Insurance and WSIB

Insurance questions should be answered before moving day

“Are you insured?” is a useful first question, but it is not the whole conversation. Customers should also know which company is performing the move, what stage of transport it controls, what documentation applies, and whether a condo or commercial building needs a certificate before access is granted. Those details should be settled before a crew arrives at a loading dock.

Piano Inside maintains $2 million in standard business liability insurance and WSIB coverage for its operations. Documentation can be discussed when a building, institution or customer requires it. Coverage always remains subject to the actual policy terms, exclusions, limits and the facts of a particular incident; a webpage should not be read as replacing those documents.

Business liability and piano condition are different records

Business liability insurance, workplace coverage and the condition of the piano are related but not identical. A policy may address certain property or operational risks, while a pre-move condition record helps distinguish existing wear from an event during handling. Customers should disclose loose legs, cracked casters, detached trim, water damage and previous structural repairs before the move.

Photographs of the cabinet, legs, pedals and visible damage are especially useful for used-piano purchases where the owner at pickup is not the customer at delivery. Listing photos are not a substitute for route photos or a current condition review.

Bill of lading and written move details

A documented move should identify the parties, pickup and delivery locations, instrument, scheduled service and applicable transport terms. Read the document and raise questions before loading. If a third-party carrier, storage provider or freight forwarder takes possession later, identify exactly where Piano Inside's stage ends and the next company's responsibility begins.

For long-distance or export work, keep the freight booking, insurance arrangements and crating requirements with the move records. Crating or local delivery does not automatically mean the same company insures every later freight segment.

WSIB and building requirements

WSIB coverage concerns workplace injury obligations; it is not a substitute for cargo terms or property coverage. Condominiums, schools, retirement residences and commercial buildings may request both WSIB information and a certificate of insurance, often with specific names or deadlines. Send the building's instructions when requesting the quote so documents can be reviewed before the elevator booking expires.

Building approval does not confirm physical access. Freight-elevator dimensions, loading-dock hours, hallway turns and floor protection still need to be checked separately. Our Toronto piano moving guide lists the access information that should accompany an insurance request.

If damage is noticed

Do not continue repositioning or repairing the item before it is documented. Photograph the piano and surrounding area, note when the issue was first observed and contact the responsible company promptly. Preserve the move paperwork and avoid conclusions until existing condition, handling records and policy terms can be reviewed.

No responsible mover should promise that every reported issue is automatically covered or that every claim has the same outcome. The useful promise is a clear process: document the move, identify the responsible stage, preserve evidence and respond according to the applicable agreement and policy.

What to include with your quote request

Send the piano type, both addresses, stairs or elevator details, preferred date and any building insurance form or deadline. Mention whether the move involves storage, another carrier or a high-value instrument requiring additional discussion. We can then confirm the service scope and identify any documents that need attention before scheduling.