What To Consider When Moving House

Published with permission from Vero Insurance New Zealand.

Packing your life into boxes and moving house is exciting for many, but stressful for others.

There are so many things on your mind, and remembering insurance can be one of the last things on your checklist. Things often go wrong when moving house, so it’s important to make sure you’re covered if a precious family heirloom takes a nasty fall.

Three things you need to think about when you are getting ready to move:

1. Your contents might not be insured while you move

You may be surprised to know that standard home and contents policies don’t usually include much cover (if any) for contents while they are being permanently removed from your house and transported somewhere new.

Some insurers will include limited amounts of cover. If you’re paying for professional movers, ask whether they offer any insurance as part of the quote.

If you decide you need some more comprehensive insurance, you can usually purchase separate policies or cover extensions.

2. Let your insurer know your new address

So what happens with your insurance once the moving trucks have left, all the boxes are unpacked and you‘ve made your first cup of tea in your new home?

It’s important to remember your home and contents insurance cover is for a specific address. So when you move, make sure you contact your insurer to update your existing policy – otherwise you may not be covered.

You may find your insurer offers a short grace period while you’re moving.

3. There is limited insurance cover for contents in storage

If you find yourself downsizing, or you still need to sort through items you are bringing with you, if you’re putting some of your belongings into storage, make sure you check your insurance policy so you know how long your contents will be covered for.

In general, most home and contents policies won’t provide cover for any contents housed anywhere other than your address, so be sure to check with your insurer.

Don’t forget there are some insurance tasks you shouldn’t put off. If you’re not sure what cover you’ve got already, talk to your insurer.

If you need any help or want to add some insurance for your next move, have a chat with the team at Over Fifty Insurance. Visit the website here.

Article by Richard Godman