UK vs USA – Page 2

February 8, 2017 by: Sunny London

How to Find a Flat in London

How to find a flat in London can be one of the biggest challenges, when you first start planning your move. In America, I felt the rules were pretty simple. You search online and look at different apartment complexes, take virtual tours, and set up an appointment to view a unit that you like.

Easy peasy.

When I moved to London as an American expat, the steps and obstacles for how to find a flat was something I didn’t realise would be such an exhausting process. After going through this three different times, I can offer some moving advice to those considering or planning a move to London. In fact, I put together a video with 10 Tips for Finding a Flat in London and have an additional five to share below. So, if you keep reading and watch the video, you’ll have 15 tips for how to find a flat in London!

1. Find a Flat in London- Rent Prices

London is known for having some of the highest rent prices in the world. Brace yourself. It’s next to impossible to live in Zone 1 now. When I first moved to London, I lived on the edge of Covent Garden. Those days are clearly over. In fact, it’s even a little tough to find affordable, reasonable flats within Zone 2 currently. If you don’t know what I mean by a ‘Zone’, you need to check out an Underground/Overground map, STAT!

2. Find a Flat- Share

To compensate for the ginormous cost of living in London, most people flat share. This isn’t something for college grads. I am talking about adults that move to London tend to flat share when they first arrive because it means they have an opportunity to live closer to vibrant areas.

3. Find a Flat- Set Up Alerts

Properties also tend to go pretty fast once they are advertised. If your search involves something very specific, you’ll find it’s best to set up alerts with popular websites like RightMove and Zoopla. Those are the two that my husband, a man born in London, and I used each time we moved. Nestpick is another useful website for apartment search, as it is an aggregator – meaning it pulls various offers from different websites and provides you with a platform where you can sort through all the listings, searching by dates, dimensions, amenities etc.

4. Find a Flat- As It Is

Know that a landlord is going to show a property as it is. Luckily, more and more landlords these days are making investments in properties in different states and countries. When searching for a rental property, some landlords may not even live near to the flat. This ensures that the property will be shown in whatever state it’s normally in, which is a benefit for the potential renter.

In America, I was felt that an owner would fix up a few things (or more depending on what damage the previous tenant did) before putting a rental on the market. That is not the case in London. If you watch the video above, you’ll learn what you can do to get around the fact that some things need to be done before you sign a contract.

5. Find a Flat- Your Neighbors

Just because you choose a gorgeous г3,000 a month flat in a nice neighborhood doesn’t mean your neighbors are of the same caliber as you. Landlords who own multiple properties are required to rent a percent of them to people on benefits. While landlords still receive the rent amount, it is subsidized by the council. This means your neighbors could be living in a flat just like yours and not pay for it. Their lifestyle could likely be very different from yours.

More Advice About How to Find a Flat:

I have found that utilities like water, electricity and mobile phones are much cheaper in London. If you’ve lived in America or another country, what questions do you still have about the process after you’ve watched the video above? Do you have any additional advice or experiences you can share for people who read this and need help? Are there other websites you found useful?

The blog also has a Guide for Americans Visiting London which is a collection of the top experiences I recommend. You’ll definitely want to bookmark it and visit the Pinterest boards created to help with your planning too.

Related blog posts about Moving to London include:

Living in London- An American Rant
What Electronics to Ship When Moving to London
Advice for Americans Working in London
US vs UK Living- Kitchen Differences
UK Visas and Immigration Specialist Interview
Moving to London: What Household Goods to Ship
How to Have the Best International Shipping Company Experience

The Expat Chat playlist on my Sunny News YouTube channel is worth watching and subscribing to so you don’t miss upcoming advice on living in London too! Here’s an example of what you’ll need to know about schools…

February 1, 2017 by: Sunny London

London Travel Tips from a Londoner

What’s better than visiting London and having travel tips from a Londoner? After living in London four years and being married to a man born in London, there’s a lot I have to share with someone travelling to London for the first time.

Aside from suggested itineraries like How to See 9 Attractions in Two Days and Saving Money with a London Pass, there are other cultural things you might want to know too. In the video below I list 10 Things Londoners Know about London that visitors don’t. It covers things like what Londoners eat and when and stuff you won’t want to say when you are here.

One of the hidden treasures of London that just opened a few years ago is Sky Garden. In just a few months I have visited twice because it was such a breathtaking experience. The video shows shots of just how much you can see on a sunny, clear day. And yes, we do have them in London.

London Travel Tips for Sky Garden:

You must book a visit time in advance and bring proof of your tickets for each person in order to be admitted.
Arrive at least a half hour before your scheduled time and be ready to wait in a long line during peak travel times of the year.
Plan on going through a security check.
Bring a fully charged camera and mobile phone because you will take tons of pictures and possible video!
The food and drinks are expensive.
The outside balcony won’t be open if the weather is the slightest bit disagreeable.
You can stay longer than the website indicates you can. No one keeps track of what time you leave.
Figure you will be there about 90 minutes or longer. It’s mesmerizing!
It has restaurants in which you can book tables for breakfast through dinner.
They have special events in the evenings.
It’s on my list of Best Places to Propose in London.

