Are your machines insured
 

Reading on another site about a woman whose sewing room caught on fire and she lost her Husqvarna Diamond machine. Fire was started by defective power strip. Evidently it was caught early and the sewing room was the only damaged room in the home. She had insurance on her machine and it was covered.
Got me to thinking about my machines, which to replace just them with new would cost close to if not over $20,000. Not being eager to contact my homeowners policy to inquire about an add on rider, wondered what if anything any of you have done to insure your machines. Let's not even get into the furniture, stash, and all accompanying notions, patterns, and other necessities we need.
Just curious if anyone else had a sewing room disaster or any kind of disaster where your homeowners insurance paid for the specific loss of these things.
Murphy

Knock on wood---no experience, no special insurance, not even for the quilts and tops, but now you have me scared.

My friend's house was hit by a power outage one year due to heavy rain storms. Her insurance covered her machine. This was like 3 years ago that this happened if I not mistaken.

I guess I'm insurance dumb, but doesn't a general homeowner's policy cover up to a certain $ amount of personal property in the home?

I’ve had some of my quilts appraised, but not added a special rider onto my homeowner’s policy. Some insurers suggest taking a video walk through of your house showing the contents. If you’ve got expensive machines like a longarm, embroidery or high end domestic machine you might want to look into adding additional coverage. Also get any special quilts appraised and keep the appraisal in a fire safe location.

When my new LA machine showed up earlier this year, the first thing I did was called my insurance company to make sure my homeowners policy covered my sewing machines...and yes, I’m safe but hope I never need to use it.

I don't have any machine worth more then my deductible which is $5000. My stash is covered under contents for fire, water, theft, etc. Insurance has changed a lot over the last years. We customized our policy to cover exactly what and for how much. Agents differ too. Two agents from the same company told us two different things. We bought our policy from a broker not an agent of the insurance company.

My machines are covered under contents. Be sure to list the model and serial numbers of your machines. I keep lists of machine feet, rulers, stabilizers and thread inventories. Embroidery designs are kept on master excel sheets by vendors.

I'm not sure why you wouldn't just contact your agent and talk to him/her. That's what they are there for. It's always a good idea to have any big ticket items listed and insured separately. However, be aware that just having them insured doesn't meant you will get the enough to replace the machine unless you have them insured for replacement value.

Rob's advice is exactly what I was told by an estate appraiser. Have pictures and documentation on anything big items. There is a cap on what your can receive for the contents of your home. It sounds like a lot of money when you are reading the policy, but if you had to start replacing everything in your home that $50,000 isn't going to go that far.

Mine would be covered under our homeowners and our policy covers replacement value on everything. I don't own anything that would require a rider, wouldn't replace even half of what I have if it came to that. We have a 5K deductible.

dittto ditto and dittooooooooo to CashsMom!

Insurance policies vary far and wide and one should never hesitate speaking with their agent to check about coverage. goes for all types of insurance ... auto, home, contents, health, etc.

Just because a friend (or another quilter! :)) says it is covered or not, it is most important to know from your agent as to what your coverage specifically is. Likewise the deductibles.

I have a good relationship with my agent, and never hesitate picking up the phone and asking a "what if". Sometimes it may be based on what I have heard others say about their insurance. Sometimes it might be just me thinking after a discussion started IRL or virtually, as on this thread.

We did have this discussion about my sewing room a few years ago .... and made the adjustments.
Everyone should!

My machines are covered and I have appraisals kept in the safe. My studio contents are documented and covered. I tend to keep good records for tax purposes so have receipts and an up to date inventory

I don't have insurance but it seems to be a good idea. I think a person would need a picture and estimated cost of the contents of the sewing room for their policy. Just my thoughts.

You often will. I have jewelry and some antiques on a rider and I have to have appraisals and pictures of the items. That's another thing you'd have to check with your agent about.

We have a extra rider on our insurance as we have art and other things too. I’ve been assured our policy would cover everything. I even asked about my huge fabric stash.

Doesn't that fall under personal items on your homeowners policy?

