When you’re preparing to move to a new home, one of the most important things to consider is protecting your belongings. Moving insurance provides coverage for damage, loss, or theft during the process—allowing you to rest assured that you’re financially covered in the event of any issues.

Whether you’re moving across the street or across the country, understanding the different types of insurance and how to choose the right one will help ensure your possessions are covered.

Types of Moving Insurance

Before you choose the right coverage for your moving insurance, it’s important to understand the available options. Below are the categories of moving insurance to choose from before you embark on your relocation

Released Value Protection

Released value protection is the most basic type of insurance. This option is federally required to be included at no extra charge by moving companies. Under this coverage, the mover assumes a limited liability for your goods, meaning they do not cover the total value of the item. The compensation you’ll receive is generally 60 cents per pound per item. So, if a 10-pound item is damaged, the insurance would cover only $6. 

This type of protection doesn’t cover the actual replacement cost of valuable items, which makes it more suitable for moves with low-value or non-fragile items. Although this option provides a cost-effective way to insure your items, it ultimately will not be helpful if you have highly valuable, fragile belongings.

Full Value Protection

Full value protection provides the highest level of coverage for your belongings and ensures your possessions are replaced or repaired to their original value. If an item is lost, damaged, or destroyed, the moving company is responsible for repairing, replacing, or compensating you for the full value of the item. This protection is ideal for high-value or delicate items, as you can feel confident knowing you will receive full compensation for its cost.

If you have high value collectible or antique items, be sure to get these items appraised by a professional before your relocation. Having the value in writing will allow you to receive the proper compensation in the event of loss or damage.

Third-Party Insurance

Third-party insurance is provided by independent insurance companies, not by the moving company itself. These policies often offer more flexible and comprehensive coverage than the standard options provided by moving companies. Depending on the provider, you may be able to customize the coverage, adding protection for items that the mover doesn’t cover, such as those with high value or special needs.

How to Choose the Right Moving Insurance

Having trouble deciding which type of insurance is best for your move? With the following steps, you can more confidently assess which option suits your needs.

• Assess the Value of Your Belongings

Start by evaluating the value of your items. If you have expensive electronics, artwork, antiques, or collectibles, you may want to opt for full value protection or third-party insurance. For less valuable or fragile items, released value protection may offer enough coverage.

• Compare Different Insurance Options

Review the coverage options offered by both the moving company and independent insurance providers. Compare the premiums, coverage limits, exclusions, and terms of each option. Third-party insurance providers may offer broader coverage for items like specialty or high-value possessions, making it a great option depending on your needs.

• Review the Terms and Conditions

Before purchasing any insurance, it’s essential to read the fine print. Pay attention to any exclusions, such as whether certain high-risk items (e.g., jewelry, fine art) are covered. Understand how claims are processed and what documentation is needed to file a claim.

• Check for Existing Coverage

If you have renters or homeowners insurance, check with your insurer to see if it already provides coverage for your belongings during a move. Some policies offer limited moving protection, which could save you from purchasing additional insurance. However, the coverage may be minimal, so it’s essential to know exactly what’s included.

How to File a Moving Insurance Claim

Once you have moving insurance, it’s important to understand the insurance claim process in the event of loss or damage. Although you should check directly with your insurance provider for details, the following steps offer a general overview of the process.

• Document the Damage

As soon as you notice damage or loss, take clear photographs of the affected items and make a detailed list. Documenting everything thoroughly will be vital for the claims process. If items are missing, make a list of what was packed and what is missing. If you created an inventory for your move, this can be extra helpful to check for missing items.

• Notify the Moving Company or Insurance Provider

Contact the moving company immediately to report the issue. If you have third-party insurance, you’ll need to notify your insurer as well. Most moving companies will provide a claims form and instructions for submitting the necessary information.

• File the Claim

Submit the claim to the moving company or insurer, along with supporting evidence such as photos, inventory lists, and receipts. Depending on the provider, they may ask for additional documentation, such as proof of value.

• Follow Up

After filing the claim, keep in contact with the company or insurer to check on the status. It may take some time to process the claim, so be prepared for possible delays. If necessary, provide additional information to expedite the process.

Choose the Right Insurance for Your Move

With the proper knowledge, choosing the best insurance for your specific needs doesn’t have to feel complicated. By using the information provided in this guide, you can make informed decisions about the ideal option for your moving needs.

Looking for a trusted moving company to assist you with your upcoming relocation? Book with Coral Springs Moving & Storage, South Florida’s trusted movers since 1974. Our team of experienced moving professionals provides highly-rated moving, packing, and storage solutions in Florida and beyond. You can count on our relocation experts to provide top-tier services with care and attention to detail at every turn. Request a free quote online or call us today to learn more about our services and rates!

It’s no secret that packing for an upcoming move can be a stressful part of the relocation process. With so many tasks to complete before moving day, it can feel like packing becomes a hurried race to the finish line. This usually results in disorganization, haphazard protection, and chaos.

How can you avoid common packing mistakes to safely and neatly prepare your belongings for transportation to your new home? Learn about the top 10 packing mistakes you should avoid as you prepare for your relocation. Ready to pack like a pro?

 

Don’t Make These Packing Mistakes

Below are some of the most common packing pitfalls people experience while preparing for a relocation. We’ve broken down these problems—and their solutions.

• Procrastinating Packing

Problem: You procrastinated the packing process amidst your busy schedule, opting to start the task much later than you ideally should have.