London Travel Tips: More Information:

The Sunny News YouTube channel, shares even more advice for things to do and what you’ll need to know about London. This includes safety tips, pub advice, and a shopping guide. The blog also has a Guide for Americans Visiting London which is a collection of the top experiences I recommend. You’ll definitely want to bookmark it and visit the Pinterest boards created to help trip planning too.

January 29, 2017 by: Sunny London

Living in London American Expat RANT

After living in London permanently for four years as an American expat, I’ve had enough time to identify what I don’t like. Yes, it’s my favourite city in the world, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t a few things that make me mad. And some of them on a daily basis.

In the YouTube video below I share the things that make living in London tough compared to life in America. One of the things I don’t mention is what the hard water has done to my hair. I know – sounds a bit odd. It seems like hard water is just sort of accepted her in London. So, although I don’t mention it in my video, a question I have seen surface in the ‘American Expats in London’ Facebook groups I belong to is often about this phenomenon for girls. Most popular is visa advice, but then there’s the more finite concerns like where to find certain products we like from the US, etc.

This is what my hair looked like when I moved here…

You can see from those pictures that whether I would style it through a blow out, or through beachy waves, it was fairly glossy and soft looking. Now, not so much. I never used really expensive shampoos and haven’t changed how often I wash it. So, I can only attribute the changes to my hair texture and appearance to the hard water from living in London. I’d love to know your thoughts on that if you’re an American expat girl living in London too.

So, here it is (an occurrence that doesn’t happen often on the Sunny in London blog!) my little London rant.

As you’ll see, it’s received some interesting comments so far, both from life long Londoners like my husband and from American expats making the adjustment too. I’ve heard of some American expats renouncing their citizenship due to tax reasons to make the financial adjustment easier at least. If you’re an American living abroad and renouncing your citizenship is something you’d be interested in, make sure you go through the proper channels so you can stop paying tax for 2 countries.

The Sunny News YouTube channel, shares advice for things to do and what you’ll need to know about visiting London or moving to London. This includes safety tips, pub advice, and a shopping guide. The blog also has a Guide for Americans Visiting London which is a collection of the top experiences I recommend. You’ll definitely want to bookmark it and visit the Pinterest boards created to help trip planning too.

November 11, 2016 by: Sunny London

US vs UK Differences- Kitchen Nightmares!

When you’re thinking about US vs UK differences in living, you might not realize that there are big differences in something as basic as a kitchen.

I mean really- what could be that different?

A lot. Trust me.

As an American expat living in London for several years, I’ve written blog posts about basic life inconveniences you won’t have in the UK, health insurance advice, how to survive the holidays away, and how to save money. But this time, I’m getting personal with my US vs UK differences!

In this video below, I take you on a tour of my kitchen in London. I literally show you what’s different about it compared to an American apartment or condo. Not only are there differences in design and layout – for example, certain countertops that are popular in the US (learn more about these here) are less popular in the UK due to differences in interior design trends – but there are also major differences in functionality. During the video, I try to fit several pans in my UK kitchen oven. This is particularly helpful for people who like to cook and bake often (especially around the holidays). They are the roasting pan and jelly roll pan below:

(There wasn’t an equivalent size jelly roll pan on the Amazon UK website.)

If you’re planning on moving to London (make sure you read my shipping company recommendation), the tips in this video will be very useful before you pack your items or even search for flats online. Also, there are some big things that are deceiving about space in London kitchens that you’ll want to know.

If you watch all the way until the end, you’ll learn about one thing you rarely find in an American kitchen that I don’t think I could live without now…

https://youtu.be/uDXFEHXI3Bc

Make sure you pin this and the Guide to Visiting London for the First Time. Of course, you can always subscribe to emails to learn more as it happens too! I regularly write about the expat experience. The Sunny YouTube channel has an Expat Chat playlist, which is a great way to learn about London too.

October 20, 2016 by: Sunny London

How to Get Weird Looks When Visiting London

Visiting London as an American and worried about embarrassing yourself?

Even though English is spoken on both sides of the pond, there’s a huge difference in culture between the UK vs USA. After living here for three years as an American expat married to a lifelong Londoner, I’ve learned quite a few lessons about what to do in London and NOT to do! If I can help you not make the same mistakes I did so you enjoy your trip or adjust to life here faster, count me in!

From tips for the Underground to lessons for visiting pubs, I’ve tried to think of an array of advice videos to create for you on the Sunny News channel. This one will not only make you laugh but also guarantee you don’t look like a fool in the most basic situations!

Trust me.

So go on then. Take five minutes to learn about what you can do that I guarantee you will earn you weird looks when visiting London or living here.

https://youtu.be/J5qKCfgk70s

Mr. Sunny has two more sneaky tips to add. He says you can definitely get some goofy glares if you dress alike to everyone with whom you’re traveling and… tell Londoner to ‘Have a Nice Day.’ 😉

If you’re visiting London, make sure you pin this and the Guide to Visiting London for the First Time. Of course, you can always subscribe to emails to learn more as it happens too!

July 7, 2016 by: Sunny London

UK Visas and Immigration Specialist Interview

What changes will Brexit have on UK Visas and immigration? Why would an American expat consider UK citizenship now? I had no idea in the beginning of June when I scheduled a meeting with my immigration specialist that the political situation would be what it is now. My plan was to acquire answers for some of my basic questions and interview her for the blog due to so many readers being American expats in London.

