How to Get the Right Insurance Coverage for Your Manitoba Move

No matter how carefully you choose a Manitoba moving company, accidents can always happen, causing your items to get damaged or lost. To protect yourself from major financial losses, make sure to select the right insurance coverage for your move and discuss your options with your Manitoba moving company.

First, speak with your homeowner’s insurance agent to find out if your household goods will be covered during the move. Typically, home insurance policies cover approximately 10 percent of the value of your goods, so you may find that you need to purchase additional coverage for peace of mind.

Types of Insurance Coverage

There are three basic types of moving insurance available in Manitoba, and they are basic liability, declared value protection, and extra care protection/customer transit protection. Basic liability insurance is usually included in the cost of your move. It typically covers 60 cents per pound, per item, no matter how much the items actually cost.

Declared value protection is a step up from basic liability coverage. It covers the replacement value of lost or damaged items, minus depreciation. The cost of declared value protection is usually calculated based on the declared weight or value of your shipment per pound.

Extra care protection/customer transit protection insurance is a type of insurance only available in Canada. The insurance company covers an item’s full replacement cost without taking depreciation into account. This type of insurance offers the highest level of protection. The cost of extra care protection/customer transit protection is usually calculated based on the declared value of your goods.

Assess the Value of Your Belongings

Create an inventory list of all of your items first, and give each important piece of furniture, electronic equipment, or appliance an approximate weight. Pack similar items together in the same boxes in categories such as kitchen supplies, clothes, and books. Write down the approximate weight of the boxes as well. Assign an approximate replacement value to each important item and box on your list. Replacement value is whatever it will cost your Manitoba moving company’s insurance provider to replace the item with something of similar quality. The item that is bought to replace a lost or damaged item must serve the exact same purpose.

Take photos or videos of all of your most valuable items. This includes items that have sentimental value. Having visual proof of your items will make it much easier to file a claim down the line.

Once you’re done creating an exhaustive inventory list and assigning replacement values and approximate weights to each box and item, crunch numbers to calculate the total weight and total value of your items. Having these calculations on hand will help you determine whether the insurance coverage that your Manitoba moving company offers is sufficient.

Meeting with Your Manitoba Mover

When you meet with your Manitoba mover, find out exactly how much coverage they offer, and make sure that the total estimated value of your possessions is accurate. In addition, find out how the process of submitting a claim to your Manitoba mover works.