Moving house is exciting but, let's be honest, it's also chaotic. Between packing boxes, updating addresses and wrangling kids or pets, it's easy to overlook one important detail: protecting the things you love.
Many people assume their home insurance has them covered. But when your belongings are in storage, especially in the weeks or months between homes, a home policy may offer less protection than you expect.
That's why we put together this practical checklist to help you protect your belongings while they are in storage.
1. Inventory what you're storing
Before anything goes into storage, take a clear inventory. It helps you stay organised and keep track of what is where. It also matters for insurance: if you insure your goods with Goods in Storage insurance, keeping an accurate, itemised inventory is a condition of the policy.
Tip: Take photos or a short video of your items, and keep receipts and serial numbers for anything valuable. Keep these records somewhere other than the unit.
2. Choose the right storage facility
Not all storage facilities are the same. Look for one that:
- has CCTV surveillance and controlled access
- has individual unit locks or alarms
- is clean, dry and pest-controlled
Then check what, if anything, the facility's storage agreement says about your goods. Don't assume the facility's insurance covers what is inside your unit: it is generally there for the facility's own business.
If you plan to take out Goods in Storage insurance, check that the facility is SSIA approved. Cover is only available for goods stored at an SSIA approved facility.
3. Pack for storage, not just the trip
Good packing protects your goods on moving day and for the months they sit in storage. Use sturdy boxes or plastic tubs, packing paper and protective covers for furniture and fragile items. Label everything clearly and stack heavier boxes at the bottom.
Packing matters for insurance too. Damage caused by packing that is not good enough to withstand normal storage is not covered.
A climate-controlled unit is worth considering if you're storing electronics, photos or delicate fabrics. Damage from mould, mildew, insects or vermin is not covered, and neither is damage from extremes of temperature unless it is caused by an insured event. Packing well and checking your unit from time to time really do make a difference.
4. Don't rely on your home insurance
Home contents policies may reduce or stop cover once your belongings leave your house, or offer only limited, conditional protection while they are in storage. Check your policy, and if you're unsure, ask your home insurer in writing.
For a side-by-side comparison, read self storage insurance vs home insurance.
5. Know what storage cover does and doesn't do
SSIA arranges Goods in Storage insurance for household goods, personal effects and contents while they are stored at an SSIA approved self storage facility. Cover is for physical loss or damage directly caused by the insured events listed in the policy schedule: accidental damage, fire, lightning, impact, explosion, earthquake, tsunami, aircraft, riots and strikes, malicious damage, rainwater, storm or tempest, and theft following forcible entry. Your own policy schedule confirms your cover. You apply online, choose how much to insure your goods for, and choose how many months of cover you need, up to 12 months at a time.
It's just as important to know the limits, especially during a move:
- Goods on the move are not covered. Cover applies while your goods are inside your locked storage unit or secured area. It does not cover goods in transit, or while they are being loaded into or unloaded from your unit. Ask your removalist what cover applies on moving day.
- Flood is not covered, meaning water that has escaped from a river, creek, lake, dam, reservoir or canal. Rainwater is one of the insured events, but rainwater is not flood.
- Mould, mildew, insects and vermin are not covered, along with wear and tear and gradual deterioration.
- Some items can't be insured, including vehicles, fuel and chemicals, cash, perishables, and jewellery or artwork above set values.
This is a summary only. Read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) (PDF, opens in a new tab) and Target Market Determination (TMD) (PDF, opens in a new tab) before you decide.
6. Keep your policy details handy
Once you're insured, keep your policy schedule and documents somewhere easy to find. A folder labelled "Moving docs" in your email or on your phone works well. The PDS and your policy documents set out who to contact and what to do if something happens.
If something does go wrong, stop further damage where you can, report any theft to the police, and contact the Claims Department named in the PDS directly, as soon as you reasonably can. You do not need to contact SSIA first. Our guide to making a claim has their phone number and email.
7. Diarise your cover dates
Moves rarely go exactly to plan. Cover runs for the number of months you choose, up to a maximum of 12 months, so note when yours ends. Policies are not renewable: if you need to store for longer, take out a new policy for the extra time, starting from the date your first policy expires. You will be sent expiry emails in advance to help you plan. If you add or remove items, check that your sum insured still suits you, and contact SSIA if your cover needs to change.
The bottom line
Don't let insurance be the thing you forget. Make an inventory, pack for storage, check your facility is SSIA approved, and know what your cover does and doesn't include. Then you can focus on what really matters: settling into your new home.
