If you are planning to move to Belgium and would like advice from established expatriates on life in Brussels, I strongly recommend you visit the questions and answers page at xpats.com. Here you can post questions about all sorts of issues, and read the questions and answers of others in the same situation. Issues such as the best communes to live in, to how the police handle traffic disputes - it's all there.
Of course, if you are moving to Belgium don't forget to ask Capital for a quote. We can pack and collect your personal effects from wherever they are in the UK. Small loads can be grouped with other loads to help reduce the cost.
Capital Worldwide Limited
Web site: http://www.capital-worldwide.com
Email: moving@capital-worldwide.com
Phone: 02 535 7430
Tuesday, 29 May 2007
Tuesday, 22 May 2007
Moving Belgium to UK
No changes to the vehicle schedules, but here's some advice if you are planning to move to or from Belgium. In the 19 years I've been living and working in Brussels with the expatriate community, one issue has dominated the relocation procedure - the etat de lieux.
The problem starts when you move to Brussels, because if no one has told you what to expect then how can you know what is the best procedure to follow. Most landlords and their agents will kindly suggest that you share the cost of the Expert-Géometres, and on face value it looks to be a good offer. What you are not told is:1. The Expert's fees before you agree so that you know what your share will be. 2. That you are entitled to have your own Expert present. 3. That the Expert chosen by the landlord might be the same Expert who handles all the landlord's properties and who might be forgiven for having the landlord's best interest before yours.
Many customer's that I've moved have not been aware of their rights to appoint their own Expert, and some have paid sums equal to the Expert's full fees and not just 50% as was agreed. But most of all, people are frightened about the inspection because they have heard that landlords are looking to keep some of the deposit. When you have your own Expert the first thing you gain is peace of mind. Your Expert will represent you on the day of the inspection and will have to negotiate any costs for repairs etc. with the landlord's Expert, thus avoiding a worrying face to face stand off with the landlord also gain because there's no way the landlord can rip you off with outrageous charges. The Union Belge des Géometres-Experts is the official organisation representing the profession. Their web page allows you to enter the commune in which you live and then provides a list of local Experts. Remember that your Expert should be fluent in the language the etat de lieux was written in. If you are leaving Belgium, you must have notified the landlord, by registered mail, of your intention to appoint your own Expert no later than 15 working days before the rental contract expires.
Capital Worldwide Limited
Web site: http://www.capital-worldwide.com
Email: moving@capital-worldwide.com
Phone: 02 535 7430
The problem starts when you move to Brussels, because if no one has told you what to expect then how can you know what is the best procedure to follow. Most landlords and their agents will kindly suggest that you share the cost of the Expert-Géometres, and on face value it looks to be a good offer. What you are not told is:1. The Expert's fees before you agree so that you know what your share will be. 2. That you are entitled to have your own Expert present. 3. That the Expert chosen by the landlord might be the same Expert who handles all the landlord's properties and who might be forgiven for having the landlord's best interest before yours.
Many customer's that I've moved have not been aware of their rights to appoint their own Expert, and some have paid sums equal to the Expert's full fees and not just 50% as was agreed. But most of all, people are frightened about the inspection because they have heard that landlords are looking to keep some of the deposit. When you have your own Expert the first thing you gain is peace of mind. Your Expert will represent you on the day of the inspection and will have to negotiate any costs for repairs etc. with the landlord's Expert, thus avoiding a worrying face to face stand off with the landlord also gain because there's no way the landlord can rip you off with outrageous charges. The Union Belge des Géometres-Experts is the official organisation representing the profession. Their web page allows you to enter the commune in which you live and then provides a list of local Experts. Remember that your Expert should be fluent in the language the etat de lieux was written in. If you are leaving Belgium, you must have notified the landlord, by registered mail, of your intention to appoint your own Expert no later than 15 working days before the rental contract expires.
Capital Worldwide Limited
Web site: http://www.capital-worldwide.com
Email: moving@capital-worldwide.com
Phone: 02 535 7430
Wednesday, 9 May 2007
Moving from Belgium to England
I very often meet clients who have a story to tell about when they first moved to Brussels, and the most common issue is the removal firm failed to take into account the need for an outside lift or a reserved parking space. Result, damage caused to the stairs or walls by trying to fit furniture into spaces not designed for that purpose or frantic calls to a lift company, or a truck that can't park anywhere near the building.
When flat hunting, unless someone specifically points out to you that your mover will have to supply a lift, how would you know about such things? After all, in the UK outside lifts are deemed by the Health & Safety Executive to be too dangerous, so most British people will have never seen one before. But that's where your mover comes in.
