Homestyle Gossip

Shipping furniture abroad can be a costly procedure. A lot of people would prefer replacing their furniture as soon as they are in the new country as opposed to shipping it over. Expensive furniture could nevertheless be worth the shipping freight costs when you want to take it with you. Sometimes, pieces of furniture are irreplaceable such as family heirlooms and antiques.

Taking any furniture abroad should be considered only if you will be moving abroad for a number of years or even permanently. It is fairly easy to find accommodation that is furnished in most countries, and if the stay is only going to be one or two years it would make more sense to put your furniture into storage for that period.

Beds including king size beds are not always an option to take overseas, but sometimes a bed can be made out of a type of wood that could be expensive to replace in another country, or even custom made. It is important to get quotes from various international moving companies to find the best rates. Make sure that all the paperwork and shipping documents are properly completed with the chosen shipping company, as it would be a shame if something went wrong.

If the movers are a slightly more expensive it can be worth it for your peace of mind. The moving companies will let you know about any extra charges that might have to be paid. Duty, customs, terminal charges and also sales tax as well as insurance and shipping charges might need to be paid by you, so do look at the small print to avoid bad surprises!

The cheapest way for any item to be sent overseas will be by ship. Sea freight will generally be cheaper than air freight, sometimes twice as cheap. Furniture will be put into a sea container with other items. On arrival it could be handled several times. Therefore, even large items must be well packed in the crate to avoid any damage.

You can also look to share a container. If you find another person willing to share a shipping container to the same destination it could save a bit on expenses. Look into a ‘group move’ if your company is transferring your team abroad etc. If the entire shipping container is filled then the damage risk is lowered. Shipping can take about one to three months to reach an overseas destination. Some shipments are affected by delays and bad weather at ports and customs.

It is wise to get proper insurance when transporting furniture. The insurance must cover all the items and it must be door to door. If the person is utilising full pickup plus delivery then the items will be on the ship or plane and will be transported both to and from the ship or plane as well.

All the required paperwork must be completed before shipping. A custom broker can be hired to sort out all the needed documents to get the furniture shipped to the desired destination if you have already moved abroad for example. A bill of landing and entry manifest as well as customs declaration will need to be filled out. The furniture might have to be checked over before it is released.

Once you have made sure you have taken care of all the details you are good to go and all we can say is enjoy your new destination!

With a snap of Father Time’s fingers, baby boomers, those once ‘ever young’ people who were born in the postwar era and came of age in the 1960s, are entering their ‘golden’ years. This is among the largest of the generations ever recorded, and as they enter their senior years, their 60s, setting up residential care for them becomes an increasing concern. It may come as a surprise that many Britons, in fact, prefer to retire abroad because they think it will cost them less for retirement care homes abroad. Be careful, though, because this is often untrue.

Finding care homes abroad can be somewhat tricky, but whether you live within the European Economic Area or outside of it, oversees residential care homes are going to need to be funded through private funding. Alternatively, if you’ve got a house in the United Kingdom, residential care will be paid for through channels within the United Kingdom.

Specifically, if you have assets that exceed £21,500, you’ll need to pay for your own personal care and accommodation costs, until your assets have gone down to £13,000, at which time local authorities can step in if they wish and pay for the care. Residential care homes can be expensive, and can be even more expensive abroad. That’s because in the present economic climate, sterling is down in value over other currencies, which means you may lose a lot in the currency exchange. Therefore, if you’re moving to residential care homes abroad specifically to save money, make sure you take into account the taxes you will be responsible for and the amount of monetary value you will lose in the currency exchange.

There are other financial quandaries that may come into play if you’re moving abroad so that you can find residential care homes there, too. Although not specifically related to care homes, most foreign banks charge significantly high fees; this may be a shock to Britons who are used to free banking. Taxes, too, may be significantly higher in foreign countries. This is especially true for property taxes, which is going to impact you if you are purchasing your own home instead of opting for care homes.

Finally, your state pension can also be at risk if you opt to move to care homes abroad. Of course, pension monies can usually be transferred into a bank account in the country you move to end can be converted to the local currency. However, you may be subject to significant tax liability, especially if you live in a country that has a double taxation agreement with United Kingdom. If that’s true, you may have to pay both UK tax and your new country’s tax, too.

Transferred state pension payments will likely also be frozen at the current level instead of having an inflation increase as would be true in the United Kingdom, unless you’re moving to a country that has UK arrangements so that the inflation increase stands. (Notably, Australia and Canada do NOT have UK arrangements so that your pension amounts are adjusted for inflation. In other words, your payment amounts will be frozen at current levels if you move there.)

All of this isn’t necessarily to dissuade you from moving to residential care homes abroad. Certainly, this can be an adventure and a way to enjoy your golden years from a unique perspective. However, do be advised that this may cost you significant money as described above. If you’re doing it merely for cost savings, you may want to reconsider.

It’s a fact that people are living longer. Better health care, higher standards of living, healthier eating and a wider awareness of general health issues has meant that we’re an aging population. As such the scope for caring for the nation’s elderly, one that has been sufficient for decades, has to be widened. More care homes are being built and people are forced to work longer before retirement.