In 2012, I discovered Qiyin Chuah and QC Immigration on Twitter. That’s probably the last place you would search for someone to advise you on something as important as a UK visa. In any case, I stumbled across her and then investigated her website. Mr. Sunny (the man who is now my husband) and I were pursuing a fiance visa for me to leave the US and move to London. It took two and a half months to receive. This wasn’t to the fault of Qiyin’s involvement. We had the misfortune of sending our documents the day Hurricane Sandy hit New York (and the UK immigration office in Manhattan), so the process was a nightmare. We didn’t want to have to wait that long.

However, from the initial contact to when my fiance visa arrived, I felt as if I was Qiyin’s only client. Her attention to detail, knowledge and response time to my emails was extremely impressive. As my first spouse visa expiration date approaches, I thought meeting with her again would be a good idea.

And then Brexit happened.

This political change has rocked Britain. Aside from the leader of the country resigning and creating tremendous turmoil, expats like me and European citizens living in the UK feel a tremendous amount of uncertainty.

My interview with a UK visas and immigration specialist couldn’t have been timed better. These are the questions I asked her when we met at her Westminster office to discuss the American expat experience in London. They are based on my inquiry in to two American expats in London Facebook groups and general questions I feel could apply to Americans interested in or currently residing in the UK.

I’ve taken my notes and transcribed them. Qiyin also had a chance to preview the draft prior to me publishing it on the blog.

What changes do you envision Brexit will cause for Americans in London:

In the short term, which can be defined as a year or two, there shouldn’t be many changes to the non-European UK visas and immigration process. In fact, it was promised that the rules would actually become more relaxed for non-European citizens interested in living in the UK. Entrepreneur and investor visas would likely be more welcomed because of the need to have a strong economic situation. It may even be easier for non-Europeans to come in to the country at various skill levels.

Will the new system affect the ability for people who have to apply for a second FLR or for ILR to stay here?

There normally would not be substantial changes to the process for those already following a typical 5-year visa route. Nevertheless, sudden changes have happened before so we would still need to be observant and plan in advance.

What are the most popular types of visas that you process?

Most of the UK visas and immigration cases are family visas, which are people who seek to bring family to the UK. Spouse visas are the most popular, particularly if they are from the LBGT community. I also worked closely recently with an American company to move senior management over to the UK. Permanent residents seeking UK citizenship also are in high demand. With Brexit, alot of European residents will apply for Permanent Residence (PR) as a step to pursue UK citizenship.

Why do you no longer publish your rate on your website?

The success rate for our cases is currently 98% but we are not allowed to reference it on the website. This is because there are always outstanding cases and applicants. Therefore, it is mandated that since the number can change at any time, immigration specialists cannot declare a finite number on our websites. However, through my ten years of experience I have maintained this level of a success rate.

What training do you do to learn about immigration law changes?

Aside from constantly reading and researching, attending conferences and seminars is important. My regulator is OISC, and I am a member of ILPA. There are criteria I must meet with each of them. I train other legal practitioners and have learned quite a bit through a decade of experience.

What are advantages for hiring a specialist for UK visas and immigration?

An immigration specialist (Americans can think of the term ‘specialist’ as synonomous to ‘lawyer’) will be informed of the latest changes to UK immigration law. The laws do change frequently. If you don’t have the time to research all of the current rules and amendments, having an expert handle it for you saves countless hours of research and possible room for error. For those who have a complex situation, it is ideal to have a trained professional handling the application. The forms for UK visas can change at any time, as well as the rules. Working with someone who studies this regularly enhances your ability to be successful.

Further, UK visas and immigration specialists should know ways to speed up your process.

How difficult are UK work visas to obtain for Americans?

A Tier 2 (General) work visa allow you to stay up to 5-6 years, and you may be eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and British citizenship However, if you are made redundant (the British term for being laid-off), your work visa may be cut short. You would only have very limited time to find suitable replacement. You may also pursue a Tier 2 Intra- company Transfer visa if your company offered you a role in the UK branch of the organisation. However, this visa route does not lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and British citizenship.

Work visas are a good start, but exploring possible ancestory or family visas sometimes is more plausible for Americans. This means your visa won’t be volatile to your professional experience changing. For example, if you accept a position in the UK and are extremely unhappy, your only choice on a work visa is to return to the US. Often under the Tier 2 Work visa, there is a ‘cooling off period’ of 12 months that you must obey which involves returning to America before being allowed to accept a position in the UK on a work visa again.

What are advantages to pursuing UK Citizenship for American expats?

If you move to the UK on a spouse visa, pursuing UK citizenship may be of strong interest to those planning to live in the UK long term, especially if they want to start a family. You are able to have dual citizenship in both the US and UK.

Does a spouse visa entitle someone to live in Commonwealth countries?

No. If you are married to a UK citizen and living in the UK, you cannot simply move to somewhere like Australia or Canada. Your spouse would to apply to that country, and then you would follow suit with an application.

Is it possible to bring an ailing parent to the UK on a family visa?

