Cyprus-Forum.com

[MACKAM1955]

HIA IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE UP STICKS AND MOVING TO PAPHOS,I AM HOPING TO GET WORK PLUMBING AS I MET LOADS OF PEOPLE WHEN I WAS OUT THERE LAST MONTH WHO TOLD ME ID HAVE NO PROBLEM GETTING WORK WITH THE BRITS OUT THERE, THE PROBLEM IS DO I SELL EVERYTHING UP HERE AND BUY IN CYPRUS (TOOLS & VAN ETC) OR BRING VAN WITH GEAR OVER TO CYPRUS WOULD THIS BE TOO EXPENSIVE AND WHICH WOULD BE THE CHEAPEST WAY TO GET THERE?.

CHEERS.

[Piratis]

I believe it would be cheaper to buy everything in the UK and bring them here. Prices in Cyprus are usually higher for such things.

I belive you can rent a container (or part of it) and ship your things here.

[MACKAM1955]

ive heard curtains and funiture realy expensive in cyprus is there anything cheap there?. the wages are what I earn a week here I have to earn in a month? never mind the weather makes up for that,and the people I met are so friendly,nothing to keep us in UK the place is sinking fast.

cheers

Eric.

[rotate]

Bring everything you can with you (not fridges or freezers) in a container! Prices are not so bad for some things its just finding what you need when you first arrive. Having said that many of my Cypriot relatives now visit and purchase stuff like curtains and furniture from Syria! as its much cheaper than anywhere in Europe. Depending upon the type of property your going to live in consider sending an Aga or Rayburn combined lpg gas cooker/heating boiler. Allow about three weeks for the container to arrive in Limassol.

Prepare an accurate inventory of what you have loaded into the container and keep with you at all times. If the container ship is Israeli owned or if it docks in an Israeli port Mossad the Israeli intellegence network will want to know exactly whats in the container and where your grand parents and parents were born. I'm not joking. Be prepared for a late night or early morning call from Mossad and do'nt argue with them as your container will not be loaded, full stop. Ensure that the container ID numbers inside and outside are identical, if they are not do not accept the container for loading in the UK (big scam, and you end up with an empty container). Buy your own top quality padlocks for the container and make sure you are present when the seal is fitted.

Learnt a lot from my first container to Cyprus, the Customs officers told me that they knew I was not a Cypriot because I had not built a suspended wooden floor into the container. Car/van underneath (lashed down & padded) household and personal effects on the floor above. Save the wood flooring as it will always become useful at some point and wood is more expensive here than in the UK

Under no circumstances send a van or car here with tools etc in the vehicle unless it is in a sealed container as the ships stop in various ports and everybody helps themselves to whatever they fancy, including engines gearboxes etc.

As for work, do'nt limit yourself to just ex-pat customers build yourself a Cypriot customer base. Seems to be a shortage of quilified plumbers on the island, where I lived in Larnaca everyone used an 80 year old Armenian plumber because he knew his job and never overcharged. If you are 'Corgi' qualified so much the better as most Cypriots will now admit that Cyprus do'es have a winter and lpg gas central heating is becoming ever more popular as opposed to oil fired or electric heating. Make sure that you understand solar water heating and wood burning stove central heating systems.

Finally and as my Cypriot in-laws have always said to me, 'trust nobody here' and definately do'nt trust your fellow countrymen

[Michael Coumas]

Very well explained Mr rotate, there's not a lot we can add to that.

eric - there are one or two furniture makers around who can copy existing designs for you or make to order but as you rightly point out the majority can be imported.

A well established bona fide agent can also be a great help in navigating any beurocracy and ease the way for the shipment to get through

[MACKAM1955]

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ADVICE IT WILL COME IN VERY HANDY THE CONTAINER SEEMS A BIT DAWNTING IS IT WORTH THE HASTLE IT MAY BE JUST AS EASY TO BUY READY FURNISHED MAYBE LESS STRESSFUL ANY MORE ADVISE WILL BE APPRECIATED.

CHEERS

ERIC.

