your destination.
Move Management
Move Management
Thinking about moving overseas can sometimes feel a little overwhelming. Cadogan Tate will take care of every aspect of your move for you, freeing you of every concern. Here’s how your move will look, in seven simple steps.
1. Contact us
We will arrange a convenient time for a home move Surveyor from our International Removals London team to meet you.
2. Discuss your move
Our Surveyor will meet with you, face to face, and carry out a thorough pre-move survey of your home. They will help you decide what to take with you, and what to leave or put into storage. The Surveyor will also provide you with a copy of the Cadogan Tate Guide for International Moving, which contains valuable, detailed information on international relocation.
3. Receive our quote
Once our Surveyor has assessed your requirements, you will receive a quote from us for moving everything to your new location. You will also receive a Move Plan, detailing exactly what will happen and when. We will assign you a Move Co-Ordinator, too. They are there to ensure your move goes smoothly from start to finish. You can contact your Move Co-Ordinator at any time about any aspect of your international move.
4. Take your time
Take time to digest the literature we have provided and consider your options. If there is anything you are uncertain of at this stage, get in touch with your Move Co-Ordinator who will talk you through it.
5. Book your move
If our Move Plan and quotation meet your needs and are acceptable to you, then simply decide on the date when you would like to move, then sign and return the paperwork to us. Your Move Co-Ordinator will confirm your move date with you.
6. Preparing for move day
Anything that you need to do yourself before the move will be detailed in your Move Plan. Your Move Co-Ordinator will of course also be in touch in the run up to the move, confirming that everything is in place so that the move can be as smooth and stress-free as possible.
7. Move day
On the day, our International Removal London team takes care of everything. We ensure that your belongings begin their journey safely while removing any undue stress from you. Once your possessions reach the country to which you are relocating, we will oversee their clearance through Customs. Our Move Co-Ordinator in your new location will then be in touch to arrange a time when it is convenient for your possessions to be delivered to you. The local Move Co-Ordinator will remain on hand thereafter to assist you in any way possible and to act as your immediate point of contact with Cadogan Tate.
Handled with Care
Packing & Unpacking
Packing for international shipping is a specialised skill. Our International Removals London staff are trained to pack and wrap for export at our own training centre, where the benefit of best practice methods refined during our four decades of international relocations can be passed on with care.
You may rest assured your valuables are in the most skilful of hands.
We offer a range of packing options, and our International Removals London Surveyor will advise on the best options for your requirements.
Our pricings for international removals make a proper allowance for the time required to carry out export-standard wrapping of all items, including furniture, and the preparation of a comprehensive packing list and inventory once all goods are packed and protected.
This should be borne in mind when considering our quote. Other firms may allow a bare minimum number of man-hours for packing. This can result in a rushed job and inadequate packing, with resultant damage in transit to personal effects and furniture. It can also result in incomplete, and thus less than useful, inventory records.
Packing options
- Full Pack – Our standard for international shipments or consignments. We take care of everything and pack all your belongings including dismantling furniture and reassembling it at the other end. Clothing and linen will be packed in special lay-flat cartons, or upright wardrobe cartons, depending on your individual needs.
- Part Pack – An option for European consignments. We pack only your breakable and fragile items for you, blanket wrap your furniture, and then carefully unpack the fragile items onto a flat surface such as a table or worktop at your new home.
- Special Requirements – For large, heavy or fragile items, or simply items that need particular care. Whether it is a piano, a safe, paintings or something of great sentimental value, we will use our specialist packing techniques and experience to ensure it is safe and secure throughout its move.
Unpacking options
- Full Unpack and Put-Away (Maid Service) – On arrival at your new home, our team will unload and our maid will carefully unpack, working with you to find a new place for every item.
- Full Unpack onto Flat Surfaces – We unpack everything onto flat surfaces, so you can then decide where you want it all to go. For example, kitchen items are unpacked onto work surfaces, china onto the dining room table, clothes onto beds, and so on.
- Self Unpack – We unload all your packed belongings into your new home, but then leave it to you to unpack everything.
Specialist Moves
Customs & Clearance
Customs regulations vary from country to country. We will provide you with a Cadogan Tate International Removals Country Fact Sheet specific to the country to which you are moving.
This will tell you everything you need to know and will include all the appropriate forms. You simply fill these out and send them back to us.
In certain destinations you may be required to be present at Customs when your belongings arrive.
A few days before your consignment arrives, our local Move Co-Ordinator in your new country will contact you to confirm the process and to check that all documentation is in place.
International Customs clearance typically takes between three and five working days for airfreight, and one to two weeks for sea freight. It may take longer, should Customs decide to carry out a random check.
There may be duty to be paid on some items. Your Move Co-Ordinator will keep you fully informed.
Once your consignment has cleared Customs, we must move it to your new home, or into local storage, within a few days, otherwise port/airport demurrage charges will be incurred. These can be very substantial.
If you have requested us to both deliver and unpack for you, our delivery crew will unpack your items according to your instructions and your chosen unpacking option, and check the inventory with you to ensure everything has arrived in good condition.
International Storage
Storage
Our own state-of-the-art international storage facilities in London, Paris, the Côte d’Azur, New York and Los Angeles, combined with our network of carefully vetted partner facilities throughout the world, ensure that Cadogan Tate is perfectly placed to store your belongings safely and securely anywhere in the world.
Global coverage
Our own facilities are specified and constructed to the highest standards, offering unrivalled management of conditions. We have a variety of storage and access options, online inventory control and viewing rooms in London, Paris and the Côte d’Azur and both the East and West coasts of the United States.
These are complemented by our fastidiously selected, vetted and monitored global network of professional international storage partners: leading providers in their own markets who are, in most cases, members of the same international associations as Cadogan Tate.
Ready when you are
International storage provides you with a high degree of flexibility and contactibilty when you are moving abroad.
Your possessions can be held in storage until such time as you are ready to move into your new home. Should there be a delay, or should your new residence prove smaller than expected, you can leave some of your possessions in store and yet still have access to them whenever you need.
Your local Cadogan Tate Move Co-Ordinator will always be on hand to assist you in arranging and managing your international storage.
Maximum security and efficiency
All our international storage facilities are protected by excellent physical security, intruder alarms, fire detection, digitally recorded CCTV and sound detection, which are monitored 24/7 at offsite security control rooms.
You can rest assured that your possessions, no matter how financially or sentimentally valuable, are in good hands.
Harmony Relocation Network
Cadogan Tate is a proud member of Harmony Relocation Network. Harmony is a global network of locally owned relocation companies, upholding strong family values through generations of heritage. We are a network of committed partners, brought together in one truly global and solid infrastructure with cutting edge technology, an ISO-tested quality system and leading sustainability criteria.
