First things first
Firstly, decide what services you require with your move. Most companies will offer a basic removal to France, optional packing (or part packing) and dismantling services, storage facilities (in case your home is not ready or you wish to rent prior to buying so you can have a good look around), specialist services and packing such as piano removal, pet and vehicle transport. Ask for as many different variations as you need. It is worth remembering some removal companies run extremely large vehicles to the continent and you may be able to benefit from the reduced costs associated with a shared load. You may need to be slightly more flexible with delivery though as the load/s you are sharing with may be delivered first depending on location.

Forward planning
About eight weeks prior to your move, get three to four removal quotes. Look for companies who are members of a professional body such as the British Association of Removers. These companies are regularly inspected to ensure they continue to meet the membership criteria and must also provide a certain level of liability cover with their quotations. If you are only moving a partial load to France and you are happy to make a list, simply fax or email it to several companies and they will provide an 'instant' quote for you. Remember to tell them the collection and delivery addresses (or areas) with any access restrictions and whether you will require packing. 

For full household moves, it is best to have a surveyor call to assess the volume to be moved, the amount and type of packing, any special requirements – pianos, marble, chandeliers, highly polished antiques, etcetera – the access for the vehicles and answer your queries. Go around the house with the surveyor pointing out anything of particular concern or value. Do not forget, sheds, garages, attics, cellars and be sure to provide all the details of your destination.

It is very important to discuss the access in France. If the removal vehicle cannot get to your new home, a transhipping (small feeder) vehicle will need to be arranged in advance. If you do not mention potential access problems, the removers may be obliged to put your furniture into a local store and any storage and redelivery costs will be down to you – and, on the whole, French removal companies are significantly more expensive than the British ones! The British Removers liability for your furniture will also end when the goods are deposited in another company's storage depot! Remember you cannot take inflammable liquids such as oil-based paint, paraffin and fuel so you may need to drain lawnmowers, heaters, etcetera. You can take most house plants and the French have a 220–240 voltage so electrical items will work there – with a new plug!

The final choice
Accept one quotation three to four weeks prior to the removal, even if your dates are only provisional. During peak periods such as the summer, ends of the month and Fridays, companies can get booked up several weeks in advance so the more notice you can give, the better. Once accepted, you can agree a 'moving plan' with the removers and start packing non-essentials (if you are doing this yourself). Remember if the removers are packing you generally need to allow more than one day for the move out of your UK home. The average three-bedroom house will be packed and loaded in just two days! Tell the removers when you need to be clear of your home and they will work backwards to calculate the logistics. With regard to delivery, be sure to agree a timetable with the company. Be aware that heavy goods vehicles are forbidden to travel over much of the weekend on French roads so it is pointless moving out on a Friday evening and expecting delivery first thing Monday morning in the south of France!

Removals day
On the removal day (or packing day), keep separate any personal items that you do not want packed and/or taken. It is amazing how many people forget to keep wallets, credit cards, cheque books, passports, car papers and other important documents separate and they go into the removal lorry! The removal company pack and load at what often appears to be a lightning pace so make sure these essential items are kept separate well in advance. You can usually leave the contents of chests, etcetera as the removers are happy to transport them intact as long as they can lift them! Do not leave breakables in drawers. Some items, such as 'kit' or DIY furniture, is not designed to be moved whilst assembled and these items do have a tendency to come apart so, if possible, dismantle these or, at the very least, empty them. Moving home is a good time for small furniture keys to go missing! Either leave these with the furniture and the removers will secure them to the piece they are intended for or take them all with you in a small bag.

Don't forget... Unless you have requested it as part of your quote, you will need to take down curtains and rails (if they are coming with you), light fittings and dismantle any wardrobes, beds and other items which will not fit through the doorway assembled. When the lorry is loaded go around the house and check that everything that should be moved has been taken and that nothing has been taken away in error! This is your responsibility. The removal company will not go back at a later time to collect a forgotten item and deliver it to France on a later trip without expense to you. Remember to give the removal company your contact telephone numbers and directions to the house if it is hard to find. They will agree a delivery day with you and keep in touch to advise if there are any unseen hold-ups – ferry cancellations, port strikes, bad weather, traffic jams, breakdowns, etcetera. There is no longer any customs paperwork for you to worry about if you are a citizen of the EU and are moving your used household and personal effects within member states. On delivery, your removal crew will put your furniture into the rooms you want it put into. If you have opted to have everything unpacked, they will unpack your goods onto a flat surface and take all the packing debris away with them. They do not usually put everything back into cupboards and onto shelves. Finally, check the delivery and sign the delivery paperwork. If you have noticed any exceptions, write it on the paperwork. Removal companies do have time limits on accepting claims which will be written in their terms and conditions of contract.

* Contact your service providers – gas, electric, oil, water, council tax, telephone and advise them of your removal date. Provide a forwarding address to settle final accounts.

* Notify necessary people and institutions of the date of your removal to France and your change of address. Do not forget banks and credit card companies if you are going to keep them open. Also, pensions, child benefit and national insurance provides should be notified.

* Check all required documentation is in hand and vaccination requirements have or will be met if you are moving your pets abroad. Your vet will offer specialist advice on their care.

* If you are taking your car make sure all documentation is in hand. You will need to register your vehicle in France after three months. A useful website about how to do this and about driving licences is Expatica. 

* Start emptying your freezer. This will need to be defrosted before the move so using up as much as possible in the last weeks will reduce wastage.

* Send out change of address cards to friends and relatives – once you have a home in France, you'll be amazed how many visitors you'll have!

* On your removal day, take all meter readings, confirming them to your service providers. Leave a copy at the house and take a copy with you.

For further information:
Simpsons of Sussex Removals  EMAIL
Tel: 0800 027 1958

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Article first published in May 2006