If you are moving this summer there are some things to consider when hiring a moving company.  What do you look for and how can you make sure you are covered if something breaks???

Hire your moving company based on their reputation, not their price.  Ask friends, family, and your realtor for a referral.  If the moving company is good, their reputation will speak for itself.

Once you have chosen a carrier, request a certificate of insurance from the movers that shows Commercial Auto, Workers Compensation and General Liability.  The certificate will come from an insurance agent and have your name and address in the bottom left hand corner.  DO NOT accept a sample certificate.  It's not worth the paper its printed on.

Movers will offer a standard moving contract that includes limited liability coverage for your personal property based on the weight of the item.  Typical contracts include coverage for up to 30 cents per pound.  So if they damage an item, it better be heavy because the coverage is hardly enough to replace it.

Is there coverage on your homeowners policy?  Not likely.  Because the items are in the care, custody, and control of the mover - no coverage applies.  There are other options.

You can purchase replacement value coverage from the moving company for your personal property.  It's based on the value of the property.  We recommend that you consider this coverage for those individual items that have the most value (i.e. piano, antique table).

For those small, fragile items or sentimental pieces, take the responsibility yourself and move it in your car.  It will take the worry out of your move and insure that those items make it to the new home in one piece.

Sending items to storage?  Your coverage may be limited on your homeowners policy.  Call us to confirm whether additional coverage needs to be purchased from the storage facility.