I will be moving soon, but will be going back and forth between my current and new house for a month before moving day. Will my home insurance cover my belongings while they're at either place, as well as on moving day? --Ramblin' Rose

Dear Rose:

Generally, yes. Your homeowners insurance will cover your personal property while it's in transit to another location within Canada, but only for those "perils" (causes of loss) that are already covered - or "named" - in your policy.

For example, if the moving van was involved in a collision and some of your belongings were damaged as a result, they would be covered. That's because most standard home policies insure against loss or damage caused by collision or upset during transport. It would be a similar story if someone broke into the moving van and stole some of your belongings, because theft, too, is a named peril in standard home policies.

On the other hand, you may not be covered if the damage has no visible cause. Let's say, for instance, the moving van arrives and you discover, to your horror, your expensive crystal vase lying shattered in pieces in the box. Yet there is no evidence of a collision, upset, or vandalism. The vase would likely not be covered, just as items that simply go missing at your house, with no evidence of a break-in, aren't covered under standard home policies. So don't assume that, just because the policy says it covers goods in transit, your belongings will be insured against anything that could happen to them.

So what about the insurance that the moving company offers? If you have a broad-form (the intermediate level) or comprehensive (the broadest) homeowners policy, you're probably already protected against the same perils as the moving company's insurance would cover. However, the mover's insurance may carry a lower deductible (the portion of a claim that you have to pay); or, if you already have one or two recent claims on your home policy and don't want to risk adding another claim on your insurance record, you might want to opt for the mover's coverage.

Note to new homeowners: If you are moving from an apartment to a house, you likely had to provide the lending institution with proof of insurance for your new house before you could get your mortgage. However, that insurance covers only the building itself, not your personal property or liability. Make sure you convert that coverage to a homeowners package policy before settling into your new digs.

The bottom line: don't make a move until you've reviewed your insurance needs!