This is a possibility, but it is extremely difficult. The success rate is low. The process is extreme, and it definitely is beneficial to have an immigration specialist working for you, rather than trying to accomplish this on your own. You absolutely must prove no one else can care for that parent.

What types of visas have to pay NHS fee?

Visas that are for a stay period longer than six months are now subject to the additional NHS fee. Whether or not you are working in the UK has no relevance on if you have to pay the fee or not.

How can people research your services to determine your credentials?

Aside from being a member of the organisations mentioned earlier, my LinkedIn profile shows recommendations and testimonials. Further, QC Immigration shows all of my contact details, what we offer specifically, and the awards we have received as visa and citizenship specialists. A huge part of our success is due to referrals and recommendations.

And finally….

There is a section of the blog devoted to the American in London experience…

March 6, 2016 by: Sunny London

Moving to London: What Household Goods to Ship

When you’re preparing for an international move, it’s difficult to assess what household items you should ship overseas.

Luckily, when I prepared for my last move from the US to London, I had the advantage of having lived in London once before. If you’re planning on moving to London, perhaps my shipping experience and suggestions of what you should and shouldn’t bring will help.

Recently, I wrote about my excellent experience with an international shipping company. At the beginning of this year, they delivered 45+ boxes I had in storage in New York since I sold my townhouse at the end of 2012. Using an international shipping company like this will help you get your things in the right place without worry!

Now that I’ve finally unpacked all the boxes and have everything settled, I can reflect on what should and should not have been in the boxes.

For the most part, I am thrilled about everything I included, even if it doesn’t all quite fit in to my London flat perfectly. In fact, I regret more about what I left behind than feeling like I shipped too much.

Before I left, I sold all of my furniture except for two storage cabinets. I moved to London on a spouse visa, as my husband is British. We felt it would be best for me to get settled in to life here and then ship my belongings overseas. Once we found a flat big enough to hold all of my items, we unpacked them and bought furniture from Ikea that met our spacial and storage needs. This turned out to be an excellent plan for us.

Household Goods to Ship: Art

That white cabinet above is one of our Ikea purchases. I love it. However, even more important to me is the wall art above it. It’s not expensive. I purchased the decor from Pier 1 Imports in New York. It’s a piece that always meant something to me, so I decided it was getting packed for the move to London. When factoring what I could’ve sold it for against what it cost to ship it, the decision was easy. Also, I knew household items like that would be expensive in London.

Also included in my shipment were these decorative accents from Bed, Bath and Beyond.

I actually sent three of them. The other one is featured on another wall in our kitchen. You see, this wall above wasn’t big enough to show all of them together like I had them displayed in my New York townhome:

Again, the pictures weren’t expensive, but I love them. I also sent the two pottery vases you can see in the far left corner. Oh, and do you recognise that teapot on the right? It’s the same one that is in the first art work picture you saw above too. I plan on writing a separate blog on all the kitchen items you should include on a move from the US to London later.

Our flat isn’t quite large enough to hold all the art work I sent from New York. That’s something you’ll want to think about when making your decisions on what household goods to ship. There simply isn’t the same amount of space in Europe as exists in the US, especially if you’re moving from an American suburb. Further, you might want to save wall space for items you purchase on your travels once you live in London.

I feel my art work not only has sentimental value but also represents my life prior to moving. When you live as an expat, feeling parts of your home makes days in a foreign environment easier. There are many other pictures that I sent aside from the ones shown here. I don’t regret sending any of them.

Household Goods to Ship: Christmas Decorations

My suggestion for Christmas decorations is a bit two-sided. Again, since space is a huge issue in London, you probably won’t have any additional storage area like a basement or even large closet. For this reason, I opted to get rid of nearly all my Christmas tree ornaments such as several sets of matching bulbs and my artifical tree. I did keep special ornaments from family and friends, and I am very happy about that. These are some shots of the last Christmas tree I had in New York (pre-blogging days so I wasn’t really concerned about photography skills).

These are some of Christmas household goods that made the trans-Atlantic voyage…

Hey, a girl with a blog called ‘Sunny in London’ has gotta have a gold heel ornament at the top of her tree, right? I wasn’t about to play Cinderella and leave behind that little shoe. 😉

It’s important to bring your favourite Christmas items for your move to London because it makes surviving the holidays as an expat easier.

Household Goods to Ship: Special Products

Some of the best posts in American expat groups on social media include the times when people ask what products aren’t available in London. Immediately, the topic of Mexican food surfaces. It’s incredibly tough to find authentic Mexican food in London. Food items like Kraft Mac and Cheese, Butterfinger, and good peanut butter are a constant battle to find as well.

Then there’s this issue…

For whatever reason, you’ll find the quality of plastic bags and Q-tips just isn’t the same in the UK. Throw as many boxes of them in your household goods to ship as possible. Oh, and ladies, chuck some Secret deodorant in your stuff too if that’s the brand you prefer. Hardly anyone can find it here, and the equivalent just doesn’t exist.

My all-time biggest miss is scented candles and soap from Yankee Candle.

Yes, I know they have a few ‘satellite’ Yankee Candle shops in the UK. But, they don’t have near the variety that you will find in a US location. Let’s face it, you aren’t going to find this one below in a London store…

And at Christmas, this range isn’t available either…

You can’t even find regular bacon as you know it in London, much less a bacon scented candle.

