Hi,
This is my first post. After 25 years in Sydney I have decided to move back to Hamilton to be closer to my family and try a different lifestyle, I can no longer face putting on a suit and tie and going in to Sydney city each day for work. I have an opportunity to live cheaply just outside Hamilton and am keen to see if I can make it work.
Having decided I want to get over to New Zealand as quickly as I can (late February, perhaps I am dreaming... ?). I do not have much stuff, I am single in a 1 bedroom appartment. I estimate about 250 sq ft but that might grow as I continue to stocktake. I plan to have a garage sale to clear out anything I am not particularly attached to. I will have couch, arm chair, coffee table, side table, stereo, books, CDs/DVDs, kitchen items, mattress, clothes, bicycle, garden pots (not plants). Smaller items can be boxed by myself; probably 6-8 moving boxes for the kitchen and clothes etc.
- Can anyone recommend shipping companies? So far I have seen recommendations for Pickfords (from Oz and UK) and John Mason (from UK), at the NZ end NZ Van Lines.
- And I wonder if anyone has an idea on the approximate cost? I would presume this size is a partial container but I have left it late for end Feb. I have a quote for about $6000 for door to door service at both Sydney and Hamilton which is more than I was hoping, this does not include any MAF charges. Can I get a meaningful reduction by packing myself, would it be cheaper to pick up my own stuff from Auckland?
Thanks for everyone's posts here, they have prompted thought and I have seen good advice including: cleaning everything that you can to reduce MAF costs, request removal early to arrange partial container (ummm), and best to use a specialist shipper to NZ.
Any further advice would be welcomed, I am beginning to realise that I have not given myself much time. I was home at Christmas and the opportunity came quickly and I am now really looking forward to it. It feels like the right thing for me now..
Thanks for your help
graham