What to Know About Insurance When Moving Across the Country

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If you have a move planned from one state to another, then you might want to consider an insurance policy that can cover your belongings in case something is damaged in transit. However, there are a few tips to keep in mind if you’re looking into this kind of insurance as it’s not like a standard policy that you might have on your vehicle or your home.

When you are sure of the dates that you plan to move, you should contact your insurance agent to find out how to include insurance for at least a short time on your belongings until you’re in your new home.

Consulting your agent

Talk to your agent to see if your current home owner’s policy will cover a move across the country as some do provide at least minimal coverage. If your policy covers moving across the country, then you need to find out if your belongings are covered in a storage facility as well until you’re able to get your belongings from one location to another.

Find out if your insurance rate will increase by adding more coverage since there is more to protect instead of what was originally listed on your policy.

Looking for the right insurance

There are various places where you can look if you want moving insurance. Talk to the moving company to see if it’s covered or if any coverage is offered for your belongings. Most companies are required to carry a certain amount of insurance coverage unless it’s a smaller business that only moves items as a side job instead of one that is established in the city, state, or country.

Getting a full value insurance policy

Full value protection is an option that many moving companies offer and will usually replace all of your belongings if anything happens with the vehicle while moving from one state to another. If a full policy isn’t available, the moving company might offer a separate policy that you can purchase for a minimal amount.

If you don’t hire a moving company, then you might not need insurance if you choose not to cover the value of your belongings. However, if you don’t get insurance, then you would have to pay for the replacement of your possessions if something does happen to them.

If you rent a moving truck to drive yourself, then you can ask if the company that provides the truck has any kind of coverage for the items that are inside the vehicle. You can usually choose the insurance limits that you want, such as minimal coverage if you don’t want to stretch your budget too far.

Make a list of your items before moving

In the event that you or the moving driver is involved in an accident that results in the damage of your belongings, you need to file a claim as soon as possible. Consider making a list of the belongings that you’re moving before putting anything in a vehicle to give to your insurance company. If possible, take pictures of the incident as well as the items that were damaged.

Military Moving | Complete PCS Checklist for Your Relocation

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Frequent relocations are part of military life, and just one of the many sacrifices military families have to make for our country. Although interstate moving can be physically and emotionally stressful, there are ways to simplify your relocation to make it easier for the whole family. Here are ten tips to streamline your next military move.

1. Make A List Of Moving Tasks

Start by making a list of moving tasks, so nothing important is neglected. Crossing off items as you go will also give you a sense of accomplishment that can be very motivating.

2. Use Social Media To Sell Unwanted Items

Make extra cash fast by using social media to sell items you no longer use or want. Local buy, sell, and trade groups online are the easiest way to arrange sales.

3. Pack A Little Each Day

Cheap Movers Manhattan (cheapmoversmanhattan.com) suggests you start packing well in advance of your next move. If you pack just one box each day, you will at least have a head start.

4. Connect With Your New Community

Before you move, research your new community and find local groups on social media that you can join. This is a great way to make new connections and get excited about your new city.

5. Declutter and Donate

Simplify packing by decluttering and donating before you start loading boxes. Go through your wardrobe, give away toys your children have outgrown, and donate any belongings that you have been hanging on to just in case. Remember, unless items have true sentimental value, they can be easily replaced.

6. Minimize Media By Going Digital

Transfer the contents of CDs to your computer or hard drive. This will save you from having to box, move repeatedly, and unpack your music collection each time you need to relocate because of a military transfer.

7. Set Aside Important Items

Mover Junction suggests packing a box of important items that you put in an easy to locate a place in your vehicle. Include items you know you will need on the first day, like toilet paper, medications, and toiletries.

8. Stop Transporting Unwanted Mementos

If you keep moving old mementos from house to house but care more for the memories than the objects themselves, consider taking a picture of the object and then donating it. That way, you can keep the memories but no longer have as much clutter to pack.

9. Label Each Box By Contents And Room

Label each box with both its contents and the room. That way, when you go to unpack boxes, you will be able to prioritize or quickly locate items you need. This can be a major blessing when you are exhausted from yet another move.

10. Clean As You Pack

Instead of waiting until move out day to do all your cleaning, Mountain Moving advises to clean as you pack. Although you may have to wait to do the final deep cleaning tasks, you will still save time and energy on moving day if you do not have to clean up weeks of dirt, grime, or trash.

