Don't Let Insurance Be the Last Thing You Update

Moving is a long checklist, and insurance is usually buried somewhere near the bottom. The problem is that a moving day is exactly when coverage gaps tend to surface. Here's a short list of what to handle, when, so you don't end up in a coverage gap during the most chaotic week of your year.

Two Weeks Before You Move

• Call your agent. Whether you're a homeowner or a renter, your current policy is tied to your current address. New address means a new quote, often a new carrier.
• Don't cancel your old policy yet. Schedule the cancellation to take effect the day your new policy starts. Even a one-day gap can be a problem if your mortgage lender notices.
• Schedule expensive items. Jewelry, art, electronics, or anything over your standard contents limit needs to be specifically listed. Add it before the moving truck rolls.

Moving Day Itself

One coverage gap most people don't expect: items in transit. A standard homeowner or renter policy covers your stuff while it's in your home. Once it's loaded onto a truck, coverage gets murky.

• If you're using a mover, ask whether they offer transit insurance. The default "released-value" coverage they include is usually $0.60 per pound, which won't cover a flat-screen TV.
• If you're moving yourself, your auto policy doesn't cover what you're transporting. Driving a U-Haul full of furniture? That's a coverage gap.

The First Week in the New Place

• Walk through with a video and document everything. This is the cleanest "before" record you'll ever have.
• Update your address with every carrier: home, auto, life, umbrella. Auto carriers especially price by ZIP code.
• If you bought a home, confirm your dwelling coverage matches the rebuild cost, not the purchase price. They're different numbers, and the difference matters at claim time.

One Common Mistake to Avoid

Renters who become homeowners often cancel their renter policy the day they close. Don't. If your old apartment lease runs another two weeks, you still need coverage for what's still there. Run them in parallel until the move is fully complete.

Need a hand sorting any of this out before a move? Call us at (281) 344-2557. Most pre-move reviews take 15 minutes.