The move
In January 2022 a family asked us to move them from Salisbury in Wiltshire to a new home in Downpatrick, County Down, not far from Belfast.
Moving to Northern Ireland means crossing the Irish Sea, so this was a job where planning the route, the paperwork and the ferry mattered as much as the packing.
We surveyed the home, confirmed what was being moved and built the timetable around the ferry sailing, working back from the port to set the start time for packing.
The challenge
There were three things to get right:
- Customs clearance. Household goods moving to Northern Ireland needed customs paperwork, which had to be in place before the lorry reached the port.
- The crossing. The move depended on catching an overnight ferry from Birkenhead, near Liverpool, a long drive from Salisbury.
- Timing at both ends. Everything had to be packed and loaded in time to make that sailing, then delivered promptly on arrival.
What we did
We arranged the customs clearance through the specialist customs agent we have worked with for many years, so the paperwork was ready before moving day.
Our crew arrived at the Salisbury home early on the Wednesday morning. By lunchtime everything was carefully wrapped, packed and loaded, and the lorry set off for Birkenhead to catch the 10:30pm ferry to Northern Ireland. The crew had a cabin on board, so they arrived rested.
The ferry docked at 7am. The crew drove straight to Downpatrick, unloaded the family's belongings and placed everything where they wanted it. The delivery was finished by 11am, and the team caught the evening ferry back, arriving home the following afternoon.
The result
The family were moved in by late morning the day after their home was packed, with everything delivered in good condition. Our crew arrived back at base the following afternoon, with the whole job completed in just over two days. Their feedback was that the service and professionalism they received were first class. For them, the move felt straightforward, because the paperwork and the ferry had been sorted out well before the day.
Our crews are used to moves that involve ferries, customs and long distances. Fiona holds a BTEC in Customs Export and Import Procedures, which helps us get the paperwork right. If you are moving across the water, see our pages on moving to Ireland and international moves, or the moving abroad checklist.
Planning a move of your own? Book your free home visit in a BH postcode or DT11, or Get an online quote from anywhere else. You can also call 01202 570970.