Moving Insurance + How to safely transport a PC

Bengaboy

Bengaboy

Bengaboy

Soldato
Joined
1 Sep 2007
Posts
3,902
I know this might sound like a stupid question, but hopefully someone might be able to help.

I'm moving next week - the removals company is coming to pick everything up and take our gear to our next house. I would like to ensure the contents in case of damage or theft. We don't have anything major, probably about £8000 as an overestimate.

I see some home insurance providers covers moving home, but I will sort that when I am in the next house. So I just want moving home insurance for the time being, I might be being a biff - but I cannot find anything that offers that!

Also - just built a PC and have never really moved one around before. I have the case box with the Styrofoam that it came with that I was planning to use to make sure it is as safely packaged as possible. Anything else you guys would recommend doing to it?
 
I transport my case all the time just throw it in the back of the car but then I've seen some horror storiesm as long as it doesn't get ragged about and everything is screwed in sexure you shouls be fine
 
Jonnybmac said:
I transport my case all the time just throw it in the back of the car but then I've seen some horror storiesm as long as it doesn't get ragged about and everything is screwed in sexure you shouls be fine
Click to expand...

If I had the space in the car (we will be waiting for 2 days for our stuff to go to the next house - taking essentials and the dog, so space is a minimum...Wife wouldn't be too happy with me whacking in my PC!) then I wouldn't worry, just worried about the removals guys mistreating it.
 
Bengaboy said:
Also - just built a PC and have never really moved one around before. I have the case box with the Styrofoam that it came with that I was planning to use to make sure it is as safely packaged as possible. Anything else you guys would recommend doing to it?
Click to expand...

The biggest problem with a complete PC is anything heavy moving around inside it like a large graphics card or big cooler. In an ideal world, you would take these off and transport them separately. However no one (including myself) ever does this. Just make sure there's nothing loose in there (everything screwed down properly, no unfixed brackets, etc), and pack it into the box. Transport it on it's back, so that things like tower coolers are standing up, not hanging down where bumps and shocks will stress the mountings.

Monitors should be packed up and transported upright. Laying on their backs can put flex stress on them which can damage the panels. Ideally put them in their original boxes so that nothing can scratch the screens. Most everything else can just get put into a box.

Bengaboy said:
If I had the space in the car (we will be waiting for 2 days for our stuff to go to the next house - taking essentials and the dog, so space is a minimum...Wife wouldn't be too happy with me whacking in my PC!) then I wouldn't worry, just worried about the removals guys mistreating it.
Click to expand...

Make space or two trips. It's probably a grand of PC you're moving, a cooler breaking off could bang around and destroy every part of it. Don't trust it to a couple of blokes who are just shifting your boxes around.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Heavy graphics card flexing on a PCIe slot or a heavy cooler snapping off comes to mind... I'd either take the PC yourself or take these out beforehand.
 
Steampunk said:
Make space or two trips. It's probably a grand of PC you're moving, a cooler breaking off could bang around and destroy every part of it. Don't trust it to a couple of blokes who are just shifting your boxes around.
Click to expand...

I really can't make 2 trips - moving from London to Plymouth, it is going to be a nightmare as it is.

But the insurance would give me piece of mind anyway.
 
If you have a big card take it out and box it up. (And any other large expansion cards)
And the same with the CPU heat sink if it is large.

Make sure your cable management is good and there are no lose cables flapping about. If there is, tie them down or use some electrical tape to stop them moving.

Personally I would take out the hard drives and take them with me. So your data is secure and won't be damaged.

You already know the answer to the insurance, sort it out now as part of the standard house insurance. Even if you make some minor mistakes and have to alter the policy later the admin charge should be too high (check before you take out he policy). Don't rely on the removers insurance as that will generally only cover if they are negligent. And even the home insurance won't cover you unless you can show you have packed the items well.

If you can double box that would be even better, or just warp some bubble wrap around the 4 sides (not top or bottom) and tape it up. Don't cover any handles if the box has them.
 
Bengaboy said:
If I had the space in the car (we will be waiting for 2 days for our stuff to go to the next house - taking essentials and the dog, so space is a minimum...Wife wouldn't be too happy with me whacking in my PC!) then I wouldn't worry, just worried about the removals guys mistreating it.
Click to expand...

When we moved recently the wife insisted that my PC be transferred in our car. She appreciated the money that's gone into it and the care I take of it.
 
Bengaboy said:
I see some home insurance providers covers moving home, but I will sort that when I am in the next house.
Click to expand...

Why not just sort that out now?

Or alternatively just take the PC with you in the car - it shouldn't take up too much room and if the total value of your goods is only 8k then it sounds like it is one of your most valuable possessions.
 
Yeah when moving house, my PC is always in the car with me, in fact usually on the passenger seat with seat belt on.
 
Bengaboy said:
I might be being a biff - but I cannot find anything that offers that!
Click to expand...

The removals company would usually offer this. Did you ask? It won't be cheap, but short-term insurance never is. You might also find that the whoever insures the new property (you said you were doing that) is willing to cover the move into it. Although, again I suspect it might be pricey as they don't know you.

As for the computer, go with Steampunk's advice. I've moved my Corsair 800Ds a couple of times, including 180 miles oop North, and they were fine.
 
Your wife wont be happy? Oh no! I've always moved my PC myself, I couldn't even imagine letting some moron carry it and put it in the back of a moving van
 
Bengaboy said:
I really can't make 2 trips - moving from London to Plymouth, it is going to be a nightmare as it is.

But the insurance would give me piece of mind anyway.
Click to expand...

At least take any big cooler or graphics card out and pack them separately. That way if your case gets dropped or knocked, you've reduced the chance of something breaking off a chunk of your motherboard and banging around in there. Maybe hard drives too if they are mechanical (make sure you have backups).
 
Roar87 said:
Your wife wont be happy? Oh no! I've always moved my PC myself, I couldn't even imagine letting some moron carry it and put it in the back of a moving van
Click to expand...

Yup - won't be happy when I replace her with a pc in the front seat and tell her to make her own way 300 miles west!

To put it in perspective - I only have a fiesta. We have to take our essentials, including a 43kg Doberman. So space wise, we are a bit nackered.
 
Meridian said:
The removals company would usually offer this. Did you ask? It won't be cheap, but short-term insurance never is. You might also find that the whoever insures the new property (you said you were doing that) is willing to cover the move into it. Although, again I suspect it might be pricey as they don't know you.

As for the computer, go with Steampunk's advice. I've moved my Corsair 800Ds a couple of times, including 180 miles oop North, and they were fine.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately they don't - I will look at seeing if some companies will offer home insurance for the new home + moving, seems to be the best option from most people's responses. Never done this before, so I am in virgin territory!
 
Bengaboy said:
Yup - won't be happy when I replace her with a pc in the front seat and tell her to make her own way 300 miles west!

To put it in perspective - I only have a fiesta. We have to take our essentials, including a 43kg Doberman. So space wise, we are a bit nackered.
Click to expand...

I understand the space issue, but PC's are expensive and delicate, there's not much else that should get priority in the car with the 3 of you.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom