7 Ways to Protect Your Move
There are many ways to protect you and your family from fraud when moving. These include anything from paying for mover’s insurance to screening your movers. However, not everyone is as vigilant when hiring a moving company. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) says approximately 3,000 people file complaints about moving fraud yearly. Out of those complaints, 15% said their items were in a hostage situation because the movers refused to give them their belongings, 37% said they were overcharged, and 39% said their items were lost or stolen. Here are 7 pro tips to help prevent any of these situations from happening to you.
7 Ways to Protect Your Move
- Take the time to thoroughly screen your movers. Try to avoid hiring the first moving company you interview. They are going to be handling your most precious possessions throughout your move. You should make sure to find a trustworthy and reputable moving company you know is going to be on your side. In order to avoid moving scams, first check to see if the moving company is properly licensed. Every professional interstate moving company should have a license number which has been provided by the US Department of Transportation. You can use this site to verify your moving company’s license number and complaint history. If you are moving locally, your movers should still be insured by the state.
- Learn what is covered under valuations. The first thing you should realize is that valuation and mover’s insurance are not the same thing. Before you begin your move, make sure you do your research to find out what valuations cover and, more importantly, what they do not cover. Many people assume valuations will cover any damage items inside boxes. However, if you pack your own boxes, then that is a difficult claim against your movers. For more information check out Ero Moving of Milwaukee on Moving Insurance.
- Consider moving insurance. No matter the level of liability, you should always thing about adding mover’s insurance. Valuations are so limited in what they cover you know from the get-go you will not receive full compensation for items that are lost or damaged. This is especially true for people who are moving more expensive items or family heirlooms. If you are having to store your items in between moves, you should also keep in mind that mover’s insurance covers you up to 90 days while in storage.
7 Ways to Protect Your Move Continued
4) Always check your homeowner’s insurance. Always check to see what is covered under your homeowner’s insurance. Most times household items are only covered when they are under your roof. This means they are not covered while in transit. This is where the added benefit of mover’s insurance comes into play. It is as close as you can get to full compensation in case anything happens during your move. Sometimes, even natural disasters are covered, but that depends on which policy you chose.
5) Take before and after photos. One of the best precautions you can take with moving, is taking photos of your inventory. This will help provide photographic evidence if you have to file a claim. This also helps to make your case more plausible and holds movers accountable for their actions.
6) Watch for red flags. When you are hiring a moving company, there are several red flags to keep an eye out for. Some of these include, but are not limited to:
- The movers tell you the charges after loading
- The movers don’t agree to do an on-site inspection
- The movers demand cash or significant deposit upfront
- The mover does not give you a copy of Your Rights and Responsibilities
- The mover says everything is covered under their insurance
- The mover does not have a local address, phone number or logo on truck
7) Pack carefully. The best way to ensure every item makes it to your new abode safe and sound is to pack properly. If everything is packaged in a box the correct way, things will be less likely to break throughout transportation.
