Help! Need advise On Possible Move To Ireland from UK?

Question

We are thinking about moving to Ireland from the UK. My husbands parents came from County Liertrum (sorry about the spelling) and we would like to move to the area they came from. My husband has been in touch with a company near where we would like to live and they said they would have a job for him! It's just that we dont know what to do now! shipping fee's for our stuff to be sent, schooling for our son (hubby has checked that out as for as the school's are supposed to be great). We have no idea how to go about doing anything else. We have looked at properties on right.move. If anyone can help a us out with some serious advise (only) please. We would be sooo greatful. Many thanks, Lou

Answer 1

Hello Blob! ( what a funny name),

                  Well now, here is what you are best doing, and the name is County Leitrim, and it really is a wonderful part of my Country, you are really going to love living there. You don't say where exactly in Leitrim you are headed, but wherever you will be, you can be assured that you are in the beautiful lakelands of Northwest Ireland.....

                  If you are just at the planning stage, you might even have a date on which you are going to move, and consider engaging a good and reputable removal company, that will gladly show to you a copy of its insurance, to protect all your property during handling and during transit too. If you intend to bring anything Brand New such as washing machine, Fridge Freezer and Television, make sure, they are unpacked before you go, and that they are used too, as they may attract either import duty or VAT at 25%, so you can dodge having to pay this extra expense, by bringing used furnishings for your new home with you, when I was employed by a removal firm as a Truck driver in the early 1990s we had to enter customs depots after we left the docks at Warrenpoint and have the loads examined by inspectors... but the firm you engage to move your belongings will give you guidance on this matter, but please remember to ask about it.

             Our Price depended on the size of the house we were moving, and the size of the house we were moving it into, but for all those houses we moved, I am able to tell you our average price from back as far as 1996, which for a 3 bedroomed semi-detached in Manchester to a 4 bedroomed Bungalow in Cloone County Leitrim was just less than £1,000. which include moving the owners motor car too. I cannot be sure of the price now, but may I say that you will get the service you are prepared to pay for, and for what you are doing it will be well worth the cost. I am retired from the truck business now these passed 2 years, and I have lost connections with any of the men I worked with, I can tell you this though, if you get a newspaper here in England called The Irish Post, or The Irish Independent, there are removal companies that will give you a fair quote, and supply packing materials like boxes and blankets and tape for your use, and sometimes will even provide( at an extra cost) a man to be at your home in England to assist in your packing, who will mind everything for you.......NOW my greatest tip for you! always pack the tea and coffee making facilities last, so they go at the very rear end of the truck, this is to facilitate a nice cup of tea or coffee, when you reach your new home, (oh, and don't forget cups and spoons, and the kettle, and maybe even the odd pack of biscuits) some packaged water might be handy too, in case your water is turned off before your arrival. how many people forget the vitals of this part of the removal would honestly surprise you, as it's not just the removal crew that would like to be refreshed, but your good selves too. If I can be of any more help, remember I am retired now, and I am on this web-site every day, and will find you should you need any more advice about such a tremendously anxious time in your lives, one more point, Your Son, is not going to have any trouble adapting to Irish education, he will love it, but does he know the children in Ireland go to school until they are 18 years old, but I can assure you, the levels of education in Ireland is unbeatable to a good student anywhere in Europe..I bid you all very good luck and a very fortunate filled Future, and this from a Galway man of 62 years of age, one day I will return to Galway with my wife after her retirement, and we can both hardly wait for 2009. God Bless ye all, Bye for now........Tony M

Answer 2

Nicemove.ie is a good site for property in Ireland. Make sure; 100 per cent sure, you can get your son into a school near where you are buying. Pick out some houses you would like to look at; spend a few days here getting to know the lay of the land; if you like an area, speak to some people of your own age who might have school-going kids and ask them for the names of schools around the area that they would recommend. Your chosen school may have a waiting list. don't worry about shipping your stuff; that is a minor detail. Get your husband to take up the job offer; maybe rent a house for a few months  before you commit yourself to buying. Bear in mind public transport in rural areas in Ireland leaves a lot to be desired - I'm thinking of your son getting to school - though having said that, the school bus system is pretty good and not expensive. The county name is Leitrim and it's very rural and undeveloped; property prices are low, because the population is very scattered - but I wish you the best of luck in your move. This is still a good country to bring up children in. E mail me if you like . And welcome!

Answer 3

Sorry can't help you much if you go onto the drumkeeran folk in yahoo groups that is in Leitrim and you'll find out a good bit and you can even post a message, lucky you Leitrim is lovely I've been there a few times to drumahair it is beautiful

Answer 4

We moved back from the UK in 2005.  The costs are mainly the selling costs of the Uk house and the stamp duty and other costs associated with buying a house here.  We just allowed for these in our budget to buy here.  There are restrictions on avoiding vehicle registration tax, you must have owned the car for at last 6 months (if second hand ) and 1 year if you bought it new.  Road tax and insurance are more expensive here.  Petrol is cheaper.  There is no council tax and no water charges, yet.  Our kids go to a small country national school which has a uniform and more kids wear wellies than trainers.  The standard of living here is now probably higher than the living standard in the uK and income taxes are lower due to higher allowances, with the children's allowance being much higher.  Houses are expensive and so are prices in shops.  I know loads of people of Irish descent who have moved over and are very happy here.  The cheapest way of moving your stuff is to hire a big van.  Paying somone else to do it costs thousands.  You will all need to apply for PPS numbers from the tax office as this is the key to most state services and payments.  E-mail me if you have any specific queries and I'll tell you what I can.

Answer 5

Simple.

go to a car boot & sell everything u own.

rent your home out

pack your clothes in the car & get on the ferry

dont think about it DO IT !!!!

I missed a golden chance once by thinking & pondering

just go for it

if it dont work just come home & boot the tennants out :-)

good luck

Answer 6

I think it sounds like things are all set for you. Perhaps the company will provide you with a sponser to assist you in getting settled in and showing Ireland. I know you are excited I traveled around the world with my parrents, dad is retired air force USA. It will be a great experience for you and change but a good one. You will be able to see life from this new prospective and it will be very interesting. So, calm your nerves and take the Lord with you. It will be a change but you will love it. Congradulations and Good Luck (Go For It) and don't forget to write home, I am sure you will. Oh yeah you will have the internet to contact home. We didn't but everything was fine. (Smile)

Answer 7

well i mved to ireland,several years ago,my children were 5yrs 8yrs and 10yrs. we were lucky as we stayed with family for 2 months.and my sister stored our furniture.for 2months.until we bought a house. but we had no trouble with schools.3kids were fine,i loved it in ireland.we only stayed 5yrs as my husband could,nt settle,and he is the irish one.we go back and for about 3times a year.its a fab place to live and bring up children,good luck to you,on what ever decision you make.the food is lush,and healthy yhe people are also very helpful.

Answer 8

Large removal vans constantly ferry between uk and ireland, as for houses , most comprehensive home buying website is www.myhome.ie, when you find the exact area you're looking for go to www.leitrim.ie they have a full list of schools( most likely with phone no.s           Good Luck

ps i'm from dublin but leitrim is my fav partof the country