Solution: With so many tasks to complete as you prepare for a move, coupled with how daunting it can feel to pack an entire home, procrastinating this process is understandable. However, instead of feeling daunted by the process, handle it in chunks instead. Start early and opt for small increments at a time, rather than working in long sessions. You can create a plan for yourself before you begin, allowing you to follow along with a manageable timeline.

 

• Packing Multiple Rooms at Once

Problem: As you prepare for your relocation, you choose to pack multiple rooms at once. You work back and forth between multiple rooms when packing.

Solution: Although you may feel tempted to jump around when one room starts to feel overwhelming, packing more than one room at a time can result in more stress and disorganization. Instead, work through your home methodically. You should only move to the next room when you’ve packed everything you can feasibly put in boxes ahead of moving day. While some necessities may need to wait to get packed, you should otherwise not move onto another room until one room is complete.

• Overfilling Your Boxes

Problem: Your boxes are filled to the brim with as many items as you can fit. You’re struggling to pick them up and confidently carry them across any distance.

Solution: You may feel like filling your boxes to maximum capacity makes the best use of space, but this is rarely worth the space you might have saved. Overstuffed, overweight boxes generally become too crowded, posing the risk of damage to fragile items, and they can also result in broken boxes. To avoid your boxes breaking upon lifting, only fill your boxes to a reasonable weight. You can do this by trying to lift the boxes as you fill them to ensure they can still be easily carried. Once they hit that weight, fill any remaining space with bubble wrap or lightweight fabrics.

 

• Insufficient Protection

Problem: While packing your fragile or sensitive items, you did not use enough bubble wrap or packing paper. Your items end up shifting in transit and jostling around haphazardly as you move them.

Solution: Always consider the risk of an item breaking in transit and use sufficient packing materials to protect it. Anything that could easily break should have bubble wrap or other protective materials to prevent movement and absorb the shock if the box is jostled or dropped.

• Lack of Labeling

Problem: Instead of writing the contents of the box on the outside, you choose to skip labeling to save time. You tell yourself, “When I unpack, I can just look into the box and figure it out.”

Solution: Although it’s true that you can assess your boxes when you arrive, the reality is that this choice will result in a headache once you arrive. This will make finding the right boxes incredibly frustrating and prevent you or your movers from easily placing your boxes in the corresponding room upon arrival. Instead, allow enough time to carefully label your boxes on multiple sides. As you do this, you can also choose to color-code your boxes with colored labels, assigning a color to each room.

Another option is to inventory your items while packing. With this method, you can assign a number to each box and keep a running list of which items are in which number. This method takes extra time, but ultimately, it will help you save time as you unpack.

• Skipping Decluttering

Problem: Rushing to get to packing, you choose not to declutter your items. “That can wait until spring cleaning!”

Solution: As you pack items that you no longer use or want, you create two issues: you waste time packing unnecessary items, and you start in your new home with the same clutter. Opt for a fresh start by decluttering first, deciding which belongings you will donate, sell, or throw away. By doing this, you can set yourself up for a neater new home, and you’ll save significant time on packing and unpacking.

• Not Getting Enough Supplies

Problem: You’re two-thirds done packing when you realize you ran out of your medium-sized boxes. Plus, you’re low on bubble wrap, but you still need to pack dishware. You know you need more supplies, but you’re already on a time crunch.

Solution: Avoid last-minute stress by obtaining a sufficient amount of packing materials before you start the process. Although accurately anticipating your needs can feel challenging, opting to overprepare will yield better results. Obtain more than you think you need, and get more supplies as soon as you suspect you’ll run out soon.

• Making Poor Use of Space

Problem: You’ve had a long day of packing, so you start throwing items randomly into boxes. You choose to skip organizing your items inside the boxes, but you know you’re using up way more space in your boxes than necessary.

Solution: Don’t set yourself up for unnecessary stress. Allow yourself enough time to pack in an organized manner without getting burnt out. Taking time to carefully organize your boxes will allow you to maximize the available space in your boxes.

• Tackling Too Much at Once

Problem: Your move is a week away, work has been busier than usual, and you still have 75% of your home left to pack. You stay up late into the night attempting to get as much packing done as you can, but you can’t take the time you want to.

Solution: This is a common problem for many people as they tackle a relocation. Although some of these circumstances are incredibly difficult to avoid, scheduling is of the utmost importance. Allot your time accordingly, and try to start as far in advance as possible. This will reduce the risk of needing to over-exert yourself right before moving day.

• Forgoing Organization

Problem: “What’s it matter if I don’t organize my boxes?” you think to yourself. “I’m just going to unpack them soon anyway.”

Solution: Although your items will be unpacked soon enough, it’s not true that organizing your boxes doesn’t matter. Ensuring your boxes are orderly maximizes your space, allows for easier unpacking, and reduces the risk of damage in transit. This extra effort during the packing process will allow you to settle into your new space much more efficiently.

 

Pack For Your Move Like A Pro

Ultimately, we’re all bound to make a few missteps as we tackle packing. But by reducing those issues and avoiding as many of these mistakes as possible, you can improve your moving experience and yield better results. 

Looking for a moving company to help you along the way? Trust Coral Springs Moving & Storage, South Florida’s reliable movers since 1974. Our top-rated moving, packing, and storage solutions are delivered by a team of experienced moving professionals, allowing our customers to enjoy streamlined moving experiences. 

Request a free quote online or call us today to learn more about our services!