A couple of things have got me thinking. Knieguy's pics of his bow collection, and a house fire near my mother's home yesterday. The house was a total loss. The poor guy was lucky to leave with the clothes on his back and his dog. Have any of you had to recover from a fire, flood, earthquake where you lost everything? Guns, bows, Other expensive stuff? I'm calling my insurance guy on Monday and have him do a check up on my coverage. What do you do for insurance?

Keep good insurance should be your first concern, then tending to your heating system on a yearly basis. Not much else. What caused the fire?

NYY- A general overview of coverage... Depending on the policy type your contents are covered up to a specified limit (80% of Dwelling coverage) if damaged by fire. There will be specific limits however on firearms, typically $1,000-2,000 total regardless of number of firearms. Again it depends on your policy and certain policies allow you to raise this firearm limit for a premium increase cost. Bows and archery equipment do not have a specific limit, depending on your policy you would be owed "actual cash value" (used value) or "replacement cost" (cost to have one made or purchased new off the shelf) depending on your coverage. It's best to contact your agent to discuss. Hope this helps.

My gun collection is scheduled separately through NRA Armscare. The bows, fishing equip, artwork on the wall and personal property are only covered by homeowners insurance. My wife's rings are scheduled separately also.

I don't like to take chances where my family is concerned. I have six smoke detectors in my house, three fire extinguishers, very good insurance, a fire resistant gun safe, my furnace and central air conditioner get yearly maintenance. I even have health insurance on my dogs. I need a fire resistant bow safe though.

Too further define what reddogge has done concerning "schedule" personal property.. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/scheduled-personal- property.asp

You can purchase a fireproof safe to put your goodies and paperwork in if the budget allows.

As a fire claim adjuster I can attest even a high end several thousand dollar safe will allow things to cook inside if you dont get the fire put out quickly.

I'll echo the suggestions to review coverage with your agent- it never ceases to amaze me how people do not adequately research what coverage they have and end up having unexpected gaps when something does happen. Don't be cheap- if you try to save yourself $50 a year by skimping you could end up costing yourself thousands when you have a loss.

I hate this subject. Insurance is a JOKE. The biggest scam going. Take the money that you would be GIVING to an insurance company in the form of premiums to insure your guns and put it in the BANK- in YOUR ACCOUNT. Then if something happens and you lost your valuables, you can replace your stuff to your satisfaction. I trust my insurance agent like I’d trust a diamondback. I’ve never lost anything in a disaster and I hope I never do- but I’m prepared iffn I do.

Also- I do this. I took pictures of guns, bows, rings, electronics, and the serial numbers of everything that had one. I made copies of ALL important documents. I then took all of that to my secured locker at work. Free safe deposit box- just in case.

I’m sure that some of you reading this are in or have been in the insurance business. Nothing personal. If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck.........:)

My dad had replacement value insurance on his car, and he dinged it (first time in like 70 year). Turns out the replacement cost was still just the cost to replace the vehicle as it was, even though that is what I would call actual cash value. So since the repair cost was more than the replacement cost. They hauled the car off (an old Camry in great condition)and cut him a check for like 4K. He hit the roof. He is super even tempered, but he started to sputter about thieves. Anyway, his agent managed to get the car back for him, they fixed the pooch, and he was happy. In his mind he was looking at 20-30 K for a new car when all he had done was dent the same car he already owned.

As it turns out. The insurance company was nearly right, because his old, but great looking Camry started to have unrelated trouble, and he probably would have been better off with the cash.

Before I got a safe, I lost $18000.00 in guns and bows. Got about 90% from insurance. Didn't get any sentimental value back :( :( Word to the wise, even if you have a safe. Copy all serial # down and a good description of the item!

I have often wondered myself what this might be like. Here's what I have come up for me.

If it ever happened to me it would be a tragedy and all I would really worry about is my dog if she wasn't with me.

As for the stuff its just that stuff! Many times I was going to take it out back and put in a pile and set fire to it.

It would be the end of an era for me and by Gods will that it might happen.

It could happen at any time too that much I do know.

It would force me to lay down my trophy's then wouldn't. As hard as that might be I would have to look at it as Gods will and an act of God at that point.

These very thoughts have crossed my mind many times over the years.

Anyway, the point is you can always call the insurance company and purchase some different language in the policy (coverage), they won't turn down your money. But since most people don't understand the current contract that may or not be of use.

A quick call to your consumer affairs department may straighten out some details for you as common loses like car accidents and fires are probably pretty well defined, in order to keep the courts out of as much of it as possible. It might also be worth talking to local gun guys to see if anyone has a local example of how something was handled.

