If you choose to move with a professional, you'll need to fill in a declaration of value. What does it actually involve? When and how should it be completed? Why is it important to complete it carefully? Find out all you need to know about the declaration of value to understand the process and fill in your form correctly.
Why fill out a declaration of value? What is it for?
When you entrust your belongings to a professional mover, he or she is responsible for any loss or damage caused to your property during the move.
While our teams do their utmost to ensure that nothing happens, you know as well as we do that there is no such thing as zero risk. That's why our services include an insurance policy designed to compensate you if necessary.
The declaration of value therefore enables the remover to estimate the risk involved, and to offer you suitable cover. It also serves as a basis for calculating the amount of compensation to be paid in the event of damage.
What is a declaration of value? What does it look like?
In practical terms, a declaration of value is a document that lists your valuable possessions. The form provided free of charge by your mover is usually organized room by room (kitchen, living room, bedroom 1, bedroom 2, etc.). It presents a non-exhaustive list of the most commonly encountered items, which you can complete yourself.
A declaration of value must include :
- the unit value attributed to each good (or lot) for possible compensation;
- a total value corresponding to all the goods entrusted to the remover, including the cost of declared and unlisted items.
Who completes the declaration of value? Can the moving company be entrusted with this task?
The declaration of value must be completed by the customer. Although we are experts in removals, our consultants and teams are not competent to estimate the value of your personal effects.
You'll have to do this yourself. If you're having trouble estimating the price of antique furniture or objets d'art, don't hesitate to call in an auctioneer or an antique dealer.
When must the declaration of value be completed and sent?
The declaration of value must reach the mover at least 5 days before the move. Don't wait until the last moment to take care of it, especially as the guarantee you need may depend on it!
Depending on the value of your goods, we can offer you two levels of cover:
- FIRST basic warranty;
- optional MUST coverage, which is more advantageous if you have a lot of valuables.
How do I fill in the declaration of value? Our advice
Start by listing your possessions room by room. There's no need, however, to embark on an exhaustive inventory of every item: that would be very time-consuming, and we know that you'll already have a lot of administrative formalities to complete in preparation for the move.
We advise you to draw up a list of the most important items to be moved when you prepare the moving boxes. For clothes, crockery, books and CD/DVD items, don't hesitate to make up sets to make the task easier.
Estimate the value of your goods as accurately as possible
Once you've drawn up a list of your personal belongings, you need to assign an individual value to each item, based on its replacement value. If you still have them, you can refer to your purchase invoices.
Failing that, consult catalogs or the Internet for market prices. In the case of antiques, enlist the help of experts if necessary. Please note that sentimental value cannot be taken into account when estimating the price.
In particular, you must take into account furniture or objects exceeding a ceiling set by the mover, which must be indicated in the moving estimate or contract. This amount varies according to the moving company and the type of contract. Ask your moving consultant for more information.
How is the declaration of value used in the event of an incident during the move?
When you hire a professional mover, you benefit from insurance coverage that depends on the contract you sign. This is one of the major advantages of using a professional. However, certain risks may be excluded. In the event of damage, you must report it as soon as possible in order to receive compensation. The amount of compensation will be calculated on the basis of your declaration of value, hence its importance.
- Warranty exclusions
First of all, you should know that basic contractual liability (C.L.) insurance (FIRST) covers loss and damage only when the mover is considered responsible.
With a FIRST warranty, our liability can therefore be declined:
- in the event of force majeure, such as a natural disaster;
- in the presence of an inherent defect in the item, for example a pre-existing defect in an object such as a faulty leg on a piece of furniture, which could be the cause of the damage;
- or in a traffic accident caused by a third party.
On the other hand, the MUST guarantee includes damage insurance that takes into account cases of force majeure and covers damage to your furniture during the move, excluding inherent vice.
- Declaring loss and damage
If you notice any loss or damage when you receive your belongings and put them in place, and at the latest within 10 days of the move, you must notify us as soon as possible by registered mail.
The value of the property indicated in the declaration will be used to calculate compensation, after application of a rate of obsolescence that varies according to the type of object, its age and the cover taken out.
As you can see, the declaration of value is an essential formality to guarantee you fair compensation in the event of an incident during the move. You need to fill it in carefully and send it to us no later than 5 days before the move to be properly insured. To avoid forgetting to fill in your declaration of value in the last moments before D-day, we advise you to do so as soon as possible.