We all hope that it never happens. No moving company ever intends to damage one of your items. In an industry where most companies rely on word-of-mouth referrals from customers, this is not a fun situation to be in. Unfortunately in the moving industry, moving damages do occur from time-to-time. The most important thing is how your mover handles those damamges on the rare occasion that it does happen to you. By choosing a reputable moving company to partner with on your moving day, you’ll ensure that even if one of your items does get damaged, the problem will not be left unresolved.
Below are some tips on what to expect when it comes to the moving damages process, how to help prevent damaged items, and what to do if your mover goes dark on you after breaking an item.
Understanding Moving Insurance
For starters, you need to fully understand what is and isn’t covered by your moving company’s standard insurance during the moving process. This should be very clear on the Bill of Lading that your mover has you sign at multiple points throughout your move. The Bill of Lading also outlines the different insurance options available to you. The standard insurance that a mover will offer is $.60c per pound for any moving damages. The standard isnurance comes at no additional cost to you. This may be helpful if you need to replace a dresser, but if your Ipad screen cracks, only receiving about a dollar to replace it will do you no good.
You also have the option to purchase additional insurance through your moving company by having valuations done of all or just some of your higher value possessions which would give you more coverage if something were to break during your move. Unfortunately this option also costs you more money as you have to pay for additional overage. We also suggest looking into what your homeowner’s insurance or renter’s insurance may or may not cover if moving damages occur while moving.
What if Moving Damages Occur During My Move?
If something does break during your move, you can either accept the $.60c/pound for the item, or your moving company should work with you to come up with a solution that most benefits you. We personally believe that your mover should either repair a damaged item if possible, or replace that item if it is unable to be repaired.
If cosmetic damage occurs to your home, such as walls, floors or doorways, your moving company should arrange for these repairs as well. Any major damages should be handled through your insurance company.
How to Prevent Moving Damages
Sometimes things break and there was nothing that you could have done to prevent it. But there are some steps that you can take to prepare your movers prior to handling your items. If you have any items that are extremely high in value or need to be handled with extra special care due to being aged, make sure you express this to your mover and set these items aside. If you have small high-value items, take these in your car with you to your new home. You’ll feel safe knowing they never left your posession.
Inspect all of your items before moving day and take pictures if possible. This way you will know if something was already damaged prior to moving, such as a scratch on your dresser, of if it occurred during your move. When everything is moved in, go through and do a final inspection and open all boxes to ensure the condition of your items.
Hiring a professional moving company is the number 1 way to prevent moving damages. A reputable mover will handle your items with care and pad-wrap your furniture to prevent damages. Also, in the off-chance that something does go wrong, you know that you’ve chosen a a moving partner who will work with you to find a solution.
What if Your Mover Won’t Respond After Damaging Something?
If your mover has broken one of your items and you can’t get a response from the moving company to resolve the issue peacefully, you have a couple of additional resources to contact.
- The Better Business Bureau – Here you can file an official complaint and will be contacted by the organization.
- The American Moving & Storage Association – File an official complaint to this industry body.
Again, no moving company ever intends to create moving damages. It is a very difficult situation to have to deal with and much of it can be avoided by hiring a professional mover with a strong reputation and proper insurance. When it comes to moving, you truly pay for what you get. Saving a few bucks by hiring someone to help you move off of Craigslist could leave you in a nightmare situation.
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