FYI- White Falcon mentioned "sentimental value" above, unfortunately this is not written into any policy so it doesn't apply when considering cost of replacement.

As Charlie (CMF_3) mentioned above, I to have seen "fireproof" safes and or their contents lost in fires. Digital photos and thumb-drives are an inexpensive backup. Keep your thumb-drives with a relative or friend off site.

You will play heII getting your money if you don't have a detailed inventory. Best advice is to photo/video EVERYTHING. Have it on two flash drives at two different locations outside the home.

I may be wrong but I'm pretty sure most home fires are caused by electrical issues. & nothing personal to you insurance salesman but what a scam the state-government makes you have it you pay for many many years then you use it then your rates go up for useing it or even worse (happened to me) after fileing a claim for a roof problem on a home I lived in they would not insure a rental property because I actually used the insurance. so your not nessarely (in good hands)

Interesting timing for this thread as Wednesday will mark one year since we lost everything to a house fire.

As far as insurance goes, USAA was great to us. Soon as they saw the pics , they cut us a check for the policy amount. Pretty easy as nothing was left.

It's a humbling feeling standing there at 5:00 in the morning wearing all you possess.

Okie I’m sorry that happened to you. I can’t imagine how that must feel. I have a huge fireplace in my den and I’m half scared to use it cause I’ve seen so many chimney fires.

What okiebones said.

We had that experience in 2000. It is difficult to explain the affect that it can have.

Even though there was certainly a considerable loss in guns and archery equipment including some that can't be replaced ( a bow Jerry Hill made for me years ago, a couple of guns that belonged to my dad) the most heart wrenching losses were things like my sons Hot Wheels collection (he was 7 at the time) and family and personal items.

Bows, guns etc. are things that can be replaced.

Our insurance adjuster actually was very helpful and easy to work with.

We had the same insurance person for closing in on thirty years, now the one that replaced her (she retired) is a guy I've known for over ten years. I've had to deal with them on several occasions and they were 'on the spot' each time, even going out of their way once to help when we were in a car wreck in 2009. Both of our agents are local folks that have lived here all of their lives.

We had our agent walk through the house and take videos a few years ago. That said, I only have three guns and half a dozen bows, and none of them are expensive models. If you have insurance with people you don't trust, then you should start looking for someone you can.

Frank,

I had a blackpowder rifle my Uncle built after he came back from Korea in the 50's . That was gut wrenching. Of course, all my stuff was awful to lose. But that gun, man.

It's funny the things you kinda grieve after losing. My wife had bought this funny , small hotdog cart before we were married that was just so odd. Like the size of a microwave but colored and designed like a NYC cart. Heated and rotated them .

I was so sad that damn thing was lost and no idea why.

It's also interesting the things you lose in a fire and forget about until you need them. Like toenail clippers, nocking pliers, etc..

timex- "nothing personal to you insurance salesman but what a scam the state-government makes you have it"

Not sure I've heard of a state or gov agency requiring it unless of coarse they are lending you the money to purchase. This would only make sense since you co-own with them.

Simple remedy, pay off the house and don't carry coverage.

Not a salesman here but I do work in property claims but if you feel strongly against it...by all means don't carry it.

Yes Aaron, unless you have lived it you just don't get it.

As far as additional coverage's for specific items goes what I was quoted I considered to be outrageous.

Insurance was going to be 25% of new cost for replacement coverage on sporting goods. If you start going through your items you might be surprised at what replacement cost would be.

I consider myself to be a average collector/hobbyist/sportsman and I was looking at several thousand dollars a year for coverage. Basically REPURCHASING all of my covered goods with premiums every four years.

I am taking my chances with standard coverage's and this is coming from someone who's home has been hit by a tornado, burned by a fire and broke into three times. Good Day

okiebones- sorry for you and your family having to go through that, it's a very devastating event and I don't wish it on anyone.

My mother's garage burned on Christmas day 2017. He car caught fire as she entered the garage, it stalled, and she couldn't get it back out. The dogs ran off and eventually we got them back. It was freaking COLD out then! After the firemen left, I was able to get just the furnace going again to keep everything from freezing and breaking. The garage is attached to the house and there was some minor damage to the house as well. My brother and I did some of the work ourselves. The whole house was resided, new roof, all insulation, garage rebuilt, drywalled, electrical, etc. But they still aren't done, and the insurance company gives peanuts for all the belongings.

Servpro... the fire restoration folks? They're THEIVES. They charged for things they didn't do... including things WE did. Charged for 3 dumpster boxes when only one was used. I could go on. It was a nightmare.

