A Few Sundry Details Concerning Moving Insurance and Making a Claim

As a homeowner, you would be having a homeowner insurance policy. This policy covers around ten percent of the value of your personal property; coverage for breakage and theft in transit are also included. Of course, some deductibles will also be there.

Despite this provision, do remember to consult your agent regarding insurance for “goods in transit” if you are planning for moving. Of course,  best moving companies will offer insurance as part of the deal; so you do not have to hunt around for insurance. But, your agent will guide you better regarding the best policy to go in for, as well as prove invaluable when making a claim for damaged or lost property.

These are the points to be noted when going in for “valuation” of your household goods—

(1) You obviously have a list of everything that you own, especially valuable possessions. Check the estimated value of your belongings in the contract provided by your local removalists Melbourne. Does it exactly match or almost match your estimate?

(2) Now, no amount can come with a guarantee since governmental laws, regulations and taxes keep changing. So, fix the maximum value of the insurance you should be receiving in case of damaged or destroyed items. Does it match the total value of your property in your list?

(3) Okay, what kind of liability coverage, and how much, can your moving company provide in case of damage or loss?

(4) In case the moving company that you have selected reveals a long list of complaints and claims, you better avoid going in for it (no matter how satisfactorily the claims have been settled).

(5) Finally, ask your movers about their procedure concerning filing a claim.

In general, this is how you file a moving insurance claim—

(1) Every moving company is supposed to provide you with a document that has all your household goods listed on it. This is a signed inventory sheet. There is an original as well as a copy.

(2) When you have taken inventory, you have obviously declared a certain liability amount on your shipment. Your mover will fix the compensation amount according to your declaration. To illustrate with an example, if you consider your goods worth $10,000, your mover will declare maximum liability as the same.

(3) Therefore, ensure adequate coverage before you sign on the dotted line. Even if you need extra insurance, ask your moving company about it. For if the damages are worth more than what is declared, you will be at the losing end!

(4) Do you have insurance through another agency too? Go over the records and contracts; this extra insurance might ensure that your goods have adequate coverage.

(5) Okay, now write a detailed report about the damages incurred on the original inventory sheet. Affix your signature only after this is done.

(6) The time period given for reporting damages noticed while unloading is nine months. But do not wait so long—file a claim as quickly as possible.

(7) As soon as your claim is filed, your mover must acknowledge it within 30 days.

(8) Your claim can be taken up for resolution or denied outright within 120 days of receipt of your filed claim.

(9) Do remember that all moving companies are not easy to work with; some can be very stubborn and refuse to cough up any money. You will have to practice patience and give your mover enough time to work through the problem.

(10) Even after the time limit, if you can see no action coming forth, head for the Better Business Bureau.