When hiring long distance movers, most customers assume their belongings are covered similarly to a homeowners insurance policy. That assumption can lead to costly surprises, according to a new guide from Olympia Moving & Storage, a Boston moving company. The guide explains how liability coverage actually works for interstate moves and what happens when an item arrives damaged.
At the center of the confusion is the difference between valuation and insurance. Moving companies are not insurers; they offer valuation, which is a predetermined level of liability. Federal rules require every interstate mover to offer two coverage levels: Released Value Protection and Full Value Protection. Released Value Protection comes at no additional cost but pays only 60 cents per pound per article. For example, a 25-pound television that cost $800 would settle at just $15 under this option. Full Value Protection, by contrast, obligates the mover to repair the item, replace it, or offer a cash settlement based on current market value. Customers typically choose between these two during the estimate, often in under five minutes and sometimes without a full explanation of what the difference means.
“Most customers assume they are covered the way their homeowners policy covers them, and that is not how this works,” said Piet Gauchat, president of Olympia Moving & Storage. “We would rather have the slightly awkward ten minute conversation during the estimate than a frustrating one after delivery.”
Once damage occurs, federal deadlines kick in. A customer has nine months from the delivery date to file a written claim. The mover then has 30 days to acknowledge the claim and 120 days to pay it, deny it, or offer a settlement. These deadlines protect customers who are aware of them, but many are not.
To reduce risk, Olympia documents the condition of items before they leave the home. Crews note existing wear on high-value pieces, photograph items, and flag what needs custom crating rather than a blanket and strap. For commercial projects run through Scope360, a single job might include lab equipment, medical devices, and IT infrastructure, so documentation is built into the plan from the first walkthrough.
The guide also advises customers to declare items of extraordinary value in writing and to report visible damage at delivery while the crew and paperwork are still available. Boxes packed by the customer are assessed differently than those packed by the crew, a point that catches many people off guard.
“Nobody wants to talk about damage before a move,” Gauchat said. “But the customer who understands the coverage they picked is the customer who never gets blindsided.”
For those seeking long distance movers, understanding these details can mean the difference between a smooth relocation and a financial headache. Olympia Moving & Storage handles long distance residential moves and commercial relocations across Boston, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Austin, and Tampa. The company is headquartered at 17 Bridge Street, Watertown, MA 02472.