[rotate]

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ADVICE IT WILL COME IN VERY HANDY THE CONTAINER SEEMS A BIT DAWNTING IS IT WORTH THE HASTLE IT MAY BE JUST AS EASY TO BUY READY FURNISHED MAYBE LESS STRESSFUL ANY MORE ADVISE WILL BE APPRECIATED.

CHEERS

ERIC.

A container is a hassle, but I found it worthwhile on the four different occasions that I've imported personal effects since 1972, each time has become a little easier and on the whole people this end have been very helpful.

If you have not yet purchased a property it may be an idea to rent a furnished place for a while, living permanently in Cyprus and working is very different to coming here on holiday. Beware of what ex-pats tell you about life in Cyprus as you can either get an over rosy picture or an absolute horror story. Opinions on life in Cyprus vary, fairest assessments I've heard are from overseas Cypriots who've decided to return, knowing the language, customs and culture of the place with experience of living elswhere gives them unique insight.

Do'nt panic and good luck

[MACKAM1955]

ROTATE THANKS FOR YOUR INPUT AGAIN WEVE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS FOR A WHILE NOW AND AT THE AGE OF 50 IM NOT GOING TO JUMP IN THE SHALLOW END HEAD FIRST, MY PARTNERS SISTER HAS PURCHASED 2 PROPERTIES OUT THERE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING A THIRD BUILT IN MARATHUNDER WITH NO HASSLE (BUILDERS A BIT SLOW ON COMPLETION DATES THOUGH ) BUT IN ALL OK, EVEN THOUGH WEVE BEEN OUT THERE ONLY ONCE WE HAVE TRAVELLED THE GLOBE AND TO BE HONOUST CYPRUS SEEMS THE PLACE FOR US.AND YES WE ARE GOING TO STAY AT HERE FLAT IN PAPHOS FOR 2 TO 3 MONTHS FIRST IF WE LIKE IT WERE STAYING. TO BE HONOST ( DO YOU EVER GET A DAY WHEN YOU CANT SPELL CERTAIN WORDS LIKE HONOST! DOESNT LOOK RIGHT DOES THIS THING HAVE A SPELL CHECKER ON IT ? ) ANYWAY THERE IS NOTHING KEEPING US IN GB WEATHER GETS WORSE NO SUMMERS, YOB RULE, TAX THIS TAX THAT TAX YOUR SAVINGS BLABLABLA. NO GET ME OUT OF HERE, CAN YOU PUT ME IN TOUCH WITH A REPUTABLE MOVING COMPANY IN THE UK,MAY THANKS

ERIC.

[Hazza]

I used a company called Mondial who are based in Brimsdown, Enfield. I have nothing but praise for them for the service I got. 020 88053344


On a personal note about moving over, I loved it when I first came over, then once the summer season had ended, I got very very homesick. I was determined to stay and make a go of it. Once the summer season started again, I made a few friends through playing football. We now go out 2 or 3 times a week and every weekend. Nothing loud or flash, just a couple of beers in a quiet bar. Its now a case of having given it a chance, I am happier now than I have ever been and am 100% certain I made the right decision in coming over.

[MACKAM1955]

CHEERS HAZZA THANKS FOR INFO DID YOU BRING A LOT OF GEAR OVER WITH YOU. WE ONLY IN STEVENAGE SO ENFIELD IS A DODDLE MY FOOTBALLING DAYS ARE OVER (50 NOW) BUT I STILL FOLLOW MY BELOVED SUNDERLAND (ANYMORE OUT THERE) I FEEL IT WILL BE HARD IN THE COLD MONTHS BUT SURELY NOT AS BAD AS HERE AND THE SUMMER MONTHS WILL MAKE UP FOR THOSE (MIND IVE NEVER EXPERIENCED JULY & AUGUST YET PHOOO HOT. ) ONCE AGAIN CHEERS FOR THAT. ANY MORE INPUT OUT THERE. ANY PLUMBERS OUT THERE NEED A HAND GOT TO MUCH WORK ON GET IN TOUCH.

CHEERS

ERIC.