And hey, good luck trying to remember what all was in there. Very stressful dealing with those rotten @$!#//& insurance bumms and they're contractors. The whole thing is a nightmare, very stressful and depressing. Just hope you never have to go through it.

I lost most of my archery stuff in a fire 4 YEARS AGO IF I REMEMBER RIGHT THERE WERE 23 RECURVES AND 11 LONGBOWS LUCKILY ONLY 4 RIFLES BUT A FRIEND OF MINE JUST LOST MOST OF HIS SYUFF IN THE FIRE IN PARADISE Ca

Insurance is an integral part of any 1st word economy. Without it you couldn't borrow money, which would reduce you to a serf in a feudal system unless you are one of the few that inherit enough to buy a good house and car when you are 18 years old.

There are uncontacted peoples living in the Amazon region, they dont have lawyers bankers or insurance carriers (or clothes). If that lifestyle appears to you then move down there. I'm afraid they still have politicians (village elders/cheif).

Don't get me started on Servpro. As a remodeling contractor, I've followed these guys up on flood/water damage jobs.

Don't get me wrong for others its a fragility but for me it wouldn't be a blessing and I don't care about the money or value or sentimental value or anything.

I know I say this now but just let it happen and I will be so upset and know it can't be replaced but when a man in life is ready to give up his stuff then its time.

Until then man will kill to protect the junk we have bagged ourselves.

This stuff defines who we are. As far as calling out companies its only subject to individual experiences and the workers out of the locations.

Who's fair? Who's fake news? And who's got tragedy and who's complaining and trying to protect what they have acquired?

What about the ones who inherited the wealth? Point is this is just stuff can anyone realize that?

If something like this happens look to God to take away the pain and sorrow and maybe when you rebuild you get better and what you should of had in the first place?

Just some thoughts. As long as no family or pets are hurt is all that matters really.

Insurance is a joke and you will get screwed unless as it was stated you have photos and itemized list and professional documentation assessments of their values. And we all know that cost to get that done and a lot of time getting it done .

Ryder's and the related make the agents money and a lot of agents are crocked. They jack up values to write big policies that only pay off on ACV. You need have everything fully documented. What if your documentations are in the place that burned up. That's a problem then isn't it.

Adjusters that directly work for the insurance carriers same thing their job is to pay you fairly but save their company's as well also.

This is not a win win situation its a lose lose and a hope and you don't know what to expect in such a anything gives adjustment.

You hire a public adjuster to protect you and he jacks the estimates up so he can cover your loss. All they do is be in it for themselves. Public adjusters take from you not the insurance company it's just how it works. Your not getting over on an insurance company and don't care how good the public adjuster says he is.

Its terrible so don't think your really covered because its very rare to get back whats lost its just not happening.

Just stuff that's why I will let it go because I don't have enough guts to burn it all myself in a pile out back. LOL

Most folks I know don't know exactly what coverage they have. Know exactly what you have, understand it completely and update it often.

Insurance is great but do as much as you can too live through the emergency! Every day now you here of bad fires and just yesterday a lady didn't make it out and four first responders injured. Please check those smoke detectors and if not sure your local fire station usually will check them for you.

If you're married, big life insurance FOR HER.

I am fighting with the insurance provider where my wife fell and shattered her arm bone. My neighbor is my insurance man, he knows that i am mad as a wet hen at anything insurance and is keeping his head low. He does his best to keep me updated and is very straight forward on how much pay out I would get in case of a disaster. We he found out the value of my guitars it kind of took his breathe away for a bit. "THAthathat is $28,000?" When we have possible tornadoes he calls and asks if I need help getting my guitars, art work and bows down the basement steps.

A friend of mine lost his house to a fire last Saturday. He was sleeping and his dog woke him up. the house was in a blaze. he had to dive through a window to keep from burning up. The glass cut him up but he didn't die in the fire. He had no insurance.

We had a fire in 2002, mostly heavy smoke damage. Had the firearms and bows put away from any damage luckily. Take a video or have dated pictures of your stuff at minimum for insurance purposes. Your ins. Person will tell you.

Look very closely to your policy at what is covered and what is not.

I contacted my insurance guy and learned that the following items are not covered.

Guns, of course not. Bows and archery gear, nope too much like a collection. Video and camera gear covered with a cap of $500. Hunting, fishing, and trapping gear is not covered because we have too much. Antiques not covered. Jewelry not covered unless appraised and added at a cost. Antiquities not covered. Boats, outboards, and equip. not covered. ATVs and side by side not covered for theft or fire. I knew no liability coverage.

Conveniently, they can sell separate policies to cover some of this stuff.

Where are you guys getting coverage?

Thanks and best wishes!

That is an odd policy.

For perspective, "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Mark8:36

Temporary things, are.

