Quest Turkey Property and Lifestyle Magazine

Finding a Shipper

There are a host of removal companies well versed in shipping items from one country to another and it is wise to choose one of these companies rather than rely on a local haulage company. You need to estimate or limit yourself to a certain amount of boxes and set a weight of what you intend to ship in order to get a quote. Shop around for the best deal and take into account delivery times to your new Turkish address. Make sure that you insure your items for a realistic value. Accidents do happen and with the best will in the world, boxes do go astray, so make sure you are covered for such eventualities.

Choosing the Right Materials

Before you start saving the freesheet newspapers and blagging cardboard boxes from the office store room at work, it’s worth asking your designated shipping company what they will provide. Many prefer you to use their own packaging and tape which is branded with their company logo and is of a higher strength than ordinary boxes from the supermarket. Allied Pickfords actually provide self-pack materials, which they deliver to your door prior to your move. There is a choice of packs available including professional quality materials used by removal companies, business packages, which are tailored for office-related equipment, and budget packs for those who are shipping essentials rather than valued treasures. Considering what you have to pack will decide on the material you should order. If you do decide to ship fragile items look for shipping packs for fragile items because these include plate dividers and various glass wraps. If the majority of your possessions include your clothes then some removal companies can provide cardboard wardrobe cartons so that you can hang them up whilst they are in transit. Essential materials whatever option you choose should include a dark marker pen, plenty of bubble wrap, strong brown tape, different sized boxes and a notepad to list what has gone into each box.

Take it or Leave It

You should start your packing well in advance or your moving date. Whilst you may think you will not be able to survive without certain items, you will be surprised at how easy this is and you may find that there are many items that will not be making the journey with you. Such items can earn you money; you can sell them on eBay or at a car boot sale and out the funds towards your shipping costs. Your new life in Turkey will not be the same as the one you are leaving behind and you should consider whether you really need to take items like electrical goods or business suits with you. If you have children their life will be based around the outdoors so there is no need to take the numerous toys they have to occupy them in a cold climate. Bare in mind too, that the cost of living in Turkey is much cheaper than your home country and you will be able to replace many items from new once you get there. There are some items, which cannot be transported by removal companies by law; things like loaded guns are obvious, but before you start packing up the contents of your bathroom check to see what items are prohibited; nail varnish remover for example is considered a hazardous material and is forbidden. Don’t even consider packing perishable items like food or plants or paper documents like cash, deeds or wills and note that items of high value like jewellery or overly sentimental items like photographs should be transported by you.

Room by Room

Be methodical and work from room to room starting with an area like the utility room, which you don’t use on a regular basis and then working through to busier rooms like the kitchen. Oddly shaped or heavy items require special care to ensure that you or the removal people do not get injured. Attachments should be detached from all power tools and packed in a separate box. If there are sharp edged tools, wrap them in old rags – ideally towels which are harder to pierce – and tape to secure. Take care to store all screws and fittings in a labelled jars o that you can re-assemble your items with ease when they arrive in Turkey. Back up your computer onto a CD or pen drive and keep this on you. Remove ink cartridges from your printer, and invest in new ones at your destination, as they do not travel well. Computers should have all of the wires wound up and fastened, then packed in the original box if you still have it, with polystyrene or other suitable padding. Go through all of your documents and get rid of any that are now unnecessary or outdated. Wrap clothing and linen in plastic bags before you store them into the packing crates; this ensures that they stay dry and undamaged. CD and DVD players need to have the laser secured with transport screws located on the bottom or back of the unit. Most turntables have a plastic lock which should be used to hold the tone arm in place.

For additional protection, you may tie a piece of string around the arm in case the lock does not hold. Pack speakers all round, cushioning the sensitive area well. Larger televisions may need to be transported in a crate, but smaller TVs can be placed in a box with padding. Most shippers have a labelling system, which you will be required to follow; this may involve labelling boxes as 1 in a particular series for example 1 of 20. They will also need a list of what is in each box for customs purposes. Label any boxes with fragile items as such with the words, "Fragile - This Side Up”.

Packing up is a mammoth task and you may decide to leave this in the hands of professional removers who can pack for you. However, if you do want to do it yourself, it will save you a lot of money and if you follow our helpful tips, you can ensure you’ll pack like a pro and get your goods to their new place of adornment in one piece.