Decide what kind of protection you need
Start with the written options for your specific move. Valuation is not necessarily insurance: it sets how the mover may calculate responsibility if an item is lost or damaged. Insurance is issued under a policy with separate coverage terms, limits, deductibles, exclusions, and claim requirements. Ask the mover to identify every available valuation option, its cost, how compensation is calculated, and whether any deductible applies. If you have renters, homeowners, relocation, or third-party moving insurance, ask the insurer in writing whether belongings are covered in transit, during loading and unloading, or while stored. Do not assume two forms of protection cover the same events.
Compare protection levels by outcome
Evaluate each option based on what could happen after damage—not only what it costs before the move. • Minimum or released-value protection may limit liability according to shipment weight rather than an item’s replacement cost. Ask for the exact calculation and an example using one of your belongings. • Higher valuation protection may provide repair, replacement, or a cash settlement, subject to written limits and conditions. Confirm who chooses the remedy and how depreciation is handled. • Separate insurance may address risks or values beyond the mover’s liability, but policy language controls. Check the deductible, covered causes of loss, territorial limits, storage provisions, and coordination with the mover’s valuation. Request copies of the governing valuation documents or insurance policy before moving day. The right choice depends on the value and replaceability of your belongings, your tolerance for out-of-pocket loss, and the exclusions you accept.
Read exclusions and document valuable items
Look for exclusions or reduced liability involving owner-packed cartons, concealed damage, ordinary wear, mechanical or electrical malfunction, natural materials, jewelry, cash, documents, collections, and items not disclosed in advance. Terms vary, so treat this as a review list rather than a statement of what any particular mover covers. Create a dated, room-by-room inventory and photograph valuable belongings from several angles. Record serial numbers, model information, distinguishing marks, and pre-existing damage. Keep receipts, appraisals, and replacement-cost evidence where available. Ask whether items above a stated value must appear on a separate declaration and whether packing by the customer changes protection. For help organizing item details before requesting a price, use the moving inventory guide at /resources/moving-inventory-for-quotes/.
Protect your ability to make a claim
Before loading begins, review the mover’s inventory and condition notes. Correct omissions or inaccurate descriptions before signing, and retain the estimate, order or contract, valuation selection, bill of lading, inventory, photographs, receipts, and all correspondence. At delivery, inspect belongings when practical and note visible loss or damage on the delivery paperwork without overstating what you have not yet confirmed. Take photographs before moving or discarding damaged items. Follow the written notice method and filing deadline in the applicable documents; claim procedures and deadlines can differ by move type and policy. Ask who receives the claim, what evidence is required, whether damaged property must be available for inspection, and how settlement decisions can be challenged. When planning a Raleigh move, you can also review /resources/verify-north-carolina-moving-company/ for the appropriate state or federal verification path.