The most valuable possession that you own is probably your home. It’s also one of the most vulnerable. Weather accidents, floods and property mishaps can easily damage it. But it’s not just the outside structure of your home that’s so valuable. Your contents and possessions inside it also require unique coverage. In this article, we’ll help you learn more about insurance protection for your valuable items.
What Is Insurance for Your Valuable Items?
Most renters, condo and homeowners insurance policies will cover your personal property, including items like:
- Furniture
- Clothing
- Appliances
But your basic policy may have some restrictions when it comes to valuable items that are stolen. Jewelry, furs, silverware and firearms are covered for the named perils (such as fire, lightning, explosion, riot, vehicle or aircraft damage) in the policy up to the contents Coverage C limit except when it comes to theft. The basic policy only provides up to:
- $1,500 theft coverage for jewelry, watches or furs
- $2,500 for theft of firearms
- $2,500 for theft of silverware
In order to have more theft coverage, a different endorsement is needed. When you buy this extra coverage, you not only get more theft protection, you also get coverage for more causes of loss like breakage or mysterious disappearance.
You can cover valuable items like:
- Cameras
- China
- Crystal
- Computers
- Fine arts
- Firearms
- Furs
- Musical instruments
- Jewelry
- Silverware
Valuable items coverage also protects your property if it’s stolen, lost or damaged. For example, you’re washing your hands in the kitchen sink and the diamond in your wedding ring falls out and goes down the drain. You call a plumber but you’re unable to recover it. Valuable items insurance can help pay the cost to replace the diamond.
Or, perhaps you’re on a cruise and you’re taking photographs with your expensive digital camera. You accidentally drop the camera over the railing and it falls into the ocean. Valuable items coverage can help pay the cost to replace the camera.
You also don’t need to specifically list items that are covered. You’ll only need to provide documentation of ownership to make a claim for the lost, stolen or damaged item.