Shipping a house worth of belongings internationally

I wouldn’t bother either. You’ve no idea whether it will fit in your new home anyway. Furniture is relatively cheap these days whereas shipping is not. When we moved overseas, we paid excess baggage with the airline to bring over clothes and personal effects which was way cheaper than shipping.

I stored some stuff like crockery and bedding at my parents’ house just in case but never brought it over and donated it all last year when we went back to the UK.

Obviously do the sums and see how much it would cost to buy everything new vs shipping but unless the difference is massively significant, I would start all over again.

The cost of moving it all is usually more than the cost of buying it all again in the new place, unless you're very rich and have really top quality stuff?

I'd max out all available luggage options with the true essentials, and then start afresh, personally. After a mammoth declutter, selling stuff, giving it away and so on in the original country. Really we need very little to get established, and then you can add things as you go.

Even the cost of storing it adds up after a while.

We moved from the US to the UK. Goods are shipped by sea, and IIRC it took a couple of months. Goods will be off loaded at port and a moving company in your new country will need to take them by land to your new home. You should be able to arrange the whole thing from the UK

IMO the success of the move depends mainly on the quality of the packing. I would make sure it is done right, whether you do it yourselves or hire it out. Good luck!

I used to work for a freight forwarder and we often shipped household contents between countries, but most only take what they absolutely love, basics like pans etc., additional clothing, some items of sentimental value and often far too much!! Speak to a company that ships household contents, do not neglect to have sufficient transit insurance and think about what you absolutely want to take and what will work where you are going, so will furniture be appropriate, heavy coats be needed.... Transit times depends on where and I'd also advise the goods being professionally packed, as the containers have a tough time in transit.

You need to contact a freight forwarding company for a quote for moving personal effects. Where are you moving to? Transit times depend on location from/to but UK to US can take around 2 weeks, dependent on what part of the US and UK to China takes around 28 days transit, you’d need to allow for offloading from the vessel and delivery (depending if the goods will come to you directly in the container or need to be unpacked first), plus customs clearance, you’re definitely not looking at years.

Unless I had really expensive, rare furniture I'm not sure I'd bother tbh. Sorry, not very helpful!