Why you might want added protection for your Chesapeake move

If there is one process in the world where Murphy’s Law really applies it would have to be moving. There are just so many things that could go wrong no matter how well you plan it and how well it is executed. Hiring a professional Chesapeake moving company will certainly go a long way towards improving your chances of having a safe, incident free move. Still, with a process that has so many variables there are so many ways to raise the stakes. The distance of a move, the weight of your belongings, the quality of the roads that will need to be passed, the value of your belonging, and even the weather on moving day. With so many unknowns which could potentially ruin your move, it is wise to get some added insurance when moving.

If you are worried about the expense of insurance, then the first thing you need to know is exactly how much protection you are entitled to by default. Released valuation is the protection that Chesapeake moving companies are required to provide free of charge. While it may be comforting to know that such a thing is required, the actual terms of the protection are far from reassuring. You would be surprised at how little you will actually receive should something get broken or lost.

Under released valuation, a mover will weigh each of your items to be moved and document this information on the bill of lading. Each item is protected at a rate of 30 or 60 cents per pound, depending on the distance of the move. This means that if the movers lose and item that weighs 40 pounds, the moving company will pay $8.00 for it. That would be bad enough for a worthless rusty old file cabinet, as there would be no way so get a new one for $8, but it would be unthinkable if the item in question was a 32 inch LCD TV, which weighs about the same.

Fortunately Chesapeake movers now offer something called full value protection. This comes with an additional charge. It isn’t as comprehensive as a full replacement insurance package which you can get from a third party insurance company but it substantially better coverage than released valuation. Under full value protection, your shipment is protected at a rate of $4 per pound, but that is the least of its benefits.

Under both types of coverage, the value of the total shipment is reckoned for by pound. However, under replacement valuation, the value of the whole shipment becomes just a ceiling. It works like this: if your shipment weighs 1,000 pounds, then your ceiling is 1,000 pounds multiplied by $4, or $4000. That means that for every item lost or damaged the movers you hire will pay you the full amount you will need to replace the item or items but only up to $4,000. So if you lose a flat screen TV under this setup, you will be given enough money to buy a new one, or if your TV cost more than $4000, you will receive the maximum of $4000.

For most households, the weight of the shipment will generate a value probably greater than the replacement value of all the pricier stuff put together. So in most cases, this is probably the best option. Ask your Chesapeake movers about it before making your move.