Blog
Moving Home with Animals
If you are moving to another part of the UK or even abroad, you may not want to leave a pet behind – after all, they can be considered part of the family too.
Hamiltons Removals offer a specialist removals service for customers moving to all UK destinations and to most places in Europe. This means, as well as our comprehensive range of domestic and commercial moving services, we can also move pets and horses, and some vehicles, tractors and machinery.
Here we look at some of the key factors you should consider if your pet is going to be joining you in your new home.
Check the Regulations
If you are going abroad, you should establish whether you are permitted to take your animal with you, and we can advise you on this. Europe has a Pet Passports system, which allows for the free movement of animals within member countries, and are issued to all pets provided they have recently been vaccinated against rabies and have been microchipped.
Your pet may be transported as live animal cargo. In aircraft, this may mean it will be put in the hold. You should make sure your pet is as comfortable as possible and has a supply of water and food.
At Hamiltons, we can advise you on all the relevant rules and regulations which apply to animal transportation. We sort out all the paperwork involved for any moves and advise you on what injections are required and any quarantine arrangements.
Looking After Your Horses
Whether you are moving to another part of the UK or to Europe, horses need great care during the move. We treat your horse as if it is our own, with its welfare our top priority.
We make sure that it is fed and watered every three to four hours during the move, and that it is exercised properly every six to eight hours. All of this is carried out by staff who are experienced in caring for horses.
Animals Get Nervous Too
If you are moving to another UK destination, you should try to make sure your pet is introduced to its new home before the big moving day. Similarly, if you pet is going to be carried in a special case or cage during the removals process, you should give it a trial run several days beforehand.
Some animals may also get nervous of they see you packing items up in advance, so you should try to make sure this is done in rooms your pet doesn’t usually go into.
Advice for Particular Pets
Different types of animals react differently to a changing environment so will need to be treated accordingly during and after a move.
Cats get particularly nervous, so you should try to make sure they are surrounded by some familiar objects during the move, and once you have arrived, introduce them to one or two new rooms at a time. Dogs should be kept on a lead as much as possible while they become more familiar with their new home.
Smaller pets such as gerbils and guinea pigs are particularly susceptible to temperature changes, so make sure their cage is well sealed during the move and that it is not affected by either direct sunlight or draughts.
At Hamiltons Removals we offer a specialist removals service which is available across the UK and for removals to most parts of Europe, including France, Germany, The Netherlands and Italy.
Our friendly, fully-qualified staff will put together a competitively-priced package which is tailored for your individual needs. Follow the link above to learn more about our range of services and receive an online quote.
Self Storage for People Moving Abroad
If you are moving to another country, you could be leaving behind some of your oldest, most treasured possessions, as well as saying goodbye to friends, family and work colleagues. If you put items into storage you want to be sure they will be safe and secure and readily accessible.
Hamiltons Removals offer top-quality self storage at our Harleston and Aldeby sites near the Norfolk and Suffolk border. Here we look at how good long term storage facilities can help you if you are planning to move abroad.
Why Self Storage can be Ideal
Some people are posted abroad to work for their company, often on a fixed-term contract. You may be moving to a furnished apartment and so won’t need to take valuable or bulky items with you. If you are a student, you may be living or working abroad during a gap year. In the case of language students, a spell abroad may form an integral part of your course.
Self storage can also be useful if you are older, and are treating yourself to a long holiday, a cruise or a lengthy spell of travel once you have retired. Even if you are settling abroad permanentl,y you may not want to take all your possessions with you at once. You could leave some items in either of our sites until you are sure they will fit into your new home.
Our Safe N Stored site at Harleston site has individual rooms in sizes ranging from 25 square feet to 200 square feet so is suitable for storing large and small items.
What Items to Put In
Bulky items like sofas and wardrobes are particularly well suited to being put into storage. Taking them with you could add substantially to shipping costs so it may be cheaper to buy new ones while you are abroad and leave your existing ones in our care.
Airline baggage limits also mean it makes sense to travel light, particularly if you are studying or travelling abroad and will be a frequent flyer. If you are moving to somewhere where the climate is much warmer, then you can leave a lot of your winter clothing at home. We have a Safe N Stored shop at our Harleston site which sells specialist items such as portable wardrobe cartons, bubblewrap, and Furniguard, a laminated protective export packing material, to help you pack your items away safely.
Greater Peace of Mind
If you are going abroad and leaving your house empty, it will be more vulnerable to break-ins and accidental damage such as flooding and electrical problems, as it is not being used around the clock.
Even if you are renting your home out, you won’t want to run the risk of having your fragile or delicate objects damaged, particularly if they are family heirlooms with a huge sentimental value.
Our facility at Harleston has CCTV cameras which operate around-the-clock CCTV cameras and a security alarm which is linked to Norfolk Police. This means you can store your valuable items with us and be sure they will be kept secure.
If you are not sure where you will be living in the long term, then our Safe N Stored sites offer an ideal solution. You can store items at our sites if you don’t know how long you will be working abroad for, or if are moving to another country but haven’t yet decided whether if you will be making it a permanent switch.
Easily Accessible
Our Safe N Stored sites will let you or your family and friends access your belongings after you have moved. Our Harleston site is open Mondays to Fridays from 8am to 5.30pm, and on Saturdays from 8am to 12noon.
Self storage makes it easy to arrange to have extra items sent on, if you decide you can’t live without them in your new home. It also means that when you do return you can readily access your possessions knowing that they should be ready to use.
Hamiltons Removals provide self storage solutions which are ideal for individuals and businesses in Norfolk and Suffolk. Our Harleston site is conveniently situated for people living in the Diss, Stradbroke, and Bungay areas.
Our Safe N Stored site in Aldeby has a range of different-sized containers and is ideal for people who want to store items such as motorbikes and boats, as you can drive your own vehicle right up to them. Click on the link to find out more about our services and to receive an online quote.