Your Collection Is Worth Thousands. Can You Prove It?

You've spent years building your collection. Coins, watches, art, memorabilia—items worth real money.

But here's the problem: Your homeowners insurance probably covers far less than you think.

When your collection gets stolen or damaged, you'll discover that "valuable items" have sublimits—coverage caps that leave you significantly underinsured.

The Insurance Trap Collectors Don't Know About

Most homeowners policies have sublimits (coverage caps) for valuable items. According to standard HO-3 homeowners policies,1 typical limits include:

Jewelry & Watches: $1,000-$1,500 total2
Coins & Precious Metals: $200 total1
Art & Collectibles: $2,500 total3
Firearms: $2,000-$2,500 total1

Important note about trading cards and similar collectibles: Many standard homeowners policies either exclude trading cards entirely or include them in the general collectibles sublimit of $2,500. Major insurers like Allstate, GEICO, and State Farm typically do not cover trading cards under standard policies or scheduled personal property endorsements.4 If you collect trading cards, sports memorabilia, or similar items, verify coverage with your specific insurer and consider specialized collectibles insurance.

Translation: You could have $50,000 in coins, but your standard homeowners insurance only pays $200.

To get full coverage, you need:

A detailed inventory with photos and values
Professional appraisals for high-value items
A scheduled personal property endorsement (riders)

Without documentation, you get the sublimit. With documentation, you get full replacement.

What Collectors Actually Need (And Don't Have)

If your collection was stolen tonight, could you:

List every item from memory?
Prove you owned each piece?
Show what you paid or what it's worth?
Provide photos showing condition?
Supply serial numbers or authentication details?

If you said no to any of these, you're underinsured—even if you think you have "full coverage."

What You Get With Big TOA (Built for Collectors)

Big TOA is a cloud inventory system designed for people with valuable collections who need professional documentation for insurance.

Here's How It Works:

You Build Your Inventory:

Photograph each item (front, back, serial numbers, condition details)
Upload receipts, appraisals, certificates of authenticity
Record purchase price, current value, and grading details
Organize by collection (watches, coins, art, etc.)
Store everything in the cloud with bank-level encryption

When You Need Insurance Coverage:

Generate a professional inventory report with photos and values
Submit to your insurance agent to schedule high-value items
Get proper coverage (replacement cost, not sublimits)
Keep documentation updated as values change

If Disaster Strikes:

File a complete claim with proof of ownership, value, and condition
Get full reimbursement instead of sublimit payouts
Process claims in days, not months

The Importance of Documentation: A Cautionary Example

Example for illustrative purposes: Consider a collector with $47,000 in graded collectibles. Without proper documentation and scheduled coverage, they would receive only the standard policy sublimit (typically $2,500 or less for collectibles). With a complete inventory including photos, certificates, and scheduled coverage arranged with their insurer, they would receive full documented value. The difference is documentation and proper insurance planning.

Stop Gambling With Your Collection

Big TOA helps you protect your valuable collections:

Professional inventory - Document every piece with photos and details
Organize by collection - Coins, watches, art—all separate and searchable
Track values - Update as market prices change
Upload appraisals - Store certificates, grading reports, provenance
Generate insurance reports - Submit to insurers for scheduled coverage
Cloud storage - Survives fires, floods, theft
Bank-level encryption - Your collection data stays private

Cost: Free for up to 20 items. Premium plans start at $12.99/month.

(That's less than one collectible coin, one graded item, or one affordable watch.)

What Happens If You Don't Document Your Collection?

Next time your insurance agent asks "What valuable items do you have?" you'll say:

"Uh... some collectibles... maybe $5,000 worth? I'm not sure."

And they'll give you the $200-$2,500 sublimit.

Or you can spend this weekend documenting your collection and get real coverage.

How to Get Proper Insurance Coverage (The Right Way)

Step 1: Document your collection in Big TOA (photos, values, appraisals)

Step 2: Generate a professional inventory report

Step 3: Send it to your insurance agent and request a Scheduled Personal Property Endorsement

Step 4: Pay a small additional premium (typically 1-2% of collection value per year)5

Step 5: Get full replacement coverage with no sublimits

Example: A $30,000 collection costs approximately $300-$600/year for full scheduled coverage—far better than the standard $200-$2,500 sublimit.

Your Collection Deserves Real Protection

You've invested time, money, and passion into your collection. Don't leave it protected by a $200-$2,500 insurance sublimit.

Document it. Insure it properly. Protect what you've built.

Start Your Free Collection Inventory Today

Document your 20 most valuable pieces for free. No credit card required.

Add photos, values, and appraisals. Then take your inventory to your insurance agent and get real coverage.

Protect Your Collection - Start Free →

(Free account includes 20 items. Upgrade for unlimited documentation.)

Stop gambling with sublimits. Get real coverage.

Document Your Collection Free →

References

Anderson Insurance Services. What Are the Personal Property Limitations of an HO3 Policy? 2024. www.anderson.insure
Insurance Information Institute. Do I Need Special Coverage for Jewelry and Other Valuables? 2024. www.iii.org
Benzinga. Best Collectibles Insurance. 2024. www.benzinga.com
Quiet Speculation. Insuring Your Magic Collection Part 1. 2019. www.quietspeculation.com
Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company. How Much Does Jewelry Insurance Cost? 2024. www.jewelersmutual.com