Buying a home in Portugal is an exciting milestone. Whether it is a coastal apartment, a countryside retreat, or a family house in a lively town, many people from the UK look forward to starting a new chapter once the purchase is complete. But one question we hear regularly at Movers International is this: when is the right time to organise the move?
At Movers International, we’ve handled enough moving days to know that everyone wants their transition to be as seamless as possible. When you are planning house removals Preston, the first instinct for many families is to aim for a Friday. It makes sense on paper. You move in, have the weekend to unpack, and start fresh on Monday. However, in our 30 years of experience, we’ve found that the Friday rush is often the most stressful way to move.
It is a common sight at our depots in Preston and Malaga. A family is incredibly excited to finally move their life to the Costa del Sol, and they have spent weeks deciding which pieces of the family home make the cut. Naturally, the big, comfortable British sofa is the first thing on the list. But as experts in moving furniture to Spain, we often have to have a very honest conversation with our clients before that sofa ever touches the tail-lift of our lorry.
Moving to France is something many people in the UK dream about. A slower pace of life, beautiful countryside, and a different culture all make the idea appealing. But relocating to another country is very different from moving across town. It involves paperwork, planning, and careful organisation.
If you are planning to swap the rainy skies of Lancashire for the golden beaches of the Algarve or the vineyards of France this year, you are likely focused on what to pack. However, at Movers International, we have found that for many people, the most important part of moving away is actually what they leave behind. Keeping a UK anchor is becoming a major trend for 2026, and our base at Red Scar Business Park is the perfect spot to secure your roots while you explore a new life abroad.
If you are moving a smaller home or just a few key pieces of furniture to Portugal, you likely don’t need a massive 40-foot lorry all to yourself. This is where our part-load service, often called groupage, comes in.
At Movers International, we’ve been running these routes for 30 years, and we know that the secret to a smooth move lies in the technical details.
If you are planning a move to the French countryside or a chic Parisian apartment this year, you likely have a long to-do list. Between sorting out visas and finding the perfect bakery, the logistics of moving furniture to France can quickly become overwhelming. One of the most common surprises for our clients at Movers International in 2026 isn't the ferry crossing or the narrow streets; it is the French customs office’s fascination with your receipts.
Moving to Spain used to be about finding the right house and the right school. In 2026, it is about finding the right computer screen, specifically the one that shows an available residency appointment. At Movers International, we have seen a massive shift this year. The Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (TIE) system is currently stuck in a massive bottleneck. If you try to time your arrival perfectly with your furniture, you might find yourself in a bit of a legal muddle.
Relocating to the home of petiscos and perpetual sunshine is a dream for many, but there are some pointed edges to the post-Brexit world that have made the dream a little more complicated. Perhaps one of the most common traps that expats find themselves caught up in relates to the very straightforward process of importing one's own used items into the country.
If the necessary documentation isn't in order, the Portuguese tax authority (Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira) may consider your 10-year-old dining table to be a brand new import, and you'll be hit with a whopping 23% VAT charge.
Relocating to a new city in pursuit of an academic career or specialised degree is a thrilling achievement, but the details of moving day can soon temper one’s enthusiasm. Whether you are a postgraduate researcher relocating to a professional studio or a student heading into halls, the steep stairs and one-way traffic systems of PR1 offer a special set of circumstances.