We have a rider for my sewing machine collection, and one for the LA because the building it is in is too far from the house to be allowed to be covered under the policy on the house. The using machines I keep in the house are covered under the household goods policy. We reviewed the limits and decided there was enough there to cover those machines. We don't have much in the way of furniture, artwork, jewelry or other expensive belongings otherwise we probably would have needed to have a rider for those machines too.

My stuff would be covered. I don't own expensive machines. If they were wiped out I would gladly buy new ones.

check with your insurance agent. Ours does a 'check-up' with us about every couple of years and I specifically asked about this at the last one because I was concerned about the long arm in particular. It's all covered under our contents part of home insurance. We also talked about whether I needed business coverage since I do some quilting for others--he said that unless they are coming to my house (not) in which case I'd need it in case someone fell; or if I had a large quantity of business inventory, that for what I do the homeowners was fine.

Thanks for all the replies. After I thought about it for a bit, I did call my insurance company yesterday morning and they said the machines would be covered under my policy. My shed got crushed by falling trees a couple of years ago and then my bathroom flooded and the insurance company was great about replacing everything and making it right with no fuss or muss. Really don't know why I felt hesitant. Feeling better about the what ifs......

I lost everything in a house fire in 1987. We had great insurance and we were able to rebuild and replace but just a warning: clothes and fabric were depressed out after 3 years. That meant the suede coat I had worn about 5 times and my fabric stash had no replacement value. My quilts did at whatever the cost we be to replace them as was my machine. This is fairly standard from what I understand. You may want to check with your insurance company to see if it is them same. The plus side: it gives me more reason to get those quilts done from my stash.

It's interesting that this thread should show up now. A house in our neighborhood exploded last weekend, debris everywhere. It caused me to think about losing my sewing room and looking for an insurance agency that will take it seriously.

I recently had a home insurance claim for a stolen sewing machine. My friend and I bought 125 anniversary Bernina 770s. Five weeks after purchase, on the way to our introductory class to learn to use our machines, someone broke into her vehicle and stole my machine. i’m certain they had no idea what they were stealing. my homeowners insurance covered the theft, after deductible (and $28 depreciation).

As a general rule, items in your house should be covered under a blanket coverage. But, you can add coverage for specific items (example certain jewelry items, equipment, etc). It is a good idea to go thru your home and take a video and pics of the rooms and their contents and keep that info in a different location. Really helps when you have to replace things. I learned from experience!!

I called the insurance company and asked if I had sewing machine worth over $10,000 was it covered in my policy. The answer was yes minus the deductible. Everything is covered at today's replacement of the same item, not newer one, after the deduction. So my stash of years old fabric would be worth very little if anything at all. Gives me good reason to use it or give it away to those that will.

A thought for any contacting their insurance companies .....

..... Be sure to state the values of your machines or whatever you are inquiring about.

For a non-sewer/quilter, hearing the word sewing machine,
they may think of the value as a few hundred dollars,
with no concept as to the true investments we have made.

I had to show an ex agent the ads for the high end sewing machines. He couldn't believe it.

We recently changed insurance companies, the new agent is a quilter. I mentioned my machines and all the stuff in my sewing room. She said the personal property replacement cost is something most homeowners don't pay much attention to. Therefore they are underinsured for all their belongings including sewing machines, other hobby equipment like golf clubs and don't put enough value on furniture and clothing. It was an eye opener, we are involved in a lot of sports and they are require expensive equipment, footwear, clothing, etc. We never even thought about all my husbands tools and and all the other "man" toys in the garage. It was an eye opening meeting, we took an inventory and were shocked at all the stuff we have.

Just last month I checked with my Insurance. They will replace what I have because I have replacement and it is less than $5,000. But they did ask if I carry my machine around. It would not be replaced under homeowners, it is not in the home. The cost for a specific replacement up to $10,000 was less than $10 per year.

I have a studio policy(for another business) on my place. Maybe this would be what you need. My is not expensive at all. But if you have a lot of quilts they will want to insure them, along with the machines.

I have a home business (not sewing or quilting) and have a separate policy to cover my business items. My basic homeowners policy would not cover any business related items.

However for sewing items, even if I were not "in business" with them, I would think it prudent to keep an updated inventory of your more valuable items.