At least I know that Molton Brown has a candle selection that is amazing, if my Yankee Candle collection runs out before my next visit to my home state of Florida.

Household Goods to Ship: Final Thoughts

As I indicated earlier, I have future blogs planned to help anyone with decisions of what to ship if they are moving to London from the US. Specifically, I will write about kitchen, electrical and clothing items. If you’re an American expat living in London, it would be great if you could include household items you wish you had or had not shipped so readers making the move can benefit from all of our advice.

The international shipping company I used is also offering a discount on shipments to people who use my promo code, so if that’s of interest to you, be sure to read this blog review and email me. These are my suggestions on what not to bring and advice for applying for a UK visa.

February 21, 2016 by: Sunny London

UK vs USA – 5 Things the British Do Better

What happens when you live in London for three years as an American expat? You understand there are things the British do better.

When you have had the chance to live on both sides of the pond, you observe differences that are large and subtle. Naturally, you compare the UK vs USA and develop opinions about what happens well (and not well) in both places.

I’ve written about the differences between British vs American schools and what a person could miss from America. However, it seems time for a blog about what the British do better in the great UK vs USA debate.

Is it make great Mexican food? Sell strong plastic freezer or sandwich bags? Certainly not. Those are still things that you need to consume or purchase straight up in the USA.

1. UK vs USA: Driving

Let’s get over the fact that they do it on the ~~wrong~~ other side of the road. What I mean here is how they maneuver a car and approach other drivers. Living in an environment where nearly everything is smaller in comparison to the USA, British people seem to learn how to move a car in to a shoebox if the situation calls for it.

Aside from this, the proper demeanor they have in conversations and social interactions extends right on to the road. If you listen to the streets of New York City, you’ll be flooded with sounds of horns slamming, people yelling profanity and sirens screaming. Yeah, the sounds of the London emergency teams can really wind you up, but they aren’t against a background of angry people honking and swearing at each other.

British drivers nearly all seem to follow an understood system of giving way to someone who needs it on the road. Making a right turn (which would be against traffic here) isn’t too difficult, because people are fairly quick to stop and let you through. Instead, in the U.S. it’s always gut wrenching to attempt pulling out of somewhere and going the opposite direction.

2. UK vs USA: Policing

While the job isn’t easy on either side of the pond, there’s one clear difference between the job of an American cop versus the job of a British officer.

A gun.

While listening to several British police officers have conversations with American cops, I’ve heard one consistent question that neither can understand about each other. British police are curious what it’s like to feel the need for a weapon every day. American cops can’t fathom working without the protection of one.

I’m not trying to launch a blog debate on gun control. However, it seems the British like to discuss our gun laws and culture with Americans. The point I want to emphasize is that it appears that policing with just a baton and maybe a taser or horse puts a greater amount of vulnerability on British police officers, which could make their job more difficult. What do you think?

3. UK vs USA: Sending an Email

I find British people send emails that just sound better to the ear. The standard closing of ‘Kind regards,’ in the UK is one of the major differences when comparing writing from the two cultures. Americans generally close professional emails with ‘Sincerely,’ followed by their name. Whether or not that sincere sentiment actually exists could be debatable. However, I appreciate the ‘kind regards’ closing because it seems like a softer expression. Perhaps translating to, ‘whatever the outcome, I wish you no ill will.’

Their spoken and written professional communication just has a friendlier approach than what you find in America.

4. UK vs USA: Eating

I have yet to adopt the ‘fork in the left hand’ and other table etiquette guidelines of the British. That’s not because I don’t think they’re better. Quite the opposite actually. It’s because it is harder for me since I wasn’t raised or trained to eat that way, while growing up in America.

But, every time I eat food at my British in-laws home or attend a new restaurant launch, I am reminded of how different the British eat a meal. Their formal eating manners simply look far more elegant than what we do in the USA.

5. UK vs USA: Tipping

While living in America, I never really understood why we take on the aggravation and extra hindrance of tipping service employees. It makes so much sense to increase their actual wages to a standard equal to other professions and the work they do. When comparing the two cultures in terms of how the British handle gratuity, I have to say there’s no arguing. The British win this one hands down.

After three years of living in London, I feel fully ingrained in the non-tipping culture and love it! It’s so refreshing so order a beer and wine at a pub for Mr. Sunny and I and not try to calculate extra money outside of what the round costs.

UK vs USA: Final Thoughts

Those are a few of the things I find the British do better. If you’ve lived as an expat, what are the differences you have found that you liked more in your new country? Do you agree the British do these things better? Curious about other UK vs USA observations? You can see tons more on the Sunny News YouTube channel. In fact, there’s a video on more things the British Do Better here…

February 7, 2016 by: Sunny London

How to Have the Best International Shipping Company Experience

Are you planning to move overseas? If so, there’s no doubt you want to find the best international shipping company possible. Would you believe the shipping overseas process from the US to UK took me over three years?