An insight I gave my children was that, toys break.

I believe if your a member of the NRA they provide some type of coverage for firearms. We had a fire in the early 80's and lost everything. We're lucky to get out with our lives. My dad was a member of the NRA and they replaced our guns.

Never lost anything in a fire but lost a lot of guns,a bow, an expensive guitar,all my wife's good jewelry,and other items to a burglary years ago. I won't mention the name of the insurance carrier we had at the time but they depreciated everything quite a bit. Especially the guns. For me, I hate insurance,but you have to have it. I've said for years that I think the " insurance industry has to be controlled crime, you pay big premiums and if you file claim they want to drop you like a bad habit".

ACTUALLY THE FACT THAT MOST PEOPLE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT COVERAGE THEY HAVE IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT.

Everyone needs to find out its very important and in most policies its the policy interpretation that the insurgence carriers have the upper hand.

If you say you trust your agent that might be your first mistake. Have another look at it to see if its such a good deal and your protected.

I never seen a poor agent?

Controlled crime you have no real idea that's another understatement. I have claims on truckers that pay big premiums where their policy is only ACV and the agent over sells them all the time. Its sicking to hear and see how they are taken advantage of and its the same on homeowners policy's and garage policies its just terrible. It really is buyer beware in all that we do.

Insurgence companies have insurgence on themselves to protect on large payouts. In a lot of cases when they show the state regulatory departments their expenditures at the end of the year the states allow them to increase the rates based on their loss paid outs.

Who suffers? US not them.

Everything needs to go into the swamp but we can't let any grass grow onto then so it can't be misinterpreted for the green deal. LOL

All this is just mans greed with the fleecing of America. That's why I say if I lost everything OK good bye it was nice while it lasted and be thankful for that. I can't take it with me.

my agent said document everything and take pictures. also if its considered a collection it must have its own policy.

We had a pretty extensive house fire in 09. As I'm standing in the back yard,drinking a warm beer I rescued from my basement, watching the fireman do thier thing, my fil said, "I hope you have good insurance." I honestly didn't even know if we had any, let alone good or not. Turns out, because of our agent, we had great insurance. I thanked that no good, stealing, lieing s.o.b. a hundred times. Cost the company over $170,000 total. Costs me about 800 a yr.

Luckily, no. Never had a calamity at home. I do heat with a wood stove hear in Maine ( about 5+ cords/year), and safety is a big concern that I take seriously.

My cheapest insurance is cleaning out the stove, and duct work/piping from the stove to the chimney ( and through pipe to chimney) the first weekend of each month of heating season. I clean the chimney annually.

I don't own any high dollar items, but the "toys" we do own add up. I'm thinning the herd for firearms. Realized I didn't need 4 357 revolvers, or 5 30-06 bolt action rifle and a bunch of other firearms. Just want to use the things I have more. Not punishing myself.

No chance of floods ( we live on a hill). Earthquakes, tornadoes, wildfires are non-events in Maine. Keeping my fingers crossed, and the woodstove/piping squeaky clean.

When we had the fire in 2002, State Farm covered the antique vanity and my Wife’s Grandmother’s four poster bed that was very old. Both pieces had charring and were repaired, and restored. They were covered under our homes full replacement policy.

I never have trusted insurance co they spend thousands to get out of paying . About three years ago i had a call in somerset pa the call was for a electrial damage in an electric heat strip furnace.the customer came home with the house smelling of hot electrial breakers and wire insulation melting he flipped the 100 main breaker no damage to the house other than the foul odor. in the house .the furnace was total loss it was app 15 years old . the customer called the insurance co they said get a tech to look the damage and see what caused the problem well the first two techs said the same thing i said the safteys of breakers did not trip causing the problem well that was not good accurate enough for them .so i took pictures sent them to my boss we sat down and wrote exctly word for word what happened which he felt was correct .Now he is an electrial engineer and a master electrian . we sent that to the customer he sent that to the insurance they paid nothing he paid my bill and the two other techs plus we put in a new furnace which he paid . they ripped him off big time in my opinion . he told the insurance co had i not come home sooner the whole house would have been gone there answer was well that did not happen

Guys, insurance was the easy part .

No idea what some are talking about.

I forgot to add this info.

It is wise to make sure about coverage on farm equipment, woodworking tools, mechanics tools, musical instruments, and anything that is collectible or a collection.

It seems best to get separate coverage for firearms and musical instruments.

And by all means, take photos, make lists, record serial numbers, and if possible take videos periodically.

My condolences to those who have lost a home and personal property.

I appreciate everyone's input!

