Do I need insurance when moving house?

If you’re moving house soon, you’re probably more concerned with making sure you’re packed in time than you are about removals insurance. However, it’s not something you should ignore, particularly if you plan on moving expensive or valuable items. At Darvills, we’re one of the leading removals companies in Bradford and Halifax and we’re fully insured. We’ll make sure your possessions have full cover. 

What is removals insurance?

Removals insurance is designed to cover belongings that are being moved from one property to another as part of a house, flat, or office move. If this cover is in place, the cost of repairing or replacing damaged or lost items will be covered. This can provide you with great peace of mind. Removals insurance covers most possessions you might want to move from A to B during your move. Only very high value or antique items will fall outside of a standard moving insurance policy.

Are all removals companies insured?

Insurance is often one of the biggest differences between a man with a van you’ve found on Facebook and a reputable removals company with years of experience. Professional house removals companies in Halifax and Bradford usually have adequate insurance. However, it’s best to check they have full cover before you hire their services. Some removal companies will advertise they are ‘fully insured’, however, this doesn’t always mean that YOU are insured. A firm should be able to show you copies of their policy details to reassure you that your belongings will be covered whilst in transit.

The removals company you choose should have goods in transit insurance. This provides cover for your possessions whilst they’re being moved to your new house. You should find out how much your goods will be covered for. Many firms provide cover of around £40 to £60 per damaged or lost item. Although this might not seem like a lot, this is in line with industry standards. This level of cover is acceptable for most home movers. Setting cover at this level lets removals firms keep costs down for those people who aren’t moving items of high value.

However, if you do need to move valuables, it’s possible to add extra cover. Often, removals companies are happy to arrange this on your behalf, ensuring that you don’t need to worry about it. We recommend getting your items valued before the move, particularly if they’re expensive or precious. This can help you decide whether you need to buy additional insurance when moving house.

Discuss insurance options with your removals company

Discuss your insurance options with your removals company, as they may be able to raise the amount of cover if necessary. Check exactly what’s covered. Will they pay out for scrapes, scuffs, or dents? What about damage to financial documents? What about if your move has to be cancelled? You should also find out if you need to complete an inventory of your belongings along with the values. A reputable removals firm will be able to advise on whether your belongings will be adequately covered on moving day.

We recommend getting the details of the insurance coverage your removals company offers in writing. You must check you’re comfortable with the level of cover before signing your contract with a removals firm. If you don’t have a written contract, you’re putting yourself at risk should things go awry. Either insist they provide you with a written agreement or find another company to help you move. All BAR members must provide their customers with a written contract.

Most professional removals companies have a good reputation when it comes to taking care of their customers’ possessions, with low levels of damage incurred. At Darvills, we always strive to keep items protected and secure whilst we’re moving them to their new home. However, it’s a fact that accidents do happen, and it’s important that cover is in place should something go wrong on moving day.

Will my home or content insurance provide cover?

Whilst you might assume that your home insurance will cover your belongings against damage or theft, this may not be the case. If you’re moving the items yourself, your existing cover may well be invalid. Many policies will only cover accidental damage or loss you hire a professional removals company to carry out the work. Keep in mind that there’s often a time limit applied to claims, so make sure you read the small print so you can make any necessary claims in time without being penalised.

Insurance if you’ve packed yourself

Many people pack themselves in order to cut costs during the moving process. However, it’s important to realise that many insurance companies won’t pay out for loss or damage to your items if you’ve packed them yourself. Professional removals operatives may need to pack your boxes for your items to be covered. Otherwise, damage to your belongings can’t be properly validated. This means that the insurer may refuse your claim. The good news is that many house removals companies in Bradford and Halifax provide packing services. At Darvills, we provide a swift and hassle-free packing service, taking the stress and strain away from our customers.  

Contact us

Don’t underestimate the importance of insurance when moving house. To find out more about our insurance policies or to arrange a free, no-obligation pre-move survey, get in touch. Call us on 01274 963 057 (Bradford) or 01422 747 036 (Halifax) to talk to one of our friendly team. You can also send us a message via the website and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can. We’re here to make moving day as easy and stress-free as possible from start to finish.