Here is a summary of my saga and what you need to know for your move. (Oh, and make sure to see the end of this blog for a discount code for shipping!) (July 2018- Please see end note about discount)

My Timeline:

November 6, 2012- Representatives from a local moving company packed up my belongings from my three bedroom townhouse in New York. Items were held at New York storage facility until UK Fiance Visa approved.
January 9 2013, UK Fiance Visa approved. See separate blog about the nightmare I experienced with this process due to a weather disaster.
February 2013- Decision to keep items in storage until London life settled and we found a flat large enough to accommodate my belongings.
March 2013-January 2014- Wedding postponed due to parent illness.
September 2015- Moved in to London flat that we love.
November 18 2015- UPakWeShip retrieves items from New York storage facility.
December 6, 2015- Items begin trans-Atlantic journey. (I requested they send them a bit later so they wouldn’t arrive in London just before Christmas)
January 28, 2016, UPakWeShip arrived to our North London flat with over 45 boxes of my personal belongings. Delivery time took less than 2 hours.

The Best International Shipping Company Experience: Pre-packing

What I Did:

To make the international move easier, I put all of my furniture from my three bedroom townhouse on Craigslist in the US, with the exception of two cabinets and a wicker chest that I purchased from Pier 1. This is a photograph of the cabinet that I thought would never survive the move because it chips so easily. (It arrived flawless) 🙂

I chose to bring them because I knew they would fit somewhere in a London flat. I contemplated bringing this Queen-size bed because it would be less furniture to buy once settled in London.

Next, my mother helped me pack 30 boxes full of my personal belongings. We documented nearly every item in each box as we packed.

I’ll write separate blogs later on specific household, kitchen, electronic and clothing items I included in these boxes and how I chose them. In summary, everything but glass, odd shaped items and my Gucci, Prada and Michael Kors bags went in to the boxes we purchased from a local storage company.

Clothing I didn’t like anymore or knew I wouldn’t wear in London went to a local consignment shop. However, I packed two full size suitcases and a carry-on suitcase with items I would need during the estimated 6-10 weeks it would take for my shipping from the US to UK.

Tips for You:

Try to bring as little furniture as possible. If you don’t know the exact dimensions and layout of where you will live, you could end up paying to ship furniture that you won’t be able to use (or doesn’t fit) in a new location.
Take the time to list the contents of every box for yourself and put it in a spreadsheet. This helps calculating insurance, organizing your unpacking, and remembering what you shipped internationally. Also, it will help clear your items in Customs faster.
Use the opportunity to offload stuff that is clutter or no longer of value/interest to you.

Best International Shipping Company Experience: Professional Packing

What I Did:

I arranged for a local moving and storage company to handle the remaining parts of packing my belongings. Like a sniper attack, the professional movers in New York packed the items efficiently and with care.

They put glass and china items like a set of 12 Waterford champagne glasses, martini glasses, and giant pasta bowls in Dish Barrels. They packed artwork, an ironing board, handbags, exercise equipment and wooden drying racks in to boxes. Finally, the New York movers also took four plastic bins that I had packed previously.

Tips for You:

Use social networks like Facebook to ask for recommendations for local moving companies with excellent reputations. Make sure you ask if they have climate controlled storage, if there could be the slightest chance your belongings being delayed in starting the international shipping process.
Have the professional movers pack very expensive items, glass or odd shaped things. It’s worth the money for several reasons. Plus, what they pack is insured for damage upon arrival. If you pack a box yourself, there’s little you can do if the items are damaged when you unpack it in your new location.
Pack tissue paper in between all of your clothes. I never imagined my items would be folded for three years. My coats packed with tissue paper looked fine when I removed them from the plastic bins.

Best International Shipping Company Experience: UPakWeShip

What I Did:

Searching for an international shipping company is not easy. To get a quote, I had to complete a page of information which triggered tons of email responses. Then, I would have to wait for a shipping company representative to contact me by phone. Trying to remember which company said what was a nightmare. This stalled my process quite a bit.

Eventually I discovered UPakWeShip online. The company handles overseas shipping from New York or anywhere else in the USA.

They also handle moves to:

– the USA, UK, German, or anywhere else in Europe

– Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South America, Asia and Southeast Asia

If I could summarize the entire experience with them in one word it is: easy.

I was put in touch with Mark Nash, who throughout my entire experience was always very accessible, informative and friendly. He moved from London to the USA himself, so this made my trust in him even greater.

He understood that my items had been in New York for nearly three years and was eager to assist in reuniting me with them. In fact, many times Mark and his employees were ready with information faster than I was during the process.

We discussed my shipping rate for the 2 crates weighing approximately 2100 pounds (272 cubic feet). In addition, I learned about insurance options (which was complicated because I had packed many boxes myself and had professional movers) and the UK Customs clearance process.

Their website says they will ‘get your belongings there safely and save you money.’ True. And True. Mark indicated that it would be cheapest for me to pay for the second floor delivery in my initial check rather than upon arrival. This was one of the many money saving tips he provided me due to his strong experience with international shipping.

For more insight on the moving process, Mark has a free eBook available for download.

Tips for You:

Be sure to thoroughly understand the insurance process before you enter an agreement with a company. Also discuss timing and any potential additional charges that could happen outside of your quote.
Add time that the international shipping company predicts for you because you never know what will happen. My items were held at UK Customs extra time due to the fact they had been in storage for long, and this raised questions. I had to provide additional documentation to account for this. Luckily, Mark and his employees knew exactly what to do to handle the inquiry.

