Insurance Coverage

This is the most common reason for having a professional appraisal executed. One’s collections of art, antiques and other personal property are not only an emotional part of one’s life but can also amount to a fairly sizable financial investment. For this reason, it is important to have this investment protected against damage or loss.

Most standard homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover breakable items such as personal property, and are really designed more to protect the home and the household good (appliances, furniture and the like). It is important, if your personal property is of substantial enough value, to have a rider or other type of insurance policy written to cover those items as well.

It is also important that you cover the items fully. Many times the replacement values of an item change over time, and it is not prudent to simply cover your items at the amount at which they were purchased. An appraiser should provide reports for retail replacement value every few years to property track what you would have to spend in order to replace your items in the event of a loss. Having the insight into market changes and current retail prices, and the tools with which to appropriately analyze those changes, makes a professional appraiser invaluable when arranging for insurance coverage.