Removal/Shipping companies (UK to Colorado) (Fort Collins: movers, costs, military)

[Cazza_x]

Hi everyone

Can anyone please advise/recommend a good furntiture removal/shipping company who will be able to transport my household furniture from the United Kingdom (England) to Colorado (Fort Collins area).

Any recommendations or advise would be gratefully appreciated.

Many thanks

[Mike from back east]

Many years ago I was in that line of work for the U. S. military as we moved people all over the world. We referred to firms in the over-ocean trade as HouseHold Goods Forwarders. They pack your goods in large wooden boxes (aka Type II Containers) and stow them inside the large ocean-cargo containers and forward them via steam ship lines, etc. One of the better firms we dealt with was Interstate Van Lines, who had agents in those nations in Europe where we had military personnel. Suggest you give them a call or visit their website. We have large military bases here in COLO SPGS and I've seen trucks from Interstate here.

Here within the colonies we suggest people get "binding estimates" which means you know exactly what you're going to pay when it's all over, i.e., no surprises. There are some unscrupulous firms here in the states who will surprise you at the end of the move with excessive costs they say you owe them, and they'll hold your goods hostage until you pay. A binding estimate prevents those nasty surprises, but I'm not sure if binding estimates are used in the international trades.

Everyone:
- In the USA, we use the term "movers" to describe firms that move your furniture and belonging between residences.
- In Europe, maybe other parts of the world, the term "removals" is used to describe the same function.

[Cazza_x]

Originally Posted by Mike from back east

Many years ago I was in that line of work for the U. S. military as we moved people all over the world. We referred to firms in the over-ocean trade as HouseHold Goods Forwarders. They pack your goods in large wooden boxes (aka Type II Containers) and stow them inside the large ocean-cargo containers and forward them via steam ship lines, etc. One of the better firms we dealt with was Interstate Van Lines, who had agents in those nations in Europe where we had military personnel. Suggest you give them a call or visit their website. We have large military bases here in COLO SPGS and I've seen trucks from Interstate here.

Here within the colonies we suggest people get "binding estimates" which means you know exactly what you're going to pay when it's all over, i.e., no surprises. There are some unscrupulous firms here in the states who will surprise you at the end of the move with excessive costs they say you owe them, and they'll hold your goods hostage until you pay. A binding estimate prevents those nasty surprises, but I'm not sure if binding estimates are used in the international trades.

Everyone:
- In the USA, we use the term "movers" to describe firms that move your furniture and belonging between residences.
- In Europe, maybe other parts of the world, the term "removals" is used to describe the same function.

Thank you for your reply I will make an enquiry to Interstate for a quote and will defiantly ask for a binding estimate!
Thanks

[Bideshi]

Good info! Thanks. I'll be dealing with that soon from Germany to COS. If there is even one unscrupulous mover out there, you can trust me to find them...

[Mike from back east]

Bideshi, IIRC you are there either in or with the military in some way. Ask around of the military folks as to good move / bad move. If you're corporate you should have a corporate office to assist you. If not, see if the HHG/PPTY shipping office on a nearby base will divulge who are their favorite firms. They may not say, but personnel who've moved recently will gladly tell you if they got a good move.

The longer a person has been in the service, the more moves they've made and the better their opinions will be, so seek out senior enlisted and officers. I've a USAF Colonel up the street who's moved 15 times, all over the world.

I'm sure Interstate has agents in GER. Note too that often times local agents work for more than one carrier, so the local agent with the best reputation may work for other van lines, and that's okay, it's the local agent who packs you out and either does it right or you have damage.