Its easy to do it all yourself, including bypassing moving companies. We packed, loaded and tied down furniture and goods into 40 ft. container for shipping Los Angeles to Le Harve at container rate, regardless of content weight or quantity. One day to load the container with 3 friends and enough beer. About 4 wks transit time. Household goods reasonably itemized. Helps to have a friend who knows how to pack/tie things down. No breakage. Goods 1 yr or older have no import duty fees. Old car of German make to US import specs was a minor headache (Porsche had slightly different veh. number on chassis and original paper work. Required letter from them to say they mean the same thing!). All came in same container with shipper in LA performing the car tie down. Some vat required for car. UK transit had also been suggested, especially for car. I could see no real benefit. Local transit from Le Harve to Dordogne was reasonable cost. Just be prepared to hop to it and unload the container at your door.