Moving Company Insurance 101

Preparing for a move is often a stressful time.

Between packing boxes and figuring out transportation, the process can feel endless. Thankfully, a professional moving company can help ease your to-do list and your worries.

But, be sure to consider moving company insurance, just to be safe.

Here are all the basics you need to know about this extra service and its benefits.

What Is Moving Company Insurance?

Every moving contract comes with a standard form of protection called valuation.

Valuation is the maximum level of liability movers would owe you should anything go wrong.

It is determined by declared value, which is a rate per pound of goods. The rate is multiplied by your total pounds of items being moved.

Although this is helpful, it’s not everything.

That’s where moving company insurance comes in.

Moving company insurance gives you access to more protection throughout every part of the move. It covers your goods from the packing process to transportation and unloading.

What Does This Cover?

Most companies offer moving insurance as a full value protection offer.

Full value protection means movers are responsible for replacing or repairing items that are lost, stolen, or damaged. It covers everything from precious, expensive china to vintage cabinets and family heirlooms.

Like other forms of insurance, moving company insurance comes with a standard rate and deductible. These will vary from company to company.

Extra Steps to Ensure a Safe Move

As much as moving insurance comes in handy, there are other things you can do for more peace of mind.

Consider the following tips when planning your move.

Take Pictures

Worried about getting a scratch on your favorite cabinet or a stain on your carpet?

Take pictures of all your important items before the movers arrive.

Photos give you a source of comparison other than memory. Plus, should damages happen, you have the before and after proof.

Pack with Care

Sometimes, the solution to a moving accident can be as simple as taking the right precautions.

This means communicating with movers as much as possible. Express your concern as they pack and load all your belongings. You can even ask them to double wrap certain items or to handle pieces of furniture with extra care.

Or, handle some of the packing yourself to be sure it’s done correctly. Such efforts go a long way when preparing fine china or precious photos for a move.

Use Special Caution

If you’re stressing over losing your grandmother’s earrings or your grandpa’s letters, pack those with the items you plan to carry with you.

This way, you’ll know they’re in good condition on every leg of the journey. It puts you in control of your most precious goods while the movers take care of the rest.