Best International Shipping Company Experience: The Delivery

What I Did:

Prior to the delivery, I gave our flat a good clean. This is the calm before the box storm…

I knew once the boxes arrived it would be chaos for a while.

UPakWeShip showed up exactly within the timeframe they indicated. A team of three guys moved my items quickly in to our flat to the room and place I indicated. The spreadsheet I had of my belongings really facilitated this.

A fourth member of UPakWeShip documented everything with an iPad, including pictures of the process. I also had a camera on deck.

We chose not to have them unpack all the boxes, even though this was available and paid for. Because I knew I would need to wash all my dishes and glasses plus buy cabinets to store them, it seemed silly to have everything unloaded without somewhere to store it.

They did unpack the artwork, furniture and a select number of boxes.

Fortunately, the only item that was affected by the move was one of my storage cabinets. As they unpacked it, one of the four legs was broken. However, this seems to be from the storage company and how it was initially packed. UPakWeShip was quick to take many pictures of the item, as was I. To be honest, with the amount of glass, artwork and other boxes I shipped, I can’t believe this is the only thing that ‘went wrong’ with the process.

Tips for You:

Discuss parking arrangements with the company prior to scheduling your delivery date. In London, you might need to purchase a parking permit for the company in advance.
Try to have at least two people available for the delivery. When I was busy guiding the placement of boxes, my husband assisted with taking pictures and answering other questions the movers had.
If you aren’t going to have the movers unpack items, make sure you have a plan for debris removal. Luckily, my husband was able to take crushed boxes and packing paper to a dump facility in London. That is an additional charge there.

I did receive a discount on my shipment because I planned to write a review on the company and process. It in no way affected my opinion of UPakWeShip. Think about it- if a company destroys your personal belongings- the last thing you would do is hold back the information on the internet! Now, I wish I could just snap my fingers and have all this fit neatly in to our flat 😉

If I ever need anything shipped in the future, there is no doubt in my mind that I will contact the best international shipping company in my opinion. They are also on Twitter and Facebook.

Please know that your own shipping experience could be different based on what you are sending, how you pack it and where you are going.

The Best International Shipping Company Experience: Discount

If you do choose to follow my recommendation for this international shipping company, UPakWeShip is offering Sunny in London readers a discount if you quote my promotional code at the time of your inquiry.

For this code, simply Contact Me. I’ll reply with the promotional code and answer any questions you might have about my experience. Please leave comments you have about your international shipping experience below to help others who are planning to move overseas.

Finally, a huge thank you to Mark and everyone at UPakWeShip for the amazing service. My stuff, after three years of sitting in a warehouse, is finally with me. These are a few shots they took to document the story too…

July 2018- Please note that this discount code has ended. However, I still without a doubt continue to recommend this shipping company.

If you’re planning a move to London, you can subscribe to my YouTube channel too. It shows advice for living in London, as well as event, attraction and things to do guides.

January 8, 2016 by: Sunny London

When to Use a Fake British Accent (like Madonna)

‘Are you going to have a fake British accent like Madonna?’

That’s the big question my personal Facebook friends asked me when I announced I was getting married and moving back to London from America.

A fake British accent was the least of my worries.

Finding an international shipping company, applying for a fiance visa, and getting a job held top spots on my list. Then, I planned to get ‘Into the Groove’ of London life. However, I knew I wasn’t going back to Florida with a fake British accent and having all my friends ~~mates~~ wonder ‘Who’s That Girl?’ when I visited.

Like most Americans, I find a British accent endearing. But, I’m not trying to be a phony. I’m American. Not British (even though my great grandmother was from North London). I had no plans to speak with an accent. Well, not at first.

After a few months of living in London, I ~~realized~~ realised I would need to give in. ‘What would be the reason to have a fake British accent?’, you ask.

Let me explain…

While Americans and Britons technically speak English, it’s no news that British people use different words than Americans for many things. Knowing them is one thing. Using them is another.

Some of these words sound silly to me when I hear them. For example, if you’re at a restaurant or pub in London, it’s standard to say, ‘Where’s the toilet?’ if you need to use the bathroom.

I have issues with that. It just sounds so crass to me. I feel like I am saying, ‘I have to take a piss. Where’s the pot in this place to do that?’ It’s just not cool.

For the first few months I continued to ask for the restroom. Finally, I just got plain sick of the blank stare back from the person I was asking. Saying it over and over at a louder, slower pace always works but it is time-consuming. I realised I needed to surrender.

In a conversation with my sister, who moved from Florida to Michigan a few years ago and is noticeably losing her Southern twang and speaking like a Michigander, the phenomenon I explained to her made sense.

She said that if I start talking like British people, it is more a matter of speaking to be understood than trying to have a fake British accent (like Madonna). You reach a point where you just need to Express Yourself. It was a Ray of Light for me!

Reluctantly, I have started to convert.

I cringe every time I say ‘veg’ in London instead of vegetables. My eyes silently roll to the back of my head when I say the word ‘brolly’ when referring to an umbrella.

