Hello everyone, I’m planning to relocate to a new House in a few months. Now, I need help with the entire process seeing the numerous and heavy furniture pieces that must be transported from Ireland to the UK. Since it’s my first time to deal with this process, I’m thinking of hiring a moving specialist. My neighbour recommended one of the removal companies Ireland to UK that he knows. Do you think it’s a good idea to seek their services?

I am still trying to find an agent that will handle a self-owned container. I am finding that moving companies only offer the option of using their container - loaded/unloaded by them or self-loaded/unloaded. In the latter case they typically allow 2h for the container to be loaded after which it is $85-100 per hour. No ramp or lift is provided so that option would require having this in place when the trailer arrives. The other option is to find a shipping agent that will handle pick-up, transport and drop-off of the container but that is proving difficult so I don't have any quotes yet to compare the cost of this option vs using movers with their own container. The Total cost will include the price of the container and a crane to load the container on to the trailer at the time of pick-up. I can purchase a 20' container for $2750 including delivery and the seaworthy certificate. The crane will cost about $500-$750 depending on the Total time required (they charge for the time from departure to return of the crane to their yard - which in my case will be between 2h-3h). I would welcome any suggestions for shipping agents that would be willing to handle a non-commercial container shipping job. Best regards, John

... to find an international freight company that would accommodate our personally-owned, self-loaded container. We found Aaltonen international Moving and Storage here in Cork to shepherd our container off the ship, through customs, and to the farm. Working with Kim McEvoy of Aaltonen has been a joy. In the US, we worked with Sky2C to arrange container pick-up, delivery to port, and transport via container ship. I submitted multiple requests for quotes to international shipping companies in May - lousy time - and they were the only company who responded. I ...

... even being a citizen - it is all residency. My son is in high school, and we are thinking of moving back so that he has residency for college purposes. You need to be legally resident for 3 of the past 5 years in Ireland. (Or Europe) Even getting married for residency is tricky - they may WAnt you to show that you have the financial resources to not be dependent on the state -- this goes for US or Ireland. When we applied for my husband's Green card, they WAnted my last 3 years tax returns and required that it WAs something like 150% of the poverty line? I ...

... only 90 days there. By the WAy, I have even tried to get clarity on the non-visa U.S. visitation limit of 90 days (is it 90 days at a time, or is it 90 days Total for the year?) thinking perhaps I won't need one if I travel regularly back and forth between my U.S. home and my Irish home (current completion est. of 2022) -- but I have not been able to get clarity on that either.

@tornadoali Sorry for the delayed response tornadoali. I took a few weeks off to get a move of my own under my belt 🙂 Back in action now! That's a great idea, and one which I can add a personal note to. I ran my own US credit report when looking for a mortgage in Ireland. It helped clarify my past. Like yours, it WAs good, however I can't say that it WAs a decision maker for the bank. It certainly did not hurt. They were happy to see it.

Thank you, that makes sense!

I've lived alone / paid my own mortgage for the last 10 years. When I move to Dublin and look for a flat, what do I do for tenant references?

2nd comment. I just read that people were nervous about this. I have no idea why. We've done this twice and if anything it's WAy too easy. Looking at it now, I'd be more worried about getting an Irish driving license than your residency. You WILL NOT be deported. You have a right to remain and a definitive path to citizenship. Worst case scenario? You'll be delayed a bit and might have to WAit awhile for your stamp 4. If you feel hard done by about it, think about the poor sucker (me) who went to the US, paid $4,500 + for my Green card and it took 1,800 a ...

... in Ireland is a bit of a shambles if you ask me. I got quite fed up with how things were handled to be quite honest. I had bought a House in the US years back, and WAs used to a more professional and transparent approach. You can find more details here: As for proving you will be a 'cash' buyer, that'll be very hard to prove until you have the money in the bank. There's nothing stopping you bidding for a House in Ireland, and at the same time, planning to rent out your UK House. Being a cash buyer does hold some weight. The sale won't be contingent on y ...