Making your valuation choice, by Eliza Freiday

You have lots of choices to make in your move. Whether to pack some or all of your household goods. What day to move. What to keep, what to sell, what to donate, what to store. And, that’s just the move – it doesn’t take into account all the other decisions about housing, schools, transportation, and so on that you’re deciding at the same time.

One decision you will have to make when you move is what kind of valuation coverage you want on your shipment. You have two main options: what we call released valuation and what is termed full value protection. Our packers and van operators are trained to prevent loss or damage, and our claims ratios are very low – among the best in our industry. Still, things can happen and it’s best to be prepared – just in case.

Released valuation is the option that is included in the transportation rates. Currently, coverage of $.60 per pound per article is included. What does that mean? For example, if you have a table that weighs 200 pounds, the maximum coverage for repair or replacement is $120.00 – that’s $.60 times 200 pounds. Many people want to have more coverage in case of damage or loss, so you have another option: full valuation protection. This level of coverage is set by you, the customer, based on what you know about your own belongings. You’re in the best position to know what your belongings are worth, and this options lets you decide. There are minimum coverage requirements, usually teh equivalent of $6.00 times the weight, and your estimator or move coordinator can explain this in detail.

You will have to sign for the type and level of coverage you want on the first day of your move, so give yourself time to think about what will work best for you. And, ask questions of your move coordinator – they have information that can help you compare options and be sure that you get the best fit.

The moral of the story: consider your options, think about your individual and family needs, and ask for more explanation if you need it.

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 3rd, 2008 at 2:18 am and is filed under Feature. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.