And, I’m starting to really let the American accent mutha flippin’ go by dropping the ‘r’ sound from many words like ‘paper’ ‘water’ and ‘register’ so I can save time and not have to repeat what I need so often. It’s time efficient, not an attempt to be a Material Girl.

I just don’t have the time and energy to keep going round, and round, and round in London.

The basics for when and how to have a fake British accent:

Be a Wanker- Choose certain words that you know are different for American vs British English when you need to communicate something quickly. It’s not Borderline. It’s a matter of talking to people in a language they understand. And- it will make life or your ~~visit~~ Holiday easier.
Open Your Heart- There’s a few keywords that go a long way in England. Please, Thank You, and Sorry. Master them with the full on accent. Sometimes you just need to say these words in order to keep calm and carry on ‘being British’ for a few fleeting London moments. Sorry.
Deepah and Deepah- Drop the ‘R’ if it ends a word. Think of that dreaded thick Boston accent that Matt Damon and Ben Affleck rocked back in the day of Good Will Hunting.
Don’t Start Spreadin’ the News- I have a friend who left New York two years ago and has completely Hung Up her thick New Yawk kawwwwfeeee talk. She sounds nearly British now. It’s not very Vogue. In fact, it’s a little too fast and phony for me. However, another American expat friend of mine (also from New York) has lived in London for 16 years and has no trace of Brit speak when I talk to her. It’s refreshing. Yet, when she speaks with English people, she fluently converts to the exact words she needs with mild British inflections. Bloody brilliant!
Crazy for You- Don’t use a fake British accent with your UK spouse, if that’s your living scenario like me. If you married a Brit and moved to London as an American expat, translating your ‘parseltongue’ is part of the deal he/she signed up for. You don’t have to wave the whole Union Jack at home.
Like a Virgin, Talkin’ for the Very First Time- When you’re with a group of American expat friends in London, on a return trip home in the US, or entertaining American visitors in the UK, remember your roots. Don’t try to show off your ‘bilingualism’ and have a fake British accent in their company. The need is gone so you’ll look like a ridiculous show off with no social skills. Those are times you don’t need to take extra steps to bridge any gaps.

These are the words and phrases I am still refusing to use: ‘take the mick’, kip, chuffed, fag (for the word ‘cigarette’), gutted, ‘got the hump’, knackered and whinge. What words are on your list?

These are the words I secretly love and actually try to use as much as possible: dodgey, slapper, nicked, ‘on the p***’, ‘one off’, Blimey! Bullocks! Crikey! Hiya!

What words do you find yourself using to have a fake British accent in London, if you’re an American expat living here? Any Canadians, Kiwis, or Aussies suffering from the same language barriers?

Do you agree that it’s a matter of being understood and not being an imposter when you purposely say things with another accent as an expat? Is it any different from speaking Spanish or French with the proper accent? But surely it can’t make that much of a difference?

For ~~the Sunny friends~~ you lot who want to know more about the American expat experience in London, just Like a Prayer there are loads of articles on the blog to explore.

I think that’s about all for now. Innit, brov? Unless, you want to read this blog post again to see how many Madonna songs were featured? Please, please don’t click on the picture below. You’ll be sorry!!!

If you’re planning a visit to London, the Sunny News YouTube channel has regular updates of advice for things to do and what you’ll need to know about London. This includes safety tips, pub advice, and a shopping guide.

1. Find a Flat in London- Rent Prices

2. Find a Flat- Share

3. Find a Flat- Set Up Alerts

4. Find a Flat- As It Is

5. Find a Flat- Your Neighbors

More Advice About How to Find a Flat:

London Travel Tips for Sky Garden:

London Travel Tips: More Information:

What changes do you envision Brexit will cause for Americans in London:

Will the new system affect the ability for people who have to apply for a second FLR or for ILR to stay here?

What are the most popular types of visas that you process?

Why do you no longer publish your rate on your website?

What training do you do to learn about immigration law changes?

What are advantages for hiring a specialist for UK visas and immigration?

How difficult are UK work visas to obtain for Americans?

What are advantages to pursuing UK Citizenship for American expats?

Does a spouse visa entitle someone to live in Commonwealth countries?

Is it possible to bring an ailing parent to the UK on a family visa?

What types of visas have to pay NHS fee?

How can people research your services to determine your credentials?

And finally….

Household Goods to Ship: Art

Household Goods to Ship: Christmas Decorations

Household Goods to Ship: Special Products

Household Goods to Ship: Final Thoughts

1. UK vs USA: Driving

2. UK vs USA: Policing

3. UK vs USA: Sending an Email

4. UK vs USA: Eating

5. UK vs USA: Tipping

UK vs USA: Final Thoughts

My Timeline:

The Best International Shipping Company Experience: Pre-packing

What I Did:

Tips for You:

Best International Shipping Company Experience: Professional Packing

What I Did:

Tips for You:

Best International Shipping Company Experience: UPakWeShip

What I Did:

Tips for You:

Best International Shipping Company Experience: The Delivery

What I Did:

Tips for You:

The Best International Shipping Company Experience: Discount

The basics for when and how to have a fake British accent:

THE ESSENTIAL 1st TIME GUIDE TO LONDON

HARRY POTTER

PUBS IN LONDON