How to Move Your Belongings Across the Channel: Step-by-Step Guide

What really happens before your belongings cross the Channel on their journey to your new home? Ben Hingley explains…

For many people, the decision to move to France is the realisation of a long-held dream, a new lifestyle, better weather and a fresh start. Before you can settle into your new château in Provence or pied-a-terre in Paris, there’s a detailed behind-the-scenes operation: getting your belongings safely from the UK to France.
What may seem at first glance to be a simple van trip across the Channel is, in fact, somewhat more involved. This is where a professional removal company comes into play. The process is carefully engineered to prevent delays, damage and unnecessary stress. Here’s an inside look at what actually happens before your belongings cross the Channel.

The pre-move survey Your relocation begins long before moving day. One of our expert surveyors will either visit your property to perform an in-house survey, or they will complete the survey via a virtual video call. During this survey, they will assess everything you want to take. However, we’re not just counting boxes. We’re planning your entire move. This means we calculate the volume, to ensure we send the right size vehicle(s) and determine whether access is tricky. Narrow village streets, rural farmland, steep driveways, top-floor flats without lifts all need. to be factored into the logistics.

Our surveyors also note what needs specialist care (pianos, artworks, family heirlooms). We’ll also discuss with you anything restricted by customs
rules. “A successful move to France is all about preparation and spotting challenges early, so they don’t become problems later on,” says Steve Ball, sales representative at Burke Bros Moving Group.

Customs and paperwork

There was a time when your belongings could glide into France without any formalities. However, post-Brexit the landscape is different and there are quite a few requirements.

An extensive amount of paperwork is required to bring your belongings into France. It is important to have the help and guidance of a removal company that is fully conversant with all these new requirements. A professional removal company will help you prepare a detailed inventory that lists each item correctly and advise you on what you need as proof of the move.

It should also help you avoid the pitfalls, for example, packing anything that customs might see as a red flag. If something isn’t quite right, belongings can be held at the border. That’s why having specialists on your side matters now more than ever.

Choose a removal company with a detailed knowledge of the customs requirements, one that deals with the customs procedures every single day, so you can feel confident in them guiding you through this.

A different level of care

Packing for a move abroad isn’t just a case of popping things into the back of a van on moving day. Your furniture and possessions will be travelling a long way. We use export-grade materials and industry-leading techniques to protect items through lifting, stacking, transit and Channel weather.

A professional mover should be able to create bespoke wooden crates for fragile or precious items, provide protective wrapping for large furniture and antiques and special cartons to transport the contents of your wardrobe to prevent creasing. We’ve even transported tractors, wine collections and motorbikes. If it matters to you, we’ll find the right way to move it.

Choose a removal company with a detailed knowledge of the customs requirements. One that deals with the necessary procedures every single day, so you can feel confident in them guiding you through this.

Planning the journey

The moving company will need to coordinate ferry timings, legal driving time limits for their driver, traffic and any access rules in historic French towns and navigate any potential issues that seasonal weather may throw into the mix. If access to your French home is difficult, it may be necessary to arrange for a smaller vehicle to act as a ‘shuttle’ between the larger van and your property. If needed, we can arrange secure UK or French storage if you don’t want your effects going straight to your home in France.

Customers can choose between a dedicated vehicle, which ensures faster delivery as your effects travel on their own, or a part load, involving shared transport with other moves heading to France. We’ll always explain the costs and timeline clearly so you can choose what suits you best. “No two French moves are ever the same, so we plan every journey with precision,” says Dave Colley, operations manager at Burke Bros Moving Group.

While most customers only meet the surveyor, the packers (if packing is included in your move) and the removal crew on the day itself, your move involves a large team of experts, from storage operatives, to the customs compliance experts that ensure your move goes smoothly.

Moving to France is a significant undertaking and surrounding yourself with expertise makes all the difference. Choose a removal company that is an established authority in international moves, British Association of Removers (BAR) accredited; a specialist in UK-France relocation; highly experienced with customs compliance; and able to offer professional packing services.

By the time the front door opens at your new place in France, countless meticulous steps will already have taken place. Your belongings aren’t just transported, they’re cared for, tracked and protected every mile of the journey. This means that you will have the best possible start to your new life in France.

Ben Hingley is the Sales Manager at Burke Bros Moving Group

Tel: 01902 714555

burkebros.co.uk

The unique mix of legal, financial and tax advice along with in-depth location guides, inspiring real life stories, the best properties on the market, entertaining regular pages and the latest property news and market reports makes French Property News magazine a must-buy publication for anyone serious about buying and owning a property in France.