Most removal firms are professional in what they do, the problem is that all movers claim to do European work and most fail to take in account the access at the destination address. Most apartment buildings in Brussels do NOT permit furniture to be moved up or down the stairs. Older buildings have narrow stairs making it physically impossible to move furniture. However, most apartments have large windows that open into the apartment, and if there's a balcony the job of positioning a lift is made that much easier.
Parking the removal van and lift truck can be made easier by reserving space with the police. Your mover can and should arrange this for you, and if he doesn't know a firm in Brussels give him Capital's details and we'll do it. Check your quote to ensure the mover has allowed for a lift and/or parking permit, unless you are moving into the suburbs where generally these issue are not a problem.
Capital Worldwide Limited
Web site: http://www.capital-worldwide.com
Email: moving@capital-worldwide.com
Phone: 02 535 7430
When flat hunting, unless someone specifically points out to you that your mover will have to supply a lift, how would you know about such things? After all, in the UK outside lifts are deemed by the Health & Safety Executive to be too dangerous, so most British people will have never seen one before. But that's where your mover comes in.
Most removal firms are professional in what they do, the problem is that all movers claim to do European work and most fail to take in account the access at the destination address. Most apartment buildings in Brussels do NOT permit furniture to be moved up or down the stairs. Older buildings have narrow stairs making it physically impossible to move furniture. However, most apartments have large windows that open into the apartment, and if there's a balcony the job of positioning a lift is made that much easier.
Parking the removal van and lift truck can be made easier by reserving space with the police. Your mover can and should arrange this for you, and if he doesn't know a firm in Brussels give him Capital's details and we'll do it. Check your quote to ensure the mover has allowed for a lift and/or parking permit, unless you are moving into the suburbs where generally these issue are not a problem.
Capital Worldwide Limited
Web site: http://www.capital-worldwide.com
Email: moving@capital-worldwide.com
Phone: 02 535 7430
Thursday, 3 May 2007
Moving from Belgium to England
There are some important things to remember when packing your own personal effects:
1. Packing yourself saves money and it also gives you a chance to have a good clear out of unwanted things.
2. When finding boxes try to avoid banana looking type boxes or thin boxes. Sturdy, modular boxes will reduce the risk of your effects getting damaged. So either try and find someone who has just moved in to Belgium and has loads of movers boxes to get rid of, or buy them from SHURGARD. or free phone 0800-91 100. If you book your move with Capital Worldwide you will receive a 15% discount on packing materials you buy from the Jezus-Eik (Overijse) branch.
3. You may not know this this, but most Belgian movers offer NO insurance cover on owner packed boxes. This means that if anything gets lost or damaged you have no protection. Moving with Capital means that we, the mover, are liable for any boxes that fail to be delivered or if the any box is totally damaged. Our liability is based on a list that we ask you to complete.
Capital Worldwide LimitedWeb site: http://www.capital-worldwide.com
Email: moving@capital-worldwide.com
Phone: 02 535 7430
1. Packing yourself saves money and it also gives you a chance to have a good clear out of unwanted things.
2. When finding boxes try to avoid banana looking type boxes or thin boxes. Sturdy, modular boxes will reduce the risk of your effects getting damaged. So either try and find someone who has just moved in to Belgium and has loads of movers boxes to get rid of, or buy them from SHURGARD. or free phone 0800-91 100. If you book your move with Capital Worldwide you will receive a 15% discount on packing materials you buy from the Jezus-Eik (Overijse) branch.
3. You may not know this this, but most Belgian movers offer NO insurance cover on owner packed boxes. This means that if anything gets lost or damaged you have no protection. Moving with Capital means that we, the mover, are liable for any boxes that fail to be delivered or if the any box is totally damaged. Our liability is based on a list that we ask you to complete.
Capital Worldwide LimitedWeb site: http://www.capital-worldwide.com
Email: moving@capital-worldwide.com
Phone: 02 535 7430
Tuesday, 24 April 2007
Moving from Belgium to Northern Ireland
Small sized movers operating from the UK can benefit from not having to register for VAT if their annual sales are below something like £60,000, but in Belgium this is not the case. But I have discovered that a small moving firm advertising in Brussels, a name I am prevented by law from giving, is providing quotes with Belgian VAT added on (21%) but is not registered for VAT; not in Belgium nor in the UK.
