Moving? Four Ways To Protect Your Stuff—And Yourself

One of the biggest concerns when moving is that items will get damaged or go missing, that movers will break something in the process of relocating. It’s easy to validate this concern, when you take your not-so-portable items and pack them into a truck and roll through town. Even when your belongings are impeccably packed, damage can occur. 

Worse, if you hire a moving company that isn’t properly covered by insurance, and don’t extend coverage to their clients, it will most likely be up to you to repair or replace the items that are broken or missing.

So, what should you do to protect your stuff – and yourself – when moving? Today we will discuss four ways you can do just that:

Hiring a moving company that has recently opened its doors may feel like a nice way to support a new business, but this also comes with risks. A company that has been around a while has plenty of experience in moving all around the local area and has likely seen every tricky moving situation “in the book”. They will know what kind of specialty equipment to have on hand to move your items with minimal impact. 

Along with knowing how long the company has been around, and what sort of moves they have previously tackled, it’s a good idea to research what other people have to say about them. In today’s connected, social media-driven world, it’s easier than ever before to read up on other folks’ experiences. A quick Yelp! Search for the best moving companies in Chester, VA can show you who is on top (hint, it’s us.)

Of course when you hire a professional mover, you hope that it will be an uneventful move, where nothing is lost or broken, the movers’ truck arrives at your new location without incident, and everything is placed carefully in the rooms you intended. 

Unfortunately, accidents happen to even the most careful of folks. So, what coverage does your moving company offer to protect you if your bedroom dresser loses a leg and gains a big scratch – or worse, the moving truck is involved in an accident and the majority of your belongings are damaged? 

Movers generally offer two types of liability protection to their clients. Full Value Protection and Released Value Protection. (Full value protection covers the full replacement cost of items and varies in price by moving company - released value  is offered at no additional charge, however, the protection is extremely minimal - covering no more than 60 cents per pound per article.)

Along with offering insurance for clients’ belongings, you should be sure that the company you hire also has proper insurance; covering their own liability, their workers in case of injury, and vehicles in case of an accident.

Moving can be a fast-paced, heavy-lifting, organized chaos situation, where people and things are moving all over the place. There is always a possibility of someone getting hurt or something getting broken. 

For instance, a mover is taking a large box down a flight of stairs. He misses a step and not only falls down the stairs, injuring himself, but also leaving a sizeable hole in the wall. 

Or, movers are getting set to load the truck and have a few boxes sitting outside of the truck, overlapping on the sidewalk. A child comes riding down the sidewalk on their bike and crashes into the box, flying over her handlebars, and busting open her chin.

If your moving company is not insured, you will most likely be responsible for the damage done – and the medical expenses – under your homeowners insurance policy. If the movers are properly insured, you will be protected if a mover gets hurt, someone gets hurt as a result of the movers working, or something gets broken as a result.

The federal government has certain regulations that protect consumers and define the rights and responsibilities of both the moving companies and the consumer. This guide of rights and responsibilities can help you understand what you should expect from your moving company, and what the moving company should expect of you. Knowing these rights and responsibilities before you sign ANYTHING is important. 

When you are ready to choose a moving company for your Central Virginia area move, connect with us at Quality Moving for your no obligation quote . We have over 30 years of experience and are ready to help you make your next move.

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