Professional moving companies are required by law to have their own liability insurance, which protects your personal belongings if they are damaged, destroyed or stolen during a move. Container moving services, such as PODS, are not governed by the same federal laws as full-service moving companies. When it comes to boxes, stairs and closed corners, even professional removers can accidentally damage your belongings or your home. How you respond in those first few hours can make a difference in protecting your rights and obtaining fair compensation.
If your move included an inventory sheet (especially for interstate moves), compare each item with it. If you're moving from one state to another, it's called an interstate move and those moves are regulated by the federal government. Unless you specifically request a reduction in your coverage to the released rate, your moving company will most likely automatically include full protection in your moving budget. With released value protection, the moving company is responsible for paying up to 60 cents per pound per item, but you can recover the rest of the loss with the insurance company for the move up to the limit of the policy you purchased.
This moving insurance is included in the cost of the move, so you don't pay more for this type of coverage. Moving insurance is useful for items that are not covered by homeowners or renters insurance, but that doesn't mean it covers everything you want. The cost of protecting your belongings during the move can vary considerably, depending on the type and amount of coverage, as well as the provider. Ace Relocation highly recommends full protection and includes it in your moving budget, unless you specifically request to upgrade to released value protection.
Most moving truck rental companies offer coverage to protect their vehicles from damage caused by accidents, such as a collision with another vehicle or a broken windshield caused by a flying rock. If the damage is caused by a flood, storm, or other uncontrollable event, moving companies often use a force majeure clause to deny liability, unless there has been negligence. One of the key strategies a moving company uses to protect items during a move is to use high-quality packaging materials. If a moving company drops your television or dents the wall, they may be liable, but only under certain conditions. It doesn't matter if you manage the move independently or if you hire a moving company; this insurance protects your items while they're on the road.