I was intrigued as to how this firm this could offer to beat all other prices. So I asked for a quote and enquired which VAT number I could give to my employer. All VAT numbers can easily be checked by going to this EU run site: http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/en/vieshome.htm
I was intrigued as to how this firm this could offer to beat all other prices. So I asked for a quote and enquired which VAT number I could give to my employer. All VAT numbers can easily be checked by going to this EU run site: http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/en/vieshome.htm
So I entered the VAT number this firm had given me and lo and behold it wasn't a valid number. So I went back to the firm and told them that the number wasn't valid, the response was to give me a UK VAT number. I was able to check this too and found that I had been given the VAT number of a reputable British moving firm that had no connection whatsoever with this firm in Brussels. But he was charging 21% VAT on top of the price!
Why should you bother if the price is the lowest you've received? Firstly, this firm is engaging in a criminal act. Secondly, the firm is pocketing the VAT as pure profit, which means that, although the firm has provided a price lower than that of its competitors, he's actually cheating you. Thirdly, legitimate movers who have quoted a price in good faith, and who have to account for VAT, are losing out to what is basically a cowboy operator. Everyone loses, except the cowboy. There's worse to come. I asked about the insurance because I was being quoted 2.5% of value, something I know is well over the moving industry's average. I was given the name of a UK insurer whom I know stopped offering insurance polices for household goods moves two years ago. This is fraud, plain and simple. My guess is the firm is pocketing the insurance money just like the VAT scam it's operating.
Capital Worldwide LimitedWeb site: http://www.capital-worldwide.com
Email: moving@capital-worldwide.com
Phone: 02 535 7430
Tuesday, 17 April 2007
Moving from Belgium to Scotland
No changes to the vehicle schedules, but here's some advice if you are planning to move to or from Belgium. In the 19 years I've been living and working in Brussels with the expatriate community, one issue has dominated the relocation procedure - the etat de lieux.
The problem starts when you move to Brussels, because if no one has told you what to expect then how can you know what is the best procedure to follow. Most landlords and their agents will kindly suggest that you share the cost of the Expert-Géometres, and on face value it looks to be a good offer. What you are not told is:
1. The Expert's fees before you agree so that you know what your share will be
2. That you are entitled to have your own Expert present
3. That the Expert chosen by the landlord might be the same Expert who handles all the landlord's properties and who might be forgiven for having the landlord's best interest before yours.
Many customer's that I've moved have not been aware of their rights to appoint their own Expert, and some have paid sums equal to the Expert's full fees and not just 50% as was agreed. But most of all, people are frightened about the inspection because they have heard that landlords are looking to keep some of the deposit. When you have your own Expert the first thing you gain is peace of mind. Your Expert will represent you on the day of the inspection and will have to negotiate any costs for repairs etc. with the landlord's Expert, thus avoiding a worrying face to face stand off with the landlord also gain because there's no way the landlord can rip you off with outrageous charges.
The Union Belge des Géometres-Experts is the official organisation representing the profession. Their web page allows you to enter the commune in which you live and then provides a list of local Experts. Remember that your Expert should be fluent in the language the etat de lieux was written in.
If you are leaving Belgium, you must have notified the landlord, by registered mail, of your intention to appoint your own Expert no later than 15 working days before the rental contract expires.
Capital Worldwide Limited
Web site: http://www.capital-worldwide.com
Email: moving@capital-worldwide.com
Phone: 02 535 7430
The problem starts when you move to Brussels, because if no one has told you what to expect then how can you know what is the best procedure to follow. Most landlords and their agents will kindly suggest that you share the cost of the Expert-Géometres, and on face value it looks to be a good offer. What you are not told is:
1. The Expert's fees before you agree so that you know what your share will be
2. That you are entitled to have your own Expert present
3. That the Expert chosen by the landlord might be the same Expert who handles all the landlord's properties and who might be forgiven for having the landlord's best interest before yours.
Many customer's that I've moved have not been aware of their rights to appoint their own Expert, and some have paid sums equal to the Expert's full fees and not just 50% as was agreed. But most of all, people are frightened about the inspection because they have heard that landlords are looking to keep some of the deposit. When you have your own Expert the first thing you gain is peace of mind. Your Expert will represent you on the day of the inspection and will have to negotiate any costs for repairs etc. with the landlord's Expert, thus avoiding a worrying face to face stand off with the landlord also gain because there's no way the landlord can rip you off with outrageous charges.
The Union Belge des Géometres-Experts is the official organisation representing the profession. Their web page allows you to enter the commune in which you live and then provides a list of local Experts. Remember that your Expert should be fluent in the language the etat de lieux was written in.
If you are leaving Belgium, you must have notified the landlord, by registered mail, of your intention to appoint your own Expert no later than 15 working days before the rental contract expires.
Capital Worldwide Limited
Web site: http://www.capital-worldwide.com
Email: moving@capital-worldwide.com
Phone: 02 535 7430
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