Archive for April, 2010

Do I really need moving insurance when I move house?

Monday, April 26th, 2010

This is a common question asked by people who are moving house. Many people believe that the moving company they choose will have moving insurance that will cover them in the event of an accident with the moving truck or something being broken in the move. Some people think that their home insurances will cover them while they are moving house.

Before your moving date, you need to find out if your household insurance policy covers you for moving house. Some policies cover ‘goods in transit’ but this may not cover actually moving house. Speak to your insurance broker or insurance company and ask exactly what coverage you have for house moving with your current policies.

When you are seeking quotes from moving companies for your move, one of the important things to find out concerns moving insurance. Ask what insurance they have, what it covers and how much cover is available. Many moving companies will offer you additional moving insurance, which they will arrange with their insurer, but be aware that this may not be your best option. The moving company’s extra moving insurance might come with a hefty premium and insufficient cover for your needs.  

It is a good idea to get several moving quotes from different companies as you will find there can be a wide range of prices and conditions offered. Compare the price quoted, exactly what this covers and what insurance is offered. Many moving companies’ insurance only covers anything you can prove was their fault, and this isn’t as easy as it sounds. To get up to seven moving quotes from reputable, local moving companies, go to MovinGood.com. You will also find more information regarding moving insurance and lots of helpful moving tips.

Before you make a decision about your moving company, check out the rates of moving insurance from your own insurer and from other insurance companies as well. This way you will know if the moving company is offering a good deal or if you are better organizing your own moving insurance. 

One important issue you need to understand about any insurance is the value of individual pieces that are covered by the policy. You may have a dollar value of coverage, which seems to be sufficient, but when you read the small print, you discover that individual pieces are only covered for a limited amount.

It is important to understand what the jargon used by the insurance industry means. “Full replacement” coverage means that you are insured for the amount of money needed to replace the item with a new one at the current market price. “Depreciation value” means that, because of an item’s age and amount of wear, you aren’t insured for enough to buy a new one of the same standard.

If you have special items like antiques, pianos or works of art, you would be advised to have moving insurance for these separately. Make sure they are insured for their current market value. Some of these items are best left to the specialists when it comes to moving them; pianos, in particular need specialized treatment.

So look into your moving insurance carefully before making any decisions. Don’t take your insurance for granted; accidents do happen and you need to know that your possessions are covered for any eventuality.

Do I really need to hire a moving company when I move house?

Monday, April 19th, 2010

The question of whether to hire a moving company to move house or to go it alone is one that is frequently asked by people who are facing the huge task of moving house. Like many things, there are pros and cons, which we will look at here in this post.

Advantages of using a Moving Company

  • Moving companies, and the people they employ, know what they are doing and have experience in getting the job done in a short time-frame. Hiring a moving company means that the moving truck is supplied, it is packed safely and securely, in minimum time.
  • Many moving companies carry some moving insurance, which covers you for major damage to your possessions; you might need to take out some extra insurance to cover more valuable items. If you move yourself, you will be responsible for the total cost of your moving insurance.
  • Because of their experience, movers can load a moving truck very efficiently and fit more things into the interior space. They know how to pack moving boxes on top of other boxes and furniture, so everything stays steady and safe. When you move yourself, you might not be as efficient, might not load the truck as securely or as full and need to make multiple trips.
  • Once the moving truck is fully loaded, all you have to do is drive to the new address. Then you just direct the movers as they unpack the truck. When you move yourself, after you have loaded the truck, you have to drive it to the new house, and then you have to get it unloaded before the deadline to get the truck back to its base.
  • Moving house yourself is a very physically taxing job, and one you generally cannot do alone. You need to be fit, strong and organized, and able to call on equally fit and strong family members or friends to help you move house.

 Advantages of Moving Yourself

  • You save the cost of the moving company, which can be thousands of dollars, but you will still need to hire a moving truck to move all your furniture and possessions. You will still save considerable money. Your normal driving license may only cover you for a small moving truck, though, so you might need to make multiple trips to get everything moved to the new address.
  • You don’t have such a tight time-frame and can take your time to move. Keep in mind, though, that the longer you need to have the moving truck, the more it will cost you.
  • You are in control of your valued possessions; you are not trusting them to a third party. You might feel as though you want to be in charge of moving because you will take more care.
  • You can make sure that all your furniture and other items are properly protected while they are inside the moving truck, and so have more confidence that there will be no problems or minor damage.

Ultimately, the decision whether to do the house move yourself or to hire a moving company comes down to budget and your ability to physically do the job. Before you make the decision, go to MovinGood and get up to seven free moving quotes from local moving companies and moving truck hire companies. Compare the costs, weigh them up against the pros and cons and then make your decision, based on this good information.