There is a lot to consider when moving home and this can start with choosing a removal company to consider the costs and even managing the stress. Of course, you then have to pack up your home and move to your new home, all of which is likely to come with challenges. Therefore, when it comes to moving house insurance and protecting your belongings, it probably isn’t high on your list of priorities.
To be honest, many people assume that their items are covered when moving house but this is not always true. As a result, without the right protection in place, the risk of loss increases. When you add in the stress, it can soon become a situation that is difficult to manage. Therefore, removal insurance cover is crucial as this will add an additional level of protection. So, should the worst happen and you lose items or they become damaged, you won’t have to worry about the costs involved in replacing them.
Despite this, understanding removals insurance can also prove challenging. After all, how much coverage should you put in place and what does removals insurance cost? You might already have some level of coverage with your home or contents insurance, so it makes sense to ensure you know all about removals insurance.
What Is Removal Insurance and Why Do I Need It?
Removals insurance is a level of protection that ensures your home and belongings are covered from any unforeseen problems such as loss or damage. As you will purchase removal insurance as an additional product, it will come with new terms and conditions. It is common for two levels of insurance to be offered. The first is indemnity insurance and the next is “new for old”. When it comes to indemnity insurance, the age and condition of the item will be considered and so, the cover will include the true cost of the item. In the case of new or old, this will mean that an upgraded item will be provided.
The cost of removals insurance will differ from one removal company to the next. What this means is that you should ensure that you should check what you are covered for and what you aren’t covered for.
In reality, many people choose to not consider removals insurance because they often think that things will be fine. Of course, in many instances, removal companies will help you move home without any issues but there is always a risk of damage or loss. Without insurance, you will have to cover any associated costs which means that it can give you complete peace of mind when moving home to put removals insurance in place.
Removals Insurance Cover and Not Covered
On the whole, removals insurance will protect things such as valuables, furnishings and furniture from loss or damage during your house move. This will cover times when packing, unloading, transporting and unpacking takes place. While each policy can differ, you will be covered for damage that is caused by:
- Malicious acts or vandalism
- Theft
- Crashed
- Floods and storms
- Fire
However, it is also worth noting what you are not covered for as this might include the likes of bikes or fragile items that have not been professionally packed.
How Much Am I Protected Under Basic Terms & Conditions?
Every removal company will have different terms and conditions when it comes to the liability covered. Removal companies will offer some level of cover as part of the cost but this only covers what they are responsible for. So, you should check that the cover requests that you prove that the company acted negligently, whether there is a limit on the claim per item and how the value is calculated.
Removals Insurance Cost
The cost of removals insurance is often 10% of what removal companies charge to help you move. Therefore, if the cost of moving was £2,500, you would pay an additional £250 to ensure you are insured and covered.
What Insurance is Needed When Moving House?
To begin, when moving home, you have to make sure that you have contents insurance and where possible, this should cover the physical removal. You should also check what your chosen removal company includes and what is protected while they are taking care of it. You should also check to see if there is an additional cost for the cover or whether it is included in the contract.
Should you be moving abroad, you will need to make sure your items are protected with international removals insurance.
Do I Need Removal Insurance if I Have Contents Insurance?
You might find that you are fortunate enough to have contents insurance that covers you when moving house. However, you should make sure that you check this before you move. certain policies will cover your items if they are moved temporarily from your home and there might be a cap on the value of items covered. If you do not have this cover then you might want to ask your provider to add it.
How Long Do I Have to Make a Claim?
It is common for companies to put a time limit on how long you have to make a claim. This prevents clients from making false claims. The time you have to make a claim will differ from one company to the next and this will be covered in their policy. Following your house move, you should make sure that you check all of your items as this will give you a chance to raise problems with your removal company after moving.
Am I Covered by the Removal Company’s Insurance?
Removal companies will advertise that they are insured and this is because they have to have certain types of cover in place. However, this does not translate into full insurance coverage for you and your items. Every removal company will assess the potential risks of each move as every move is different but there is a limit put in place for their responsibility for the damage. So, you will have some level of cover but it might not be the cover that you want or need. This highlights the importance of checking the level of liability within the contract.
How to Choose The Right Removal Company?
Moving home might leave you with a lot to think about but the last thing you want is a removal company that doesn’t consider your exact needs. Therefore, choose a company that has an excellent reputation, takes care of your needs and offers the right level of protection. So, now might be the time to get in touch with us to find out how we can help you move home with ease.