Expat Guide on Shipping to Australia with John Mason

How long have John Mason been helping people move to Australia and New Zealand?

We have been moving people to Australia and New Zealand for over 50 years. Before the advent of ISO containers, the company used it’s own shipping containers to operate our container services. We currently move thousands of people to Australia and New Zealand every year.

Do you also offer an outbound service from Australia and New Zealand?

Yes we offer a full door to door outbound service for anyone moving from Australia or New Zealand to the UK or anywhere else in the world.

The idea of relocating a family overseas is a daunting prospect, how can using an international removal company help?

Using an international moving company to take care of every step of the way can really take the stress out of moving abroad and make it the enjoyable and exciting experience that it should be. Each customer is assigned a personal Move Manager who handles all aspects of the relocation and will be a direct point of contact.
At any stage, you can call your Move Manager for help or advice. An international moving company has all the knowledge and expertise needed to deal with the complexities of relocating including providing a specialist international packing service, complete shipping and quarantine and customs clearance.

Do you think it is more cost effective to ship items such as white goods?

It is generally cheaper to ship rather than to replace. Washing machines tend to be top loaders in Australia so if you are comfortable with the typical British ones, you may want to ship your own. In order to prepare your white goods for shipping, make sure they are clean and dry prior to packing.

Are containers weighed or is the shipment priced by size?

A sea shipment is priced on volume (in cubic feet or cubic metres) and therefore weight is not involved. For air freight shipments, the price is calculated using a calculation of weight and size.

For professionals migrating for work, what are the major advantages of shipping your household items?

It is a lot easier to ship your household furniture and possessions rather than have the hassle of renting or buying new items when you reach your destination. This would of course be very time consuming, especially at a time when you will need to be settling in and may be starting work soon after arriving.
In addition, if you don’t ship your items, you may have the inconvenience of selling your furniture of the cost of putting it into store. If you are moving with your family, it can help other family members, in particular children, to feel more at home in their new surroundings if they are surrounded by familiar things.

There are so many international removal companies out there? Do you have any advice for comparing companies?

We would recommend using a company with a recognised quality accreditation such as the International Federation of Movers (FIDI) and the British Association of Removers (BAR) Overseas Group.
This ensures a quality service and in the case of the BAR Overseas Group, a financial guarantee for the move. Not all moving companies offer a shared container service and this can be particularly useful if you have a less than full house load to ship / small number of items to ship or if you are looking to keep your costs down.
Make sure to look for a company which offers different shipping options. Look for an experienced company with a good reputation as shipping is a complex business and it takes time to accumulate the knowledge and expertise involved in the international moving process.
Most reputable moving companies will offer a full door to door service including specialist export packing and international moving insurance as standard. Make sure the moving company you choose offers this full service.
A decent moving company should offer a Personal Move Manager, a dedicated point of contact for your move so that you are not passed around in a call centre type of environment when you call the company. The Personal Move Manager will know the details of your move and will be able to provide specific advice and guidance as well as manage your move in the most effective way possible.

Why should people use John Mason International?

John Mason International is a family owned company founded in 1884 and is now one of the UK’s largest international removal companies. The company prides itself on its ability to provide a highly personal service to its customers.
Each customer is assigned a dedicated Move Manager to take care of their belongings and provide professional guidance and expertise throughout the process. Our packing teams have access to the finest export packing materials to provide a specialist international service.
With thousands of international shipments a year, the company has vast experience in providing high quality international removals as well as having significant economies of scale to provide cost-effective services.
The company is an active member of the leading international removals organisations including BAR Overseas and the world’s leading international moving federation, FIDI. Our FIDI FAIM certification demonstrates a clear commitment to providing high quality services to our customers.