Firearms Appraisal for Insurance

[Zouave 13]

Does anyone have any recommendations for a firearms appraiser?  Got a new homeowners policy through Allstate and it only covers $1000 for firearms unless I purchase additional coverage.  To buy the additional coverage, I would just need to get my firearms appraised.  I live In the South NJ near Philly but I can travel a little bit or willing to pay for appraiser to come to me.  Appreciate any thoughts, thanks!

[JohnnyB 4,325]

How much do you trust your insurance company???  I would rather spend my money on a good video surveillance and burglary/fire alarm system than let some stranger go through my safe!

I have nothing to hide nor possess anything considered illegal in NJ but there is as of yet no mandatory registration here so why do so voluntarily with any agency???

[Golf battery 1,223]

Cant you get insurance through the nra for a collection inexpensively?

[owadj01 0]

Yeah, if your going to go out of your way to insure your firearms because you homeowners insurance company isn't going to replace your guns as part of your possessions, go with a someone who wants protection your guns. I have a small collection so the free $2500 coverage included with my NRA membership still covers all of my collection.

[PK90 3,570]

$50k thru NRA Armscare is about $70/mo.

 

Sent from an undisclosed location.

 

 

[MartyZ 692]

I have metlife for my homeowners insurance, the way they work is they have an umbrella coverage also, $50k for all my belongings, including furniture, appliances, etc... but that would require receipts.  They also have itemized coverage which is a little extra.  The difference with metlife is that they don't need appraisals for any individual item under $10k.  What I did was send them a list of all my firearms, with accessories and the price I think they are worth, they did not ask for any receipts or appraisals and they priced my coverage according to the costs I provided, I did the same for my wife's jewelry.  Maybe allstate will accept the original purchase receipts, if you still have them. 

 

As far as surveillance cameras that others have mentioned, they might help catch the thief but they won't stop him and they won't help you get your belongings back.  Also, how will surveillance cameras protect your investment in a fire or any other disaster?

[mipafox 438]

Go to a different insurance companies. Here are some:

 

http://collectinsure.com/

 

https://www.easterninsurance.com/insurance-quotes/personal-insurance/historic-firearms-insurance

 

I am not personally recommending any company. Ask around and you will find recommendations.

 

 

[njpilot 671]

This was recommended here a couple of years ago:

 

https://www.easterninsurance.com/insurance-quotes/personal-insurance/historic-firearms-insurance

[Zouave 13]

Appreciate the info folks, will have to look into this further.  I had thought the NRA insurance was way more expensive but it may not be that much more based on my carrier's quote, that's why I didn't look into them originally.  I'll have weigh my options.  Funny thing is that I did look at Metlife but they were charging more for both my auto and home (and I already have a life policy with them to boot) than what I was switching out of, even if I include that they are covering firearms...

 

Just to note, my biggest concern right now isn't loss due to theft but rather due to fire.  I live in a townhouse and mine is the middle unit of 8 in the building that I'm in.  Having had part of my first floor flooded last year because of my neighbor's pipe bursting and then seeing my friends stuff go up in smoke the year before when the apt he lived in burnt down because of a fire that started at the complete opposite end of the building, I'm unfortunately more concerned about my neighbors than thieves right now...

[45Doll 5,877]

I am close to getting a policy with Collectibles Insurance and have had a couple email exchanges with them. To wit, if you want they also cover all firearm related accessories (magazines, scopes etc.) AND ammunition. You just include the value of those items in your policy.

Depending on your attitude, ammunition may or may not be a trivial item subject to fire or flood.

[WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot 358]

+1 for Eastern Insurance.  Either way you go, I would give Jack a call there.  It helps to speak with an actual agent that specializes in firearms insurance whether you go with them or not.