When making aliyah, how far in advance do I need to plan my removals?
For the planners reading this article, I would recommend making contact with our office between three and six months prior to your move to give us as much of an idea as you can of what you would like to have packed and shipped. This gives you the chance to see the bigger picture and will help you plan accordingly, such as countless visits to the local recycling centres, charity shops, marketplace sales etc.
We can accommodate those who prefer within-one-month timeframes, however I must emphasise that this option does come with its stresses. Typically I see last-minute planners taking more ‘stuff’ than necessary.
If you plan to move in summertime, it is well recommended to plan and secure your move as far in advance as possible. Typically, from Pesach onwards, is our busy season, so to avoid additional stress, advance bookings as very well recommended.
Will I have to dispose of/leave behind lots of my possessions?
Not necessarily. But I’d recommend using this as a golden opportunity to create a bit of feng shui. We all like to hoard somewhat, so I would say that if you have not worn it for the past year or two, get rid of it! Additionally, for those with kids, there are always plenty of toys and games that need not go.
Each home is unique and so we can normally advise you at the time of looking around and giving you the assessment of what is to be shipped.
Do remember this, properties in Israel tend to be smaller, so it is advisable not to take unnecessary items – and also remember that volume is money, so you will need to prioritise.
How long does it take to pack up a whole family home?
If you need a 20ft container, we typically need two consecutive days to pack at your home, whereas a 40ft container may need up to four or even five days, depending on numerous variables such as if it’s coming from a private house or flat; how good access is for parking and getting into your home; whether we can bring the container to your home; if there’s a long walk between your front door and the positioning of the container and whether parking suspension is needed.
If you plan on shipping a part-load in our groupage service then we would require only up to one day to pack up and remove items back to our warehouse.
Which things should I definitely take with me to Israel?
Great question – everything that makes a house a home!
Honestly this is very individual and while electrical appliances have come down in price in Israel, the larger and higher spec TVs are still cheaper to buy in England.
Everything that will make you feel happy with things in your new home are important to ship.
Which things should I definitely not take? (eg will my electrical items/tech work?)?
I would limit the number of coats , as the climate in Israel is so much warmer
In terms of electrical appliances, it is important to note that fridges and freezers need to operate on a ‘tropicalised’ setting, which in plain English means that they can cope with the warmer climate and that the engine will not burn out. On many occasions clients are unaware of this feature and thereby assume that their appliance will work.
The current ‘rights’ for new immigrants is one of each major electrical appliance per shipment, plus two TVs and two monitors as duplicates. Any additional electricals will be subject to taxes, so try to avoid taking more than your rights allow.
Alcohol is a big no-no! While most Jewish households tend to have a few good whiskies, it is definitely not worth the headaches or risk in shipping any alcohol in your consignment in case it is randomly chosen for a customs inspection as this can lead to complications and delays which will cost extra.
Lithium batteries are not permitted, so if you possess any e-bikes, the batteries need to be taken as hand luggage while the bike may be shipped.
Food is also a limited item. Everyone is permitted up to one box of 15 kilos weight limit for dry foods. If you’re thinking that life without English cereals, Marmite or tea will be unbearable, you have been warned!
Do you provide boxes, like a UK house move? Or something more robust?
Yes, we have multiple size boxes which we provide and our teams all pack to industry standards to avoid issues in carrying, loading, transporting or delivering in Israel.
Do we need to pack everything ourselves?
You do not need to pack things, however it is greatly advisable to get organised in advance of the move day(s). So typically, I would recommend that you pack suitcases in advance and keep all travel and medical records safely in one room that we will know not to pack.
Many clients do like to make a start on packing so there is no issue in providing some boxes in advance on the non-breakable items with the correct guidance on what can fit into what box.
How do you organise it so that everything arrives at the right time? (for instance – do I send off my bed three weeks before I go – and if so, what do I sleep on in the meantime?)
Typically everything will depart together, to fit the schedules of shipping.
On occasion, we may be able to collect master beds prior to loading your container if logistics permit, however in general everything is typically packed and moved from your home.
Most clients spend the last night or two on spare beds in their home or with close friends and family.
How are things packaged so they don’t get damaged?
We use a tremendous amount of newly recycled materials such as packing paper, similar to that of a weekend newspaper (without the ink!) to wrap and consolidate various items in boxes, or other special material to wrap furniture and artwork. A great deal of care and preparation is spent in making sure we assess each move and so it is critical to share this information with us during the early stages. Honestly though, seeing my crews pack at clients’ homes is incredible. It is a form of artwork and while the move day(s) may be a lot of stress for our customers, it is always a joy to pop in and find out how things are going.
Is there anything I should take with me on the plane instead of sending it separately?
Always take with you the clothes and things you cannot live without and items that may be irreplaceable such as Shabbat candlesticks, jewellery or even medial records.
Depending on the time of year you plan to move, it may be time to say goodbye to winter coats.
How does my stuff get from my house to the port and then how do I get it back at the other end?
If you are shipping a container, then we will return the container to the port of exit once your household goods have been loaded and strapped in place.
If you are sending a part load, then we return your things to our warehouse where we will prepare them for export in our packing shed. We have experienced carpenters who build custom-made liftvans specifically for sea shipping and we safely secure your furniture, electricals and cartons in these heat-treated wooden boxes (2.2m tall and wide). Typically we load part load shipments every two to three weeks and so they remain with us in storage until such time they are allocated and loaded with other shipments to Israel.
While the vessel is on its way through the Mediterranean, we put you in contact with our local office to complete the customs paperwork so that upon arrival it clears customs as fast as possible. Almost all communication is handled via emails and Whatsapp these days and once the shipment is released and ready for onward delivery, our amazing local office will schedule the shipment to arrive at your new home. Of course we will deliver it into your new home and make sure that all the packing and wrapping materials are removed from your residence on the delivery day and set up all of the furniture items.
What if I have things like precious paintings/Shabbat candlesticks?
A great deal of care is taken to securely pack and wrap artwork in your home. On occasion we will custom build heat treated, wooden crates to ensure that artwork arrives without issues in Israel. For other household items, such as Shabbat candlesticks or menorahs, if they are heirlooms and irreplaceable then we would recommend that these remain with you in transit to avoid any disappointment. Understandably there are many items that will fall under the term of being irreplaceable, however everyone is limited to weight of items to take on their aliyah flight so it is a balance between priority and reality.
What about insurance? Is it included in the price of shipping? (can you give any indication of price?)
Just like buying a car or a holiday to anywhere in the world, insurance is excluded and so the same applies for shipping. It is entirely up to each customer to decide on what they would like to insure. Of course it is extremely worthwhile to insure your shipment and there are numerous policies to choose from. Typically, insurance can cost anywhere between 1.95 per cent and 5.5 per cent of the replacement value of the shipment; the variable options depend on the policy excess. There is a lot to think about and obviously as somebody who sends a lot of shipments for lots of customers, this is something we would individually share with each client.
Ben Scheiner is director at Global Relocations,