Q: I am planning to move to the Loire Valley in a few months’ time and am concerned about moving all of our possessions from our four-bedroom house in Oxford to the new home, which is a mile down a farm track. What am I allowed to take into France and what do I need to consider to make the move as smooth as possible?

Alison Wilson, via email

A: The secret behind a successful move is early, detailed planning. Although France is just across the English Channel, there are several additional factors to consider compared to moving within the UK.

When deciding on a removals company it is best to select a specialist for the job. This means a member of FIDI (Fédération Internationale des Déménageurs Internationaux – the international federation of international movers) that has
an independently audited FAIM (FIDI Accredited International Mover) quality assurance standard.

Another standard to look for in a company is that it is FSA (Financial Services Authority) authorised and regulated, as only FSA-approved companies can legally provide insurance services. Beware legal liability-only cover.

A good indication of the professional competence of the company is the way they conduct a survey of your household contents. If they just do a cursory glance of what needs to be moved, ignoring issues such as delicate and fragile items, it is likely the job will not be done properly. At this stage it is also important to remember to show the surveyor all of the items to be moved, including the often forgotten contents of the shed or garage. This ensures a more accurately costed quotation and allows the remover to better plan the move to meet your needs.

Moves to France and the rest of Europe are normally completed with large removal vehicles, typically around 18m in length, 4m in height and 2.5m wide. Most movers will also offer a part-load service, where several customer consignments are consolidated together to fill
the vehicle.

Although more economical, if tight scheduling for the move is needed, a part load may not offer the right solution because of the risk of delays. Any difficulties with any of the other consignments will hold up the overall delivery timetable so, if time is critical, it will be worth requesting a dedicated vehicle for your move.

Many beautiful French properties are located along narrow country roads. Given the size of the delivery vehicles, it is essential that road access to the property is investigated in advance. The penalty for not doing this, if it is discovered that the property cannot be reached by the remover’s lorry, is the extra cost, delay and risk of breakage involved in the hiring at short notice of shuttle vans from a local company to complete the job. This can be avoided with advance notice, as most removers can arrange for shuttle vehicles to be hired through trusted international affiliates at optimal cost.

In the case of some upper floor apartments, access may be so poor that an external hoist may need to be hired and the goods brought in through a window.

If this is an issue, make sure the remover is informed so they can plan accordingly.

As far as restrictions on moving household goods into France are concerned, there are very few because the move is within the European Union. Moreover, your removers should advise you in advance with regard to any items which cannot be carried for health
and safety reasons.

It is advisable to have the goods to be moved professionally packed. This will minimise the risk of damage and will also help to reduce the restrictions to insurance cover. Additionally, with respect to insurance, it is important to be aware that there is generally a short notice period after delivery for any insurance claims to be made. With this in mind, make sure all items are unpacked and inspected for damage as soon as possible and not just placed in the garage to be unpacked and possible damage discovered months later.

Although a move within the UK, let alone an international move, may seem initially daunting, much of the stress can be eliminated by the careful selection of a specialist international moving company and by providing them, as far in advance as is practical, all of the information they require to make it a pleasant experience and one you’ll remember for all the right reasons.