Moving home can be one of the most stressful moments in life. When that move is to a foreign country, there’s a whole other level of potential worries.
But a bit of careful planning and finding the right removals company can ensure that things go smoothly – as it did for Norman and Julie when they moved from West Sussex to the Algarve last year.
Why Norman and Julie chose Portugal
It started – as is often the case – with a visit to A Place in the Sun Live, when Norman, who is mostly retired, and Julie (fully retired), went to do some research for their next “adventure”.
“I was becoming a bit disillusioned with a few things in the UK and Julie was keen to move somewhere new. A better quality of life and some tax advantages steered us towards Portugal. When we visited, we found people friendlier than in others,” says Norman, 65.
Finding the right removals company for a move to Portugal
After speaking to estate agents and tax specialists, they met Indalo Transport – a specialist removals company.
When a few months later they found a lovely four-bedroom villa with a pool and six acres at Santa Bárbara de Nexe, 15 minutes north of Faro, they got back in touch with the company.
“We did get other quotes for the move [they quote by cubic metres]. Julie was a bit spooked that unlike the other companies they did not come and physically inspect our house contents – Indalo got us to pan around the house on a video call.”
But their face-to-face meeting at the exhibition counted for a lot, and they felt reassured – and from then on, the organisation was effective and the communication great, says Norman.
What to expect on moving day
They didn’t need to use the company’s full packing service on offer – they did a lot of it themselves. “They sent us lots of boxes, then on move day, one person arrived early to pack up all the delicate items and artwork.”
They were able to coordinate the timing in November just as they wanted – their furniture was held in storage for a short spell at Indalo’s secure facility in Spain – to allow them to make the move to Portugal and allow some time to settle in before receiving their two vans of 260 items.
“We bought the Portuguese house part-furnished – and left some of our items for our daughter who bought our UK home – so it wasn’t the biggest unpacking job. The Indalo team worked like robots, were very respectful and it went very smoothly.”
How Brexit has changed moving to Portugal
Since Brexit, moving has become more complicated from a customs perspective.
The customs documentation charge is kept as a separate item by Indalo for transparency and includes full itemised inventory, transit document, export declaration, import declaration and safety & security declaration.
Along with import charges, the company you use must have the proper insurance (see below).
Norman says it has all been a completely new experience – but all good. “We made the right choice with Indalo – with a little bit of gut and Google reviews.”
Now the couple can relax and enjoy their new life on the Algarve, and Norman is keen to try the local driving range. “I think we are definitely better off in Portugal.”
Indalo Transport’s moving home checklist
Three months to go…
Sort through all your belongings and get rid of items you no longer need. Note down whether items need special packaging or extra insurance cover.
Start researching removals companies – are they Trading Standards Approved? Are they members of any professional organisations? Can they handle customs clearance and transfer of residency on your behalf?
When the removal company surveys the move, are they taking account of special packing requirements? Consider a full packing service to help ease your stress.
Contact the vet for your dog or cat to get their pet passport and arrange to get the Animal Health Certificate. How will you take the pet?
Create a 'moving binder' for important documents to hand, including passports, driving licences, etc. Back up your hard drive and upload key files to cloud storage.
Two months to go…
Order packing materials. Your removal company should be able to help with this by supplying strong triple-wall boxes.
If you have not included a packing service with your removal, start to pack away the contents of the house, leaving out the essentials that you need for the next month.
One month to go…
Start using up things that you can’t take on the move, like frozen or perishable foods and cleaning supplies.
Your professional removal company will need to create a comprehensive inventory for customs purposes.
Check that all your final bill payments are arranged. Make the final payment to the removal company at least five days before moving day.
Thinking about a move to Portugal?
Start your search today and explore a wide range of properties across the Algarve, Silver Coast and beyond.
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Need help with the buying process?
Download our free guide to buying in Portugal – including legal tips, visa info and advice on relocation.
