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Pricing & Costs

What Insurance Covers During a Move

Key takeaways Goods in transit and public liability cover different risks. Owner-packed boxes are usually treated differently. Declare high-value items before the move, not after. Removals insurance is straightforward once you separate the two policies that matter and understand the handful of exclusions that catch people out. Goods in transit This covers your belongings while they are being handled and carried in the vehicle. Sandy Movers carries £50,000 goods in transit cover. It applies to loss or damage caused during the move itself, subject to the policy terms. Public liability This covers damage to property or injury to people arising from the work — a scuffed communal stairwell or a damaged door frame, for example. Our cover is £5 million, which is also the level most managed buildings ask to see before granting access. The exclusions worth knowing Boxes packed by you are generally covered for external damage, not internal breakage. Pre-existing damage and normal wear are not covered. Cash, jewellery, documents and similar high-value items should travel with you. Some fragile electronics need their original packaging to be covered fully. How to protect yourself properly Photograph valuable furniture and screens before the move. Tell your removals firm about anything unusually valuable in advance. Ask for professional packing on genuinely fragile items. Report any issue in writing within the notification window in your terms. Cover levels tell you what a firm is prepared to stand behind. Always ask to see the certificate, not just a claim on a website. If you are unsure whether a specific item is covered, ask before booking. It is a two-minute conversation that avoids a difficult one later.

Moving Tips

How to Plan a Stress-Free London Move

Key takeaways Start four weeks out and work backwards from moving day. Book your van and crew before you start packing. Confirm parking and access at both ends in writing. Most moving-day stress is not caused by lifting boxes. It is caused by decisions left until the last minute: no confirmed van size, no parking arranged, and no clear plan for who is doing what. A simple four-week run-up removes almost all of it. Four weeks before: get the facts down Walk each room and note the large items — wardrobes, sofas, appliances, anything that needs dismantling. This is the information a removals firm needs to quote accurately, and it is the difference between a fixed price that holds and a price that moves on the day. List every item that will not fit through a doorway assembled. Measure awkward pieces: corner sofas, super-king bases, American fridges. Note stairs, lifts and how far the van can realistically park from the door. Decide what is going to storage, charity or the tip before it gets packed. Three weeks before: book the move Fridays and month-ends go first in London, especially around tenancy changeovers. Booking early gives you the crew size you actually need rather than whatever is left. Confirm in writing what is included: dismantling, reassembly, blankets, floor protection and any waiting time. Two weeks before: pack in the right order Pack from the least-used space inwards — loft, spare room, garage, then living areas. Label by destination room, not by contents, and keep one box per room for the things you will need on the first night. A box labelled “kitchen — kettle, mugs, tea” is worth more on moving day than ten perfectly packed boxes labelled “misc”. One week before: access and parking Check whether either address needs a suspended bay or a permit. Many London boroughs need several working days notice, and a van parked 60 metres away adds real time to a move. If you are in a flat, book the lift and let the building manager know the window. Moving day: keep it simple Be there at the start to walk the crew through the property. Keep documents, keys, chargers and valuables in a bag you carry yourself. Do a final sweep of cupboards, loft and garden before the van leaves. Take meter readings and photos of the empty property. Done in that order, a London move is a long day rather than a hard one. If you would like a fixed price based on your own item list, our team can talk it through in a few minutes.

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