That said, the "value" of sewing machines is not an investment. The 10k or 20k sewing machine depreciates just like a new car once it leaves the showroom. Once it is past the "everything" warranty period (1- 5 years) the value --as far as an insurance agent is concerned-- will be a small percentage of original price paid to dealer.

Sewing machines such as the very expensive TOL (10-20k) are a lot like desktop computers. There are frequent new technologies and what was TOL a year ago is soon eclipsed. If they have a higher stitch count (have been driven) they are worth less. They really are a lot like new vehicles.

Even so, some day I hope to own one, just for the joy of "driving" a TOL sewing machine for a few years before it breaks down. There is nothing wrong with that at all! But, to an insurance agent, a 5 year old TOL computerized embroidery or LA set up is a **depreciated asset** not an investment vehicle. They will value it as a used item--not replace it with the current year's model.

I know how emotionally attached we get to our machines, we love them! But the insurance agent does not count the emotional attachment to your machine when placing a **value** on them.

I provide photo's to my homeowners insurance so they know what I have. They are all covered. I would be so very sad to lose any of them though, as they are all vintage.

Hi Liking quilting, I used to help write homeowner's insurance and in that "other life" learned that without a rider specifically insuring certain items, you will not get the full value to replace them. Perhaps because of the age of the items will only get a percentage of the amount it takes to replace. I would not hesitate to contact your insurance company, as someone else posted, that's what they are there for. They should be able to give you quotes on how much coverage you need and the cost.

It sounds like your new agent is really good. I have a friend who does estate appraisals. She has taught me a lot about insurance and having a photographic/video inventory. It's very important because no matter how much your house contents are insured for, you have to prove you had that much in the home in order for the insurance to pay off. I'll also agree that most people are underinsured. On their houses and the liability limits on their vehicles. At the price of cars today, $50,000 doesn't pay for that much if you have an accident.

I have my machine listed seperately with their serial no noted , as the lady at the insurance compant said it is
not the usaul thing to have four Bernina machines , worth around $45,000 , in a home sewing hobby
easy to see she wasn't a quilter , I didn't try to explain about the fabric stach.

I’m not an insurance agent, but this is a thought. If your insurance is covered by your homeowners policy, is the amount your machines are worth taking away a large chunk of replacement of other possessions? Let’s say you have $200,000 in homeowners coverage, and your LA and a nice sewing machines are worth $30-40K. Your house (gawd forbid) burns to the ground. If your homeowners policy covers your machines at full replacement value, that’s taking off $30-40K towards the replacement of everything else in your house. That’s a big chunk of change. Could you replace all of your other possessions for $160-170K? Do you need to increase the amount of your homeowners policy? Or would a separate rider on your policy be better?

Cindi ... you're bang on!
No, I am no more an insce agent than you are, but definitely the guidelines I was given by my agent.
My agent is good in that he will always answer what-if questions/scenarios. Actually encourages them.
After my sister had a house fire, can you imagine the questions I had for him?? :)
All for where their coverage seemingly came up short.
Was it their lack of action? Or an agent who was not working with them, for their benefit?
Not for me to ask ... but it sure made me ask my agent. We tweaked a few things in my policy.

That's where everyone needs to get down to the nitty-gritty with their agents.
It's not always how much insce is in place, but what that insce covers (or not!).
And, all the different possibilities.

Likewise for the contents value (or even your dwelling's value)...
... how many people have increased that value on a regular basis?
Or has one continued with the same insured values from twenty years ago?

It could be a very sad time, if there is a loss.

Exactly. And I meant to say if your Machines are covered by your homeowners plan. Not insurance. My brain was obviously working faster than my fingers, lol.

This is a very interesting topic and I will call my insurance agent on Tuesday. I have 2 Pfaff machines, a long arm and an antique treadle machine as well as a healthy stash of fabric. I would be sick if it was ruined and no way to replace it.

Fingers sometimes are the other way around ... :)

One needs to check what "homeowners plan" includes ...
For example ... while it covers our machines, at home. What does that coverage include?

Also, many of our machines do have a habit of travelling. Are they still covered?