9 Genius Long Distance Moving Tips from Military Movers

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Moving is a big part of military life. The process may seem overwhelming, but these tips will help you make your move as easy and pain-free as possible.

1. Decide what kind of move you want

You can opt to have a do-it-yourself (DITY)/personally procured move or a government contract move, in which the military hires someone to move your things for you. Figure out which type works best for you because each requires different planning.

2. Prepare

As soon as your orders arrive, go to move.mil to start the PCS process.

Gather the following items:

  • Power of Attorney
  • Multiple copies of your orders
  • Personal identification records such as your social security card, birth certificate, and passport
  • Compile these items for yourself, your dependents, and your pets and keep them in a binder for easy access.

3. Understand move restrictions

Some companies won’t allow you to pack liquids. (This is almost always the case for OCONUS moves.) Get prohibited items out of the way before the movers arrive. Have a party to use and give away what you can’t take with you.

4. Document your valuables

Keep an accurate record of your possessions in case there are mishaps. Pay special attention to high-value items such as electronics, jewelry, or artwork. Try to keep these things with you. Take photos of the items, and keep a spreadsheet of the serial numbers and specifications. Should something go missing, you’ll have the information you need to file a claim. Try using a household inventory app to make tracking your belongings easier.

5. Get some Ziploc bags

Even though you may not be able to box things up yourself, you can still put smaller items into Ziploc bags. Seal things like flatware ahead of time so that they will be clean and ready to use at your new home.

6. Pack things you’re carrying with you in advance

Make sure that you have the uniform items, clothing, documents, medications, and toiletries that you’ll need when your household goods are in transit. Check to be sure that everything fits into the space you have before the movers leave.

7. Create an “Open First” box

You can request that movers pack certain items together. Include blankets, pillows, a shower curtain, towels, and any other things you might want to keep with you. Great Guys Moving suggests keeping these essential items in a separate place in your home so they don’t accidently get packed along with the rest of the shipment. You can drive these things yourself to your destination so you’ll have things to get you started in your new place.

8. Know your weight allowance

Military personnel is given a weight allowance based upon their rank and number of dependents. If you think your belongings weight too much, have a yard sale or make donations. Being over your limit is expensive.

9. Make it an adventure

Turn your move into a chance to experience new things. Make a bucket-list of activities you want to do in the days leading up to your move. Research your new home, and figure out where you want to explore first.

With a little planning, you can take the stress out of long distance relocation.

Military Moving Rules | Move Types and Entitlements for PCS

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People may think moving around and seeing different parts of the country is ideal, but for military families who move almost every two years, the process can have its pros and cons. On the one hand, these families get to travel around the country, and sometimes, even different parts of the world. They get to experience new cultures and meet different kinds of people. They get a lot more exposure than people who just stay in one place. On the other hand, moving from one place to another within a short span of time can be hard for some. Leaving behind friends and extended family can be tough on people. The process of having to make new friends and re-establish social relationships can be challenging. Moving your entire home from one part of the city to another can also be in a hassle in itself, and requires a lot of planning and manual work.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS)

PCS is the common term that is used in the military, which refers to the act of moving the base from one place to another. PCS stands for a permanent change of station and includes several times of moving options that one can opt for. People tend to choose different options based on their needs since different kinds of moves will require different necessities.

Do-It-Yourself (DITY) Moves

The first option that military families have is to opt for a DITY move, through which you move base yourself with the help of your family, and have the military reimburse you for all the expenses therein. The compensation is calculated by the military and reimbursed through a system which may sometimes seem complicated. Moreover, the compensation takes a longer time to reach the families, which is why they don’t commonly opt for this kind of move.

Hiring Military Movers

The second option that military families have is to let the military-hired packers do all the work of moving your things, for you. This is a more relaxed and easier option since you have professional movers to make your entire relocation a lot easier. More and more military families are choosing this option as it tends to be easier and does not involve any form of reimbursements that need to be given back to them.

Families choosing to opt for this can do so through the military website, or by contacting the concerned authorities that are in charge of PCS. There are several articles online that discuss each of these options in great detail, and also provide useful tips that one can implement to make a smoother move to their new home.

Hybrid Moves

A lot of military families also tend sometimes to choose a mix of both these options, making their move a lot more efficient. The families tend to move some of the things themselves, and leave the rest to the military hired packers. The amount that the military has to reimburse you is a lot less and proves to be more efficient since you will always have the things and necessities that you need on hand during the move.

 

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