Personal Lines
Valuable Items Coverage
Jewelry, art, watches, collectibles, firearms. Your homeowners policy responds to a fraction of what they're worth.
When Your Homeowners Policy Isn't Enough
A standard homeowners policy includes personal property coverage, but it places sub-limits on categories of high-value items that often bear no relationship to what those items are actually worth. Jewelry is commonly capped at $1,500 to $2,500 for theft. Firearms may be limited to $2,500. Fine art, collectibles, silverware, and musical instruments all have their own sub-limits. If you own items in any of these categories whose value exceeds those caps, your homeowners policy won't come close to making you whole after a loss.
A scheduled personal property endorsement, sometimes called a floater or rider, adds coverage for specific items that are individually listed and appraised. Each item is covered for its agreed or appraised value, with no deductible in most cases, and coverage extends to accidental damage, mysterious disappearance, and loss anywhere in the world. Losing an engagement ring at the beach isn't covered under homeowners. A scheduled jewelry floater typically responds to exactly that scenario.
Getting the right coverage requires knowing what you have and what it's worth, and that value changes over time. A piece of jewelry purchased in 2010 may be worth two to three times that today. Art acquired over a lifetime may be dramatically undervalued relative to current market prices. Part of what we do in a valuable items review is identify what needs to be scheduled, what appraisals may be out of date, and where your existing homeowners coverage leaves gaps that could be painful at claim time.
Key Facts
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Homeowners sub-limits often $1,500 to $2,500 for jewelry theft
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Scheduled floater responds to the agreed value of each individual item
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No deductible on most scheduled items
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Responds to mysterious disappearance and accidental loss
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Worldwide coverage on most forms
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Appraisals needed for jewelry, art, and collectibles
Jewelry and Watches
Rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and fine watches scheduled individually at appraised value. Covered for theft, loss, and accidental damage with no deductible.
Fine Art and Paintings
Original paintings, prints, sculptures, and mixed media covered at agreed value. Water damage, fire, theft, and accidental breakage are all included on most forms.
Antiques and Collectibles
Rare books, coins, stamps, sports memorabilia, china, and other collectibles scheduled at documented market value. Don't rely on a homeowners policy that may not even define them.
Silverware and Gold Items
Sterling silver flatware, hollowware, gold serving pieces, and heirloom tableware covered for theft and loss at a level the homeowners silver sub-limit can't match.
Musical Instruments
Guitars, violins, pianos, and professional-grade instruments covered for accidental damage, theft, and loss at home and on the road. Ideal for professional and serious amateur musicians.
Cameras and Photography Equipment
Camera bodies, lenses, lighting, and related gear scheduled for their replacement value. Coverage follows you whether you're shooting locally or traveling internationally.
Firearms
Handguns, rifles, and shotguns scheduled for agreed value. A homeowners policy typically caps firearms at $2,500 total, which doesn't reflect the value of most collections.
Worldwide Coverage
Scheduled items follow you anywhere you go: traveling abroad, staying in a hotel, or at a relative's home. Loss anywhere in the world is covered, not just at your primary residence.
Mysterious Disappearance
If an item goes missing with no explanation, a scheduled floater typically responds to the loss. Your homeowners policy won't, because there's no evidence of theft or a covered peril.
What Flood Insurance Doesn't Cover
Knowing the exclusions helps you avoid surprises and structure your coverage correctly from the start.
Items not specifically scheduled
Unscheduled items are only covered under your homeowners personal property limits and sub-limits, which may be far below their actual value. Scheduling is the only way to guarantee agreed-value coverage.
Gradual deterioration or wear
A watch that stops working due to normal wear, a gemstone that loosens over years of use, or a painting that fades from sun exposure are maintenance issues, not insurable losses.
Intentional damage
Any loss caused intentionally by you or someone acting on your behalf is excluded. This includes situations where damage is staged to generate a claim.
Items whose value can't be documented
Without an appraisal, receipt, or documented valuation, it's difficult to establish agreed value. Items without documentation may be covered at actual cash value or disputed at claim time.
Breakage of fragile items on some policies
Accidental breakage of fragile items like porcelain or glass may be excluded depending on the policy form. We'll flag this during the review so you know exactly what you're buying.
Business-use items
Equipment or inventory used primarily for business purposes belongs under a commercial policy. A camera used professionally for a photography business isn't properly covered under a personal floater.
Schedule a Coverage Review
Let's look at what you own, what your current policy actually responds to, and where the gaps are. It takes less time than you'd think, and it matters a lot if something goes wrong.