Movers

If you are moving locally, i.e. changing from one apartment to another within Lebanon, it's advisable to go to your nearest mini market, bar or café and ask the patrons there if they know any movers with a big enough truck. Call the movers and make a deal and a time for the move. Depending on how much stuff you have and from where to where you will be moving, the truck fee including the driver and workers should be around $100 -200. In addition to this, include the tip for the movers, around 10,000 LL (6 $) each (minimum three people). This is usually much cheaper and easier than to find a moving company online.

If you are shipping over your whole household from abroad it's advisable to use a Lebanese or international moving company to help with the freight, shipping and customs. Beirut has a big international seaport, so if you prefer boat shipping it's definitely an option instead of land or airfreight. There are different options when it comes to the size of the freight container, the main ones being the 20 and 40-foot containers taking approximately 30 respectively 60-70 cubic meters. For smaller shipments there is the option of groupage (shared container). Please bear in mind that it is not uncommon for a container to be left waiting in the seaport for custom clearance for quite some time. To speed things up, it is recommended to use a respected moving firm that has the right connections and expertise in this specific matter.

Contractors

As with (almost) everything else in Lebanon, when it comes to building, renovating or fixing something in your house it will definitely not be ready on time, it will not be done right and to survive it without going crazy and bankrupt you should know someone.

So before you hit the yellow pages of Lebanon trying to find a plumber to fix your pipes (which will be leaking and will not stop no matter how much you fix it) you should ask your friends and neighbors for a good, reliable handyman that they have used before so they can tell you the pro’s and con’s with the guy in question. If you’re so new to the country that you don’t have any friends or neighbors yet, ask the friendly bar man or café host. They will know.

When the handyman finally arrives, offer him a cup of coffee and don’t pay until the job is done. He is probably not going to run away with your money and never come back, but just face it; in this situation money is your only leverage when it comes to getting the job done before next Christmas. If you really want to get into details with the handyman, chances are 40-60 that he will not understand English very well, in which case you might consider having an Arabic speaking friend (or just over the phone) for the handyman occasion.

If you prefer to “fix it yourself” there are many hardware stores around that will be able to provide you with any tool or product you might desire.

By Helena Forsell, a 30 something who left her native Sweden for Lebanon 6 years ago. Now she is reinventing life in Beirut.

Hiring packing services reduces the stress of moving

If you are moving for the first time and if you do not have patience to handle the situation, it is always wise to stay away from the task of packing all your stuff and getting it prepared for relocation. One of the ideal strategies to alleviate this stress is by hiring any of the reputable house/ office removals. Continue reading and learn how this can turn out to be a wise task.

Relocation Services - Which Option is Best?

When relocating there are many options that need to be considered. Do you need professional movers, friends and family or a mixture of the two? How many boxes and what sizes will be needed? This guide covers the many choices you need to make in a move abroad.

5 easy loopholes for wrapping and protecting fragile items

It may look simple - just take all the precautions to not let them broke, crack or bent during the relocation. However, there is a vast array of protection measures and wrappings for different types of fragile items, and to choose the right ones is the difficult part. Next is a short list with 5 easy loopholes that are always good to keep in mind, whether it's for big furniture removals or for big windows.

See more articles in Lebanon

Related Services

AGS Worldwide Movers

AGS worldwide network of 142 branches in 96 countries is one of the largest in the removals industry. They have been moving goods for people for half a century. On average, they are involved in moving more than 85,000 families’ goods per year. They offer efficient removal solutions by air, sea or road to move abroad.

1stMove Car Shipping

1st Move International can arrange car shipping to Lebanon through their AutoShippers service. They have been shipping cars overseas for private clients for over 20 years.

AGS Storage

AGS worldwide network of 142 branches in 96 countries is one of the largest in the removals industry. Their storage capacity is 200,000 m2. AGS provides storage for household goods in secure warehouse facilities.