How Can Moving Companies Use Valuation Coverage to Grow Revenue?

Supermove
Supermove
Last update:
March 21, 2024
5
min read
How moving companies can use valuation coverage
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72% of Americans surveyed said they expect a moving company to offer coverage to protect their belongings as an add-on. 
 Source: The Moving Experience Consumer Survey, 2024 - 2025

The majority of your customers want their belongings to be protected, especially when hiring a moving company. And the majority of moves end with all items intact and without damage. 

This presents a two-for-one opportunity by selling valuation coverage: 

  1. Grow your revenue per job
  2. Gain your customers’ trust and peace of mind

Moving companies provide valuation coverage as a safeguard to protect the value of customers’ belongings throughout the moving process, for a sense of reassurance during a very stressful time.

Here’s your quick guide on how to use valuation coverage to grow your moving company’s revenue and customers’ trust.

What is Valuation Coverage?

Valuation coverage is a safety net offered by moving companies to protect the value of customers' belongings in the event of loss or damage during a move. While it is not moving insurance, it shares some similarities. Basic Released Value Protection (RVP) is federally mandated in the U.S. and covers $0.60 per pound of belongings for free, while Full Value Protection (FVP) covers the actual cash value for a fee, typically around 1% of the declared value.

What Does Valuation Coverage Cover?

Basic Value Protection (also known as Released Value Protection) is provided at no extra cost, making movers liable for $0.60 per pound per item. On the other hand, Full Value Protection (FVP) is an additional cost but allows movers to compensate customers for the actual cash value of damaged items, whether through repairs, replacements, or cash settlements.

Here’s an example of how one item can be protected:

iPad Pro | Weight: 1.5 pounds | Retail Price: $1,099

Basic Value Protection: Compensation would be less than $1, significantly falling short of the actual replacement cost. 

         RVP: $0.60 X Pound

         Calculate for iPad Pro: $0.60 x 1.5 = $0.90

         Therefore, the compensation for the iPad Pro would be $0.90

Full Value Protection: Compensation would be for the declared value of the item by paying for repairs, replacement or providing a cash settlement.

         Declared Value of iPad Pro by Customer: $1000

         Therefore, the compensation under Valuation Coverage is $1000

Actual Value Protection: Compensation would be for the replacement value of the item for a used model.

         Replacement Value of a used iPad Pro: $899

         Therefore, the compensation under Valuation Coverage is $899

What Isn't Covered by Valuation Coverage?

Valuation coverage has limitations. It won't cover any loss or damages in the following scenarios:

  • Items or boxes packed by the customer
  • Perishable or dangerous items unknown to the movers
  • Unexpected weather events causing damage
  • Items of extraordinary value that have not been declared
  • Damage reported too long after the move 

This leaves gaps that customers should be aware of, especially if they anticipate any excluded items or incidents during their move.

The Difference Between Valuation Coverage and Insurance

Valuation coverage is not insurance. In fact, insurance involves a contractual agreement between the individual and an insurance company. Premiums are paid and the insurance company provides coverage up to the policy limit, often including protection against natural disasters.

Most importantly, moving companies cannot sell insurance. Only insurance companies or licensed agents have the authority to do so. 

How Can Valuation Coverage Grow Your Moving Company's Revenue?

Now that you understand valuation coverage, let's calculate the additional revenue you can generate every month by selling it to customers. You don't need to book more moves to make more money.

Calculate the Revenue Growth from Selling Valuation Coverage

Here is a very conservative model of how selling valuation coverage can earn you extra revenue every month. In order to make these calculations, we made some assumptions.

Conservative Assumptions Made:

  • Only half of your booked moving customers buy valuation coverage
  • The average declared value of your customers’ items is $3000
MONTHLY REVENUE MODEL FOR VALUATION COVERAGE SALES

How to Start Selling Valuation Coverage Today

Valuation coverage is an easy way for your moving company to add extra revenue for every job you book. The cherry on top is that you’re doing so by giving your customers peace of mind and more trust in the process and your services.

Many moving companies are able to start selling valuation coverage easily using their moving CRM and automation tools. Others will have to do this manually.

Use this example template to start selling valuation coverage.

  1. Please start by Making a Copy of this Valuation Coverage Template
  2. Once completed, please review the Example and Common Questions below
  3. Fill out the Inputs tab on your copied sheet
  4. Use this template to build out a form on your website or provide to your office team to use in calculating valuation coverage for every customer
  5. If you are a Supermove customer, email your sheet to Support at help@supermove.com and we will assist with generating your Coverage Table and sharing it for review prior to making it live in your account

Commonly Asked Questions About Valuation Coverage Template:

  1. What is Minimum Declared Value and Maximum Declared Value? 
    • Answer: This is the minimum and maximum value of goods the customer can declare
    • Example: The minimum value of goods the customer can select it $5000 and the maximum is $100,000
  2. What is Row Increment Amount?
    • Answer: This determines what increment the value of goods will increase by for coverage options
    • Example: Each row will increase by $5,000 for value of goods the customer can select. If they want something above $10,000 in coverage, the next option will be $15,000, then $20,000, and so on
  3. What is Name used for? 
    • Answer: Name will be used for the Coverage Table headers for each Valuation Option provided
    • Example: Inputting the name 'Full Value Protection - $250' resulted in the Header showing that title, and will also be what the customer sees as an option they can select for a level of coverage before inputting their value of goods
  4. Where is the Coverage Table?
    • Answer: We'll handle the creation of the Table! This template is intended to have you elect all desired inputs

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