Margaret Huntley Last Updated On: June 27, 2023

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Everything You Need to Know About Your Homeowner’s Insurance Before a Move

Homeowner’s Insurance

Homeowner’s Insurance

As you likely know, your homeowner’s insurance covers not just the house you live in, but your belongings as well. The section of your policy that extends coverage to personal belongings is called contents insurance or personal property insurance. The neat part is, your belongings do not necessarily have to be within your home to be covered by homeowner’s insurance, which is how you can be protected during a move. 

Another important detail is that your homeowner’s insurance policy is connected to you, not to the house you live in. This means that when you move to a new home, you simply adjust your existing policy instead of purchasing a new one. This is particularly beneficial because there is no potential gap between your coverage as you move your belongings from one place to another. 

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Moving Coverage Under Homeowner’s Policy

When moving, your belongings are not going to be covered in every single circumstance. Just like if damage or loss occurs within your home, the event is only covered if it was a covered peril. All that this means is that the damage or loss was caused by an event specifically named in your policy. 

Most standard homeowner’s insurance policies have the following covered perils: 

  • Windstorm or hail
  • Fire, lightning, or smoke damage
  • Explosions
  • Riots
  • Damage caused by aircraft or vehicles
  • Vandalism
  • Theft
  • Falling objects
  • Weight of ice, snow, or sleet
  • Accidental discharge or overflow of water or steam from within a plumbing, heating, air conditioning or automatic fire-protective sprinkler system or from a household appliance
  • Sudden and accidental tearing apart, cracking, burning, or bulging of a steam or hot water heating system or an air conditioning or automatic fire-protective system
  • Freezing of a plumbing, heating, air conditioning or automatic, fire-protective sprinkler system, or of a household appliance
  • Sudden and accidental damage from artificially generated electrical current

Be sure to check in with your insurance company for details on the specifically covered perils within your individual policy. 

If any of these covered perils occur to your belongings while moving, then you are covered. For example, if the moving truck gets into an accident, you will be covered because “damage caused by aircraft or vehicles” is covered under your home policy. But if your fine china was not properly wrapped and breaks during the bumpy drive, that is not covered. 

Limitations on Homeowner’s Insurance

Any limitations or conditions present in your homeowner’s policy apply while you are moving. The deductible (the amount you pay out of pocket before insurance kicks in) remains the same, as do the limits on specific items.  

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Moving Company Insurance

Your homeowner’s insurance applies regardless of whether you choose to transport your belongings yourself or go through a moving company.  Some moving companies offer additional coverage for your belongings while in their care. If you decide to use a moving company, it’s advised you ask the following questions:
  • Will I be covered if my belongings are damaged or stolen while in the mover’s possession?
  • Is there additional insurance coverage available for my purchase?
  • What is the deductible if all of my belongings are lost or destroyed?
  • Which types of damages do you cover, and which types do you not?

How to Prepare Insurance for a Move

When it comes to moving, there’s an awful lot of preparation involved. This preparation should involve speaking to your insurance provider one or two months in advance of your move. This way you can go over the specifics of your homeowner’s policy, change your address, and discuss any other potential changes to your policy. 

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Margaret Huntley Margaret Huntley is a creative writing and philosophy student at Western University. She has been working as a freelance writer for over two years and has written about everything from insurance, to poker, to health and wellness for international businesses.


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