Students and people undertaking small removals are very likely to want to pack themselves.
Whereas self packing will save money, it muddies the water as far as both insurers and removers are concerned. Spurious claims, poorly defined responsibility (e.g you packed it badly), and the high administative cost of 'adjusting' claims for small amounts, all mitigate against good value for the customer. Policies are so diluted by exclusion and excess clauses, that they are usually ineffective against breakages.
You should however, insure your property - against theft, and complete loss or destruction. Moreover you should take a policy independent of a removal company's cover (talk to a student insurance specialist). I will go further: If a remover insists you buy insurance from them find another company...
Why? - Consider this: if a removal company is acting as an agent for an insurer, he cannot allow his business to become a funnel for claims. the remover will himself look a bad risk and be uninsurable. Not only that, but the remover will be contractually obliged not to admit liability on behalf of the insurer (like in motor insurance). The removal company may thus be an impediment to your claim. That is not to say that removers are not themselves covered by their own insurance:- as a minimum they will have public liability cover.
Protect yourself with an independent policy in your name.
Your money will be well spent on proper packaging and packing. Most breakages are the result of a lack of, or inadequate preparation. If you take the all too common view that your mover should just pick an item up and load it on a van, you will become another statistic. When you have agreed a collection and delivery type of arrangement (rather than a packing service), then the mover will have no further responsibility beyond loading your property as it is presented to him.
So,to help start you thinking about packing for any move that you might be planning:- Here are a few common examples of shocking packing:
Kitchen crockery and glass piled up in an open avocado box - rattle shake and break!
Stereos and computers covered by bin liners – the worst of both worlds – not only are these items not protected, but the mover cannot see what is being handled.
Picture glass protected with bubble wrap – is protected from nothing. You must cover picture glass with cardboard like a flattened box
Clothes and bedding stuffed into a single and probably open bin bag – they invariably rip. If you must (and you will!), double up the bags and leave room to tie them up. Boxes are far better.
Books, paperwork and vinyl in large boxes that almost weigh as much as a piano – A 12 bottle wine box is the maximum size.
Pack boxes tidily so they close flat (with nothing poking out) for stacking. Keep the weight managable. Mark them clearly with your address and contact numbers. Package as much as you can and number the boxes so you (or the receiver) will be able to check that everything has arrived. Have a successful move!
www.student-movers-forum advises students and small movers on reducing their removal costs by facilitating load sharing
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