The residential care homes of the future will be bigger, will have more residents and will require more elderly nursing care than ever before. Places in care homes are also becoming scarcer, as competition for places becomes stronger.

One of the most difficult aspects of growing old is dealing with dementia and seeing a loved one deteriorate to a point where they’re not certain who you are from one day to the next. When someone suffers with dementia they need the best care and there are many dementia care homes in the UK that can offer this.

Choosing the right elderly nursing care for your loved one is an important decision and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Be sure to visit each care homes that you’re considering and inspect it thoroughly to make sure that you make the right choice of care homes.

It may seem as though it’s too late to think of booking a luxury beach house on the coast of the Mediterranean, but due to the economy there are still holiday rentals in France and other Mediterranean areas to be found.

You could pick up a week in a luxury beach house in the South of France for as little as 400 Euros per week, with prices rising depending on the type of accommodation and the area of course. Some of the popular areas in France are the Languedoc, Provence and the Cote d’Azur.

The Languedoc-Roussillon stretches from along the southern coast of France, all the way up to the border with Spain and features over 200km of beautiful golden sandy beaches for you to forget the weather back home in the UK. The Languedoc-Roussillon is also much quieter than the more tourist-focussed Cote d’Azur, so you can enjoy the area and sights in relative peace.

The sights include the harbour of Collioure, which was the setting for such great artists as Picasso and Matisse to find their muse.

If you’re looking for an alternative to France you could try one of the other beautiful holiday destinations for holiday rentals in places such as Spain, Italy, Portugal, Marbella or Nerja.

After the purchase of your home, it’s said that the second most expensive investment you will make is buying a new car. Having spent all that money on both, it’s worth doing a little something to protect your beautiful new car and invest in your dream home. Looking after your pride and joy (the house and the car) should be top priority and it’s possible to simultaneously achieve higher sales value and keep the depreciation figures low for the two.

According to the National Door Company;

“New garage doors can increase the front value of a house by up to 25%”

So why not choose to look after both your new investments by investing in new garage doors. With so many options available, from up and over’s, roller and sectional doors and different finishes like, steal or timber there should be an option to suite the needs of all proud home owners and car enthusiast to boot.

New Garage Doors Add Value to Your Home

Investing in New Cars and new Houses, takes time and resources but these investments will not only ensure that the property is well maintained but also ensures that the resale value of both remain high or if not, at least won’t drop considerably in value.

For inspiration for garage door designs to house all your new cars and used cars visit these sites:

Cordula | Garage Door Systems | National Door Company

Like a lot of you, I am depressed. Depressed to have to be back to short days, the cold and the underground. Don’t get me wrong. I love London. But holidays are always too short to not miss them when they’re over.

It’s that time of year when purchasing a holiday home becomes a frequent thought around the nation – ‘do I really want to continue paying ridiculous hotel fees in the SAME location?’ – Especially now with the economic crisis, house prices are falling world-wide, so now is the time to invest in property.

But don’t rush into it. There’s a number of factors you need to keep in mind before you do so, as they could save you stress, money and regret. Bare in mind these 10 recommendations:

1. Location, Location, Location
Where you choose to buy is a vital element of your purchase. Will you be renting it out when you’re not using it? If so, what will your clientele be like? Is it convenient for entertainment and amenities? Is it safe for families?
Don’t just choose a destination because you’ve been there once and it was kicks. Visit frequently, know the area and be sure it is somewhere worth investing in.

2. All My Children
If you have kids, try and keep them active. Having a holiday home where you go to do the same things you do at home is unproductive and uninspiring. Think hiking, museums, beaches. What are the most enjoyable activities to you and does the area offer them?

3. After Dark
Not only emphasising my earlier point about entertainment, but safety. Make sure the area has low crime rates. A home that’s empty over half the year would be a prime target.

4. The Price is Right
Don’t fall victim to estate agent nonsense. Do your research on house prices first, and then see the agents – this way you know you won’t be taken advantage of.

5. Law & Order
Hire a lawyer. Rules and regulations of a foreign nation can be plentiful and hard to understand if you don’t speak the native tongue. With a lawyer, you’ll make sure you don’t cut corners on the legal process.

6. Fast Money
Make sure you can transfer money in large quantities and with good exchange rates – you wouldn’t want to lose money because of a lack of preparation.

7. Getting There
Make sure the transport links are affordable and frequent. The more airlines, ferry operators and train connections there are, the more convenient your trips will be. Obviously.

8. ER
Safety first – check out the healthcare in the area and make sure you take out travel insurance so you and your family are covered in case of any accidents abroad.

9. Neighbours
Knock on the doors of your potential neighbours! This is important for 2 reasons:
a) Location (again) – if you’re not similar types of people, the area may not be right for you.
b) Maintenance – a helping hand from a permanent resident to look after your property is always a bonus.

10. Saturday Kitchen
A vital ingredient to any good holiday – local food and drinks! Make sure the food in nearby restaurants is authentic and safely prepared and that the markets are nearby to try out your favourite recipes in your new home.

Also remember to check out this property checklist from building expert Luis Gonzalez so you know what faults to look for in the foundation.