Packing For The Move.

[intrepid]

The move is coming soon.  As I have said in the past this has been planed for years.  Although I’m not selling my house because my son and his family will be living in it for at least five years before deciding to sell, I did decide to get rid of a lot of items.  But he will get the furinture and whatever else I decide to leave and he can decide to keep, sell, or dispose of.  I sold most all my woodworking machines and also a milling and lathe.  Keeping much of the tooling and hand tools I want.  This started January 2015.  Sure glad I started when we did.  My wife and I have been sorting, selling, and giving so many things.  At this point I believe we have just over half the stuff packed.  Although I have decided to go with an international mover, most everything has been packed in balikbayan boxes.  I had checked prices several different ways and may have saved a little shipping a different way but feel less stress and maybe a little safer with the international mover.  To give you a little comparison, we will be shipping about 200 cu ft of items.  No weight limit.  That’s equal to about 33 large BB boxes.  The cost is $2200 to our door in Sta Rosa, Laguna.  The shipper will place all the boxes in a build crate and be kept together for the entire trip.  Well, back to packing boxes.

 

[Gratefuled]

Good morning Intrepid.

Good idea not to sell your house in the states. I still have mine. I lease it out but I will not sell it. I plan on moving back eventually. My old house has a lot of good memories. All my kids grew up there and I have lifelong friends and neighbors there.

Good luck on your decision to move and live here in the PI.

[intrepid]

Thanks Gratefuled.  We are going to give it a good try.  I plan to keep my house and hopefully my son will decide to buy it down the road.  I too have a lot of memories in this house.  I designed and built it.  My self.  My children grew up in it also.  Most of my family lives in the area and of course many friends.  But even if I decide to someday leave the PI and return to the US, it will not be back to this house.  It's more house than we need and the yard is way too big and another factor is I don't want to be in the cold any longer!

[Old55]

Thanks for sharing keep us posted on your move. I know you guys must be excited! :dance:

[chris49]

Sta Rosa (you have posted before, right?) is an area I looked at 10 years ago. IMO a bit quiet, but has developed commercially and currently has all ammenties. Because it's a planned community with proper access roads, traffic flow is good. Although through the middle of town there's route to Batangas and for maybe 2 traffic lights there can be delays esp on the weekend,

 

Well planned, and best of luck with the move.

[davewe]

The move is coming soon.  As I have said in the past this has been planed for years.  Although I’m not selling my house because my son and his family will be living in it for at least five years before deciding to sell, I did decide to get rid of a lot of items.  But he will get the furinture and whatever else I decide to leave and he can decide to keep, sell, or dispose of.  I sold most all my woodworking machines and also a milling and lathe.  Keeping much of the tooling and hand tools I want.  This started January 2015.  Sure glad I started when we did.  My wife and I have been sorting, selling, and giving so many things.  At this point I believe we have just over half the stuff packed.  Although I have decided to go with an international mover, most everything has been packed in balikbayan boxes.  I had checked prices several different ways and may have saved a little shipping a different way but feel less stress and maybe a little safer with the international mover.  To give you a little comparison, we will be shipping about 200 cu ft of items.  No weight limit.  That’s equal to about 33 large BB boxes.  The cost is $2200 to our door in Sta Rosa, Laguna.  The shipper will place all the boxes in a build crate and be kept together for the entire trip.  Well, back to packing boxes.

 

IMG_2406.JPG

Would you mind sharing the name/contact info for your international shipper. I assumed I would just ship a bunch of BB boxes but this option sounds good. I had previously investigated the notion of a 1/2 shipping container but the cost was too high.

[intrepid]

Would you mind sharing the name/contact info for your international shipper. I assumed I would just ship a bunch of BB boxes but this option sounds good. I had previously investigated the notion of a 1/2 shipping container but the cost was too high.

 

Sure Dave,

The company I'm using is Certified International Movers,  http://cimovers.com/index.html.  I don't know where you are located but this company specializes in moves originating in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC.   I would think if they are out of your area they would be able to recommend someone for you.  I found them by doing a google search for "international moving shippers".  Filled out one of those forms to get quotes from several shippers.  Got some emails and a few calls.  But in the end it was worth it.  Any other questions ask away.  Of course I'll know more sometime in May.

[intrepid]

Almost forgot, If you ship this way, meaning not shipping BB, it is best to have a visa.  This way you can apply at the Department of Finance, DOF, for duty/Tax free import of your personal and household goods.  Otherwise, if you can get everything in BB boxes it may be cheaper.

 

 

 

 

 

edit for spelling...again :bonk:

Edited January 14, 2016 by intrepid

[davewe]

Almost forgot, I you ship this way, meaning not shipping BB, it is best to have a visa.  This way you can apply at the Department of Finance, DOF, for duty/Tax free import of your personal and household goods.  Otherwise, if you can get everything in BB boxes it may be cheaper.

Thanks for the recommendations. I've already spoken to a couple companies. Seems like a viable option if we end up with enough to justify. If we only have 10 boxes worth, the BB option might still be the better way to go. But for 20+ this is sounding very attractive.

[intrepid]

If we only have 10 boxes worth, the BB option might still be the better way to go. But for 20+ this is sounding very attractive.

 

For sure 20+ this is the way to go. 

As an update the the packing continues.  My original estimate was for 200 cu. ft. Most of the boxes we are using are BB size 6 cu ft each.  I've decided to send a few more tools than originally planned and my wife has packed more than planned also.  Wants to have plenty of items to give away.  So, now it looks like the shipment has grown to just under 300 cu ft.  It NEEDS to STOP.  Well, it's going to have to.  I don't have much left to box other than large items that we will NOT ship.  I'm now wondering how long will it be before all these boxes will be unpacked and items put into proper place.  I'm thinking  two plus years.  :1 (103):