@ Arrowflinger: I guess he also didn't have a smoke alarm when his dog woke him up??? Kitchen is supposed to have a smoke alarm and every bed room,too. When I see what little smoke makes my fire alarms go off, I should have enough time to get my ass out or try to get the fire out with a fire extinguisher. Most homes burn down due to electric fires.Shorts due to heat and cold and not good electrical connections. Chimney and furnace fires are quite unusual and only happen with very old and unmaintained equipment. Jumping through the window???? All bedromms must have code compliant means of egress. It makes sense to check if you can get your ass through without getting stuck. Normally the window should be big enough to slide or flip open to get your ass out. Anti burglary bars need to be secured in a way they can easily fliped out of the way from the inside. No insurance either? Oh well....

I absolutely HATE insurance companies. They are no better than Las Vegas. Actually worse, Vegas does have set rules.

You pay for a service and then they decide they don't want to provide the service you paid for AFTER the fact. Some tiny loophole they created, or change post sign up, so you don't get covered.

Oh, that is no longer covered. Oh, we cancelled you because you live in Timbuctoo, or any other of a myriad of mind numbing reasons.

It's legalized gambling with constant rule changes. Things they covered for years they suddenly, and silently, require a rider.

Look into getting a rider for guns, bows, jewelry etc... The rates are crazy. After you've paid exorbitant rates for a couple years are you really going to come out ahead IF something happens?

If I can live without it, I'm not paying for insurance.

My house was destroyed sometime around 1985, a complete loss. It's an awful feeling realizing that what you have on is about it. The house was built by my maternal Grandfather around 1920. I bought the house from my parents and grew up there. As bad as it sounds it's still just a house because both my kids were with me then and they were just fine. I remember whining about paying insurance for full replacement cost, BUT thank God that I did. Life goes on, you pick up the pieces and go on.30 years later kids are grown up with kids of their own The wife and I own a place of our own and life is good. My insurance agent and company were awesome. I understand that some feel like they are throwing their money away, however if catastrophe strikes it can save your bacon. The real disaster is those who don't have insurance. IMO

In another country, every home owner was required by law to have home insurance. This was provided through a well managed state program and the rates were reasonable and it covered almost everything you could imagine. There were some people who didn't want to pay and they sued. Ultimatively they won and the state program was terminated in favor of provate insurance companies. In the end, a few people were better off while paying less, the majority had to pay much higher premiums for the same or lesser protection, and there are a quite a few people who don't want to carry insurance, because they think they carry no risk. 3 years back, several areas of this state were hit by very uncommon natural disasters: Baseball size hail wich made virtually all houes of an entire village a total loss, heavy isolated rainfall which led to mud slide flooding never documented in this area before. A lot of people did have insurance and they rebuilt, some did not and lost everything. I bet a lot of people would want to go back to the old state run system which would have paid for the losses and was cheaper for almost everyone. If something is set up in a tight regulated framework, a state rund program can be more efficient, as it is run as a "non-fro profit" in comparison to private insurance companies...

Don't forget about depreciation's fellows insurance company's do put that in the policy's if you didn't go to Law school then you need to have an agent that can be trusted with your wife. LOL

Loss of House, Guns, Bows.

Yep, I've been married twice. Both times. Wasn't covered!

dgb

My home was partially destroyed in 2005, the best thing that could have have was to burn down and wouldn't have taken a sever loss from the insurance company. Had to take down 2/3 of the house.

My lawyer said the same thing, got pennies on the dollar. What your insurance policy say is different from what the adjuster will claim and then you have 2 years of arbitration and 3-4 years of litigation, 4-6 years of legal battle and that is plan in the ins. co. favor.

Best advice is to let it burn good before calling 911, just keep all your records and pictures of your valuables in a fire proof container.

The insurance company is not your friend, they are there to make money and nothing else and that was a quote from my adjuster.

There is a difference between getting insurance on things you need, house, car etc, versus things that are non-vital, jewelry, guns, bows, "toys." The rates also reveal that.

I think JJS is right i bet if he had known what he knows now thing would be different that is for sure .

I am a retired architect/ custom homebuilder, in one year I lost an 80% finished home to fire, a 90% finished home to a tornado, the roof of my motorhome to a low hanging limb on a county road, a totaled year old Jeep by my wife, and 3 vehicles damaged badly by hail, including my motorhome! All covered by 3 different Ins. Cos. All were very pleasant to deal w/ and paid off completely and quickly. Might be that choosing a reputable ins. co. is pretty important, not to mention buying insurance in the 1st place! Sorry for anyone's loss w/out ins.

My mom and her husband went w/out health, life, or home insurance for over 11 years! They were over 50 and very lucky. Most people aren't that lucky!

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