
Insurance for your move is critical. You’re likely moving a lot of items that are important and costly. Maybe you’ve chosen a great mover to take care of your belongings, but it is still important to account for unexpected accidents and anything else that can go wrong. If you lose something valuable throughout the moving process, you’ll want to make sure that the loss can be paid for and covered.
The Benefits Of an Insured Moving Company
As you look through the many different listings in the phone book or online for moving companies that can help you transition to your new home or office, you need to research several things about these businesses including whether or not they have insurance.
Compensation for Accidental Damage
Although many of these companies have been doing moving for years or decades, there is always the possibility that they could accidentally drop something in transit that is extremely valuable. Federal law requires that movers offer released value basic coverage for moving insurance. You need to know that they can cover the cost of repair, replacement, or provide you with the monetary replacement value of the item that has been damaged or even lost. If the moving company doesn’t offer insurance, you may pay for insurance through a separate third party.
Researching Released Value Coverage
Here how to assess whether or not a mover will be able to provide you with proper insurance as they move your merchandise and personal belongings.
To move to a different city or state, it is always recommended that you use a professional moving company that can help you. These are businesses that have likely been providing the service for many years. In a large urban area, you will have several different options to choose from when it comes to selecting a moving business. The prices you pay and additional services they provide are going to be different as you go through their websites. Make sure of a few points before hiring them to transport your belongings property.
What Are the Benefits Of This?
There are several benefits associated with insurance for moving, including the fact that you will not have to negotiate with a moving company that is not licensed and insured with at least released value liability insurance, or basic coverage (separate liability coverage can be helpful as well). An additional necessity is that they be licensed as an interstate mover if you will be moving items between states.
Coverage for 60 Cents per Pound per Item
Usually a company assumes liability at 60 cents per pound per item. Some businesses that are extremely inexpensive may not have proper released value insurance, or not enough to cover some of your more expensive items. Know how to avoid rogue movers, as basic coverage for movers is required by federal law. Other regulations about insurance policy, what’s covered, and what options are required, and so on can vary by state.
Released Value: Similar to Homeowners or Renters Insurance
Released value coverage is the basic option and similar to a homeowners or renters insurance policy. You can find third party insurance if you don’t have a good option for a moving company that includes insurance liability. This covers and protects your property and its worth to you as the owner.
Call to Verify a Licensed and Insured Company
You need to call each company that you find to ask about their insurance, and how much it will actually cover. You need to ask them specifically how much it is going to cost, and whether or not they will be able to provide you with full coverage of repair or replacement value for everything that you own in case of accidents, just like you would want to know about the coverage of your homeowners or renters insurance.
Why Is It Important That They Have Insurance?
If a moving company doesn’t have insurance, and they actually damage something during the transit, they will not be able to reimburse you for what has happened. Most moving companies have insurance, and that will provide you with the option of filing a claim with their insurance in order to get coverage for the monetary value of whatever you lose or receive broken. It is a good idea to have some type of documentation as to how much the item was worth, especially if it was extremely valuable. In most cases, there are no problems at all in getting a replacement or your money for the item that suffered or was broken as a result of the negligence of the moving company.
How Do You Verify That They Have Insurance?
Most of these businesses will have the policy name and number displayed on their website. If not, you can always ask them for this information. You can then check to verify that they are indeed licensed and insured with this company before agreeing to any contract, and if they are, ask the insurance company about the released value coverage of your household goods and possessions, or if you would need insurance through a third party in addition to hiring the mover.
Scheduling your Movers
If everything looks great, then the only thing that you will have to worry about is availability and price. If you are contacting the business several weeks before you move, there should be no problem at all scheduling a time where they can help you move to your new location, even if it is interstate.
Filing a Claim for Damage
You can verify that these companies’ insurance by both asking them and verifying any policy numbers that they have with the company that they are with. You’ll be able to file a claim and be reimbursed for any damages that have been done to the items that they are moving for you. Without this insurance to protect your items and what your property is worth, it can become very difficult to get your money back.
If possible, you should make sure your moving company is prepared to offer your personal belongings while in transit at least the minimum required liability coverage or more to ensure your household goods are protected in case they are lost or damaged. You may have to file small claims to get your money back, and having a company with insurance makes it easier, though in most cases, everything is going to work out fine.
Other Factors To Consider With Moving Companies
Other factors that you need to consider with these particular companies will include whether they have a good track record or not. A professional moving company’s local reputation should be easy to find by searching online. When researching the insurance policy and state license of your mover, you’ll also want to look into their reputation with clients, and if possible, get a free estimate on your move to make sure the price falls within the range of any other comparable mover.
Check the Company’s Online Testimonials
The only way to verify this is to see testimonials that people have written and discover whether or not they are competent, or if other people have mentioned that they have had things get damaged. This will give you an indication of what you can expect with these businesses. Once you have narrowed it down to a couple of businesses, pick one at a reasonable cost. You can feel confident that they will be able to move you from one location to the other without having to worry about items being lost or dropped.
Options of Movers Available based on Location
These companies are numerous in larger urban areas. If you are in a smaller rural community, you may only have a couple of options. Regardless, you are going to want to use the same method of evaluating these businesses by looking at what they charge, whether they are reputable, if they have sufficient insurance, and also determine if other people have been happy with their services, or if their belongings and personal possessions suffered a lot of damage moving from state to state. Make sure you ran trust your mover’s ability and what the insurance policy covers to protect your belongings before you accept the services they offer.
How Do You Find One Of These Moving Companies?
The reason that you are able to find these movers quickly has to do with how most of them market their services today. There are very few businesses in the world that do not have a website which will present all of their company information. When you get to the mover’s website, you will find answers like what moving vehicles that they have. You can see how much you’ll pay to hire a team of people to move everything for you will be, and that is also where you can see whether or not they have insurance.
Moving from one location to the next is stressful enough without having to worry about whether or not your merchandise and belongings will be damaged being carried or in the truck. You can verify if a moving company is doing a great job if you simply look for and check customer testimonials. The ones that you choose should have a significantly high amount of feedback, and once you have connected with these businesses, get estimates on how much it will cost for the move. Finally, the one that you ultimately choose will be the one that not only has the best track record and prices, but also the insurance coverage that will be necessary to cover any and all items that could be damaged or go missing during the move.
A Top-Rated Moving Company in Phoenix
Dose Moving Companies Phoenix is a reputable moving company in Arizona and the U.S. We have worked with clients all throughout the Phoenix area and beyond. Our customer trust our experienced, professional movers, and they love working with us! If you need residential or commercial moving services, we have you covered if you are moving in Arizona or the U.S. Contact us today, and get a free estimate on your move!
References & Sources:
Consumer Affairs. Is Moving Insurance Worth It? https://www.consumeraffairs.com/movers/is-moving-insurance-worth-it.html
Consumer Reports. How to Choose a Reliable Moving Company. https://www.consumerreports.org/moving/how-to-choose-a-reliable-moving-company/
Life Storage Blog. Read This Before Moving to Phoenix. https://www.lifestorage.com/blog/moving/moving-to-phoenix/
Moving. 11 Cheap Ways to Move Cross Country https://www.moving.com/tips/cheap-ways-to-move-cross-country/
Ramsey. How Much Does It Cost to Move? https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/how-much-does-it-cost-to-move
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