Moving to the Villages Heads-up - Property Insurance

[kb8tpw]

In the process of finishing up the business aspects of moving to The Villages after two weeks of unpacking boxes, hanging a picture or two, getting FL drivers licenses and things like that. I called my former home owners insurance company (METLIFE) as I incurred some moving damages. My moving company offered insurance but I called METLIFE and they said their actual value coverage would cover my personal property for the move, so I declined coverage from UNITED and elected the 60 cents a pound option which they are obligated to provide, only after ascertaining that I had coverage (I thought). Why pay twice for coverage I thought. Well, this morning when I called METLIFE I found out. They said that I was not covered for the move, regardless of what I had been told. While the damage was not monumental, it was substantial, and .60 cents a pound will not begin to cover the damages. I read the policy first, but not being a lawyer I called. So, my warning is to make sure you don't make the mistake I did and elect the additional coverage from your carrier, which I declined, in lieu of coverage from a homeowners policy. I happen to have auto and life insurance with METLIFE too, which I'll be finding a new company to provide after lunch. :swear::swear:

[K9-Lovers]

Thank you for describing your situation. We all learn something new every day. It's unfortunate that you couldn't trust what you were told by a MetLife employee.

[getdul981]

We have never moved that far and usually have done all the packing and unpacking and actually most of the hauling ourselves. It would seem to me that if you are paying someone to transport your belongings, then they would be responsible for any damage while they had your stuff. It should be included in the price. Like I said, I've never had to do this before, but it's good to know what to watch out for when we do move. Thanks for the heads up.

[NJblue]

Another issue is the deductible. We had insurance from the mover, but it had a $500 deductible. There was some damage, but nothing that I was willing to spend the first $500 to have repaired so essentially we will have to live with the damage.

[TrudyM]

We have never moved that far and usually have done all the packing and unpacking and actually most of the hauling ourselves. It would seem to me that if you are paying someone to transport your belongings, then they would be responsible for any damage while they had your stuff. It should be included in the price. Like I said, I've never had to do this before, but it's good to know what to watch out for when we do move. Thanks for the heads up.

Movers only cover .60 cents a pound for both damage and loss including due to their negligence. As traditional movers tag items and put your stuff in a truck and then someonelses behind it. (or in front of it if you are second) some of your things can (and do) go missing. (12 moves usually lost something usually my stepladder which they love to use as they load put in last and then obviously use elsewhere) Some movers will erect a wall across to separate your goods from someone elses for an additional fee. I will not regail you with the horror stories of the carless damage they cause. You should get the additional coverage, or accept that you are going to have up to 2 thousand damage or missing. Photograph all your furnature and electronics have the driver sign the photos and put the moving number on the item. Also be ware of the discription of the item on the inventory, I have seen them put the letters for rubbed and mared and nicked on things that are prisine. Make sure your additional insurance is value not weight measured. A painting may not weigh much but may have a high value increasing the insurance to $1.2 a lb doesn't change much. Another option is to get highvalue insurance on just the items you are concerned about. I do this for the 2 antique pieces I have and they usually crate them to protect themselves from a claim. GEt everything in writing the mover on your end may be great the one on the other end may not. and vise versa. Insist on a box and tag and list one day and a load another. They may try to talk you out of this but if they box, list and load all in the same day the crew is so big you can't watch them. Pay a friend to come and help watch them both load and unload to stop shoddy out of sight work.
Your homeowners policy covers theft, so some policies might cover if the whole mess went missing, but I doubt it.

Hope this helps