Valuation
When you hand over a valuable piece of art, an antique table, a custom sofa, or a collection of fine furnishings, you want to know it is being handled with care from the moment it leaves your Atlanta home or business. Classic Design Services is dedicated to providing the safest possible handling for your goods while they are in our care. For added peace of mind, we offer a valuation program designed to protect you in the unlikely event of loss or damage.
Valuation is not just paperwork. It establishes the amount Classic Design Services may be responsible for if something happens while your items are in our care and control. That makes choosing the right valuation especially important for Atlanta homeowners, designers, galleries, collectors, and businesses moving high-value or one-of-a-kind pieces.
Two Types of Valuation
For your convenience, we offer two types of valuation for transit and storage shipments.
Our basic valuation of $0.60 per pound per item is included in our rates. This option may be adequate for a variety of standard household or commercial items and may meet your needs without additional expense.
However, weight and actual value are not always closely related. A lightweight painting, rare antique, custom furnishing, or designer piece may be worth far more than its weight would suggest.
For those situations, we offer full valuation at a nominal fee based on the actual value of the item. Full valuation provides a higher level of protection and can help ensure that an item can be repaired or replaced if a covered loss occurs.
Why the Declared Value Matters
Selecting the correct valuation for your shipment is important because it establishes the limit of our liability for loss or damage to your goods.
If you choose full valuation, it is important to declare an accurate value. A declared value of less than 90% of the item’s actual value will result in proration of any settlement.
For example, if you are moving a valuable antique from Buckhead to Midtown, or storing fine art during a renovation in Sandy Springs, you should think carefully about what the item would cost to repair or replace. The right valuation gives everyone a clearer understanding of the item’s value before the move or storage period begins.
When Full Valuation Makes Sense
Full valuation is often worth considering for items that are difficult to replace or expensive to restore.
That may include:
- Fine art
- Antiques
- Custom furniture
- Designer furnishings
- High-value decorative objects
- Collectibles
- Specialty pieces with significant replacement costs
If you are unsure which option makes sense, your client services representative can help you review your shipment and explain the difference between basic and full valuation.
What Valuation Covers
Valuation covers loss or damage to your goods caused by Classic while the items are in our care and control.
That can include incidents that occur during transportation, handling, or storage when Classic Design Services is directly responsible for the item.
The goal is to provide a clear process for resolving covered losses as efficiently as possible. If damage can be repaired, Classic may choose to have the item restored rather than replace it entirely. If repair is not appropriate, replacement or settlement may be considered based on the circumstances and the applicable valuation.
What Valuation Does Not Cover
Some goods and conditions are excluded from valuation coverage.
Examples include:
- Unknown or concealed goods inside sealed containers
- Inherent vice, such as previous damage or natural weakness in an item
- Changes caused by atmospheric moisture, including some cracks in wood furniture
- Loss caused by third parties
- Acts of nature
- Terrorism
- War
- Other causes outside the control of Classic Design Services
Valuation also does not cover loss of value, loss of profit, or inconvenience.
For example, if a restored antique no longer has the same perceived market value after repair, that difference in value would not generally be covered under valuation. The focus is on the decorative or physical value of the item itself.
Repair, Replacement, or Settlement
As part of our dedication to customer satisfaction, we make every effort to ensure that client losses and inconvenience are minimized.
However, valuation does not obligate Classic Design Services to pay for replacement when an item can reasonably be restored. We reserve the right to repair, replace, or offer settlement at our discretion.
That distinction matters because many high-end furnishings, antiques, and decorative pieces can be repaired by skilled specialists. In those situations, restoration may be the most appropriate solution.
Valuation for Atlanta Moves and Storage
Valuation is especially relevant in Atlanta because many of our clients are moving or storing high-value items during major life transitions.
You may be remodeling a home in Brookhaven, relocating a business in Buckhead, staging a designer installation in Alpharetta, or storing art between exhibitions. In each case, the items involved may carry significant financial, personal, or artistic value.
Choosing the right valuation before the project begins gives you clarity and helps prevent misunderstandings later.
Frequently Asked Questions About Valuation
Valuation can feel confusing at first, especially if you have never had to choose coverage for a move or storage project. Here are a few common questions.
Talk With Classic Design Services
Additional information about valuation is provided in our terms of service, located on the back of our bill of lading. If you have questions about which valuation option is right for your Atlanta-area move or storage project, contact your Classic Design Services client services representative.
