cathnmike - 07/04/2008 12:46
We have been trying to work out for some time whether it's best to buy furniture and other household goods in Italy, or take from the UK - we're downsizing in the UK so we have a lot spare! - and we have finally decided to do a mix of the two. But when we looked at the cost of transporting even a very small load we were quite shocked at the high prices. To move one three seater settee, several boxes of books and a few other items was going to be around £1500 - £2,000.
If you're moving a load of furniture and all your other worldly goods it's obviously best to get a professional I guess - but we have decided to try to DIY way and bought a transit van! So we will now have the excitement of driving down and seeing some unkown parts of Italy on the way. We reckon the first couple of trips will mean the van has paid for itself so anything it does after that is a bonus. Not everyone would want the hassle, but we're looking forward to it.
Incidentally, we may well have some space in the van when we go and we're happy to take some small-ish items for others, at a small cost (just to get back some of the tolls / petrol really). The next time we're going out will be round the end of April beginning of May, then probably early to mid July, travelling between Liverpool (UK) and San Ginesio (Le Marche) - and coming back, sadly.
So if you live somewhere that might be on that route and have anything you want to get there (or back) but were struggling to know how for a reasonable price, let us know and we'll get back to you.
cathnmike - 07/04/2008 20:12
I ought to have made it clear that we haven't bought a full-size furniture van - only a transit! We couldn't take big loads - there are good specialist firms around who do that - this is more like "a van and a man", or in our case, "a van, a man and a woman".
Sorry if I've caused confusion.
dolcevita - 08/04/2008 12:10
Wow! That sounds like an adventure.
Good luck with the journey and all that transporting. It sounds like a good solution to your moving problem and all the difficult logistics!
SallyinSardinia - 15/04/2008 10:38
Good luck with the move! It will be very interesting to hear how it goes as I had the same idea but haven't had the confidence to try it. Instead, I keep ending up at Stansted airport with bags packed to the maximum and wearing 2 coats and 3 pairs of trousers, (this is not recommended especially when arriving in Sardinia the temperature is double that of England.)
ronaustin - 22/07/2008 10:54
I am very interested to hear how you get on with your move to Italy,we have bought a house not far from you in the hills above San Severino Marche.We like you are downsizing in the UK with a view to moving out permanantly if things go OK.The house is at the moment in limbo whilst we get the necessary permissions.Work was supposed to start in June,but is likely to be Sept.finished by March 09 ( we hope )I had thought about buying a van and driving over just like you.Would be interested to know how you get on.
MiriamRyan - 16/05/2011 08:55
I've just found this thread having posted a related message in the "News and Views" section of this site. We have about 10-11cubic meters of furniture/boxes to transport from London to Umbria in mid-late July and were thinking of hiring a transit van. It sounds like we might have more to transport than you have availability but if not let me know.
