Why Valuable Item Insurance Is Important

Homeowner insurance coverage protects more than just your house. Valuable item insurance included in your policy can be used to insure your valuables such as jewelry, art, prized collections or antiques that can mean just as much to you as the home itself. When you are ready to purchase home insurance coverage, make sure it covers your valuables as well as your home!

Limits on Valuable Item Insurance

If you own a home or you are renting a home or apartment then things such as furs, jewelry, silver, gun or coin collections or antiques, can be covered on your homeowners insurance policy to protect against damage or theft. However, you need to realize that your home contents coverage only protects you up to a limit. If your valuables are worth more than the policy limits, you might find yourself out of luck on replacing them in the event of a loss. Make sure you read your homeowners insurance policy thoroughly for any valuable item insurance limits that you are subject to. Some common dollar limits for valuable items are:

• Jewelry and furs – $2,500
• Silverware and money – $250
• Guns-$2,500
• Coins, stamps, passports, bank notes, tickets- $1,000

These items are subject to your homeowners deductible, and are also subject to any exclusion set forth in your home insurance coverage. Consider the following two examples to see when your policy coverage can come up short, and when it won’t cover you at all:

• EXAMPLE 1: Let’s take your diamond engagement ring which is appraised at being worth $7,500. According to our list above, your homeowners insurance policy would cover up to $2,500, which is subject to your $1000 deductible. Therefore, if your ring was stolen (Theft being a covered cause of loss) you would get $1500. Not much for a ring worth $7500!
• EXAMPLE 2:You notice the diamond in your engagement ring is missing, however, you may find that your valuable item’s insurance policy won’t cover you at all. Consider what happened to the ring: Did it go down the drain? Was it baked in the meatloaf that you just popped in the oven? Or did you lose it at work or on the way home from work? Who knows? This is known as mysterious disappearance and it is not a covered loss under your homeowners policy, meaning your claim to replace the cost of the ring would be denied.

TIP: Know your policy limits before hand, and increase them if you feel like they are too low. You will have to pay more to the insurance company, but it may be worth it to protect your valuables.

Benefits of a Valuable Item Insurance Rider

If any of your valuable items are worth more than the list outlined above, you need a valuable item home insurance rider added to your homeowner’s insurance policy. Sometimes called a Personal Article Floater or Jewelry Floater, these valuable item insurance riders provides the added insurance coverage for the most valuable items that are inside your home. There are three major benefits of a valuable item insurance rider.

• A Valuable Item Insurance rider allows you to schedule your valuable items for their actual value.
• A Valuable Item Insurance rider gives coverage for all-risk.
• Normally, items are covered without incurring a deductible.

This is a huge benefit! Depending on the value of your items, these riders can be very economical , costing on average around $200 a year. The rider would list each item specifically with a description and value. An up to date and formal appraisal may be requested to verify its insured value. It is generally your choice whether to replace the item if it is a total loss or to simply take the money. There are many variations to a personal article floater or valuable item insurance rider. Therefore, make sure you understand the rider you purchase.

TIP: Make sure you periodically updated the value of your scheduled items by providing the insurance company with an updated appraisal of the item every 3 years or so. This will ensure you receive the true value of the item in the event you have to make a claim.

When you are ready to purchase a homeowner’s insurance policy, consider whether or not it is worth it to include your valuable items and antiques in your insurance protection. To get a quote on adding a valuable item insurance rider to your home insurance coverage, click here and take advantage of the Free Advice quote center today!

Case Studies: Understanding the Importance of Valuable Item Insurance

Case Study 1: Limits on Valuable Item Insurance

Alice owns a beautiful collection of antique jewelry that holds significant sentimental and monetary value. However, when her house was burglarized, she discovered that her homeowners insurance policy had a dollar limit for valuable items, which fell short of covering the full value of her jewelry collection. As a result, Alice was unable to replace her precious pieces and suffered a considerable loss.

Case Study 2: The Benefits of a Valuable Item Insurance Rider

John, an art enthusiast, owned several valuable art pieces that exceeded the dollar limits set by his homeowners insurance policy. Recognizing the need for additional coverage, he opted to add a valuable item insurance rider to his policy. When a fire damaged one of his prized paintings, John’s valuable item insurance rider provided the necessary coverage to restore or replace the artwork, saving him from a significant financial burden.

Case Study 3: Periodic Updating of Valuable Item Insurance

Sophia had a valuable item insurance rider that covered her extensive coin collection. Over the years, the value of her collection appreciated significantly. To ensure she received adequate coverage, Sophia periodically updated the value of her scheduled items by providing the insurance company with updated appraisals. When her collection was damaged in a flood, Sophia received compensation based on the current value of her coins, allowing her to recover the true worth of her collection.