Is your doll insured?

I don't have any BJDs yet but I do collect reborn dolls which can be expensive also. For a good one you are looking to pay $350 up to $1500 or more depending on the artist.
And I was thinking the other day...if we had a housefire (knock on wood) and I lost all my dolls how would I replace them...then started to consider insuring them. So I got to wondering if any of you have done this and how it works. Especially for the ones that would be difficult to replace such as OOAK or limited editions.

 

That is a great and interesting question. I would think (Goodness forbid...) if there was a house fire - your fire/house insurance would cover an amount estimated for all valuables lost from the home. I will have to check further and see if there is such a specific type of insurance for BJD or doll/other collections in general.

 

I am constantly thinking about this - this and if something were to happen to me, what would my family do about selling my dolls or getting rid of them? I don't want them selling for example my Euclase to a thrift store for $250, but on the same note, I don't want to approach my parents and say, "I know I'm 21, but I want to write a will." That's just... they shouldn't be thinking about that yet. It's distressing to me to think about, but I just have to hope that nothing happens before I'm on my own and making enough money that I can write my own will, or get the courage to approach them about that or insuring my dolls in case the worst should happen. Because no matter how you look at it, they cost quite a bit of money. Maybe I'm just paranoid.

 

Yes - my doll collection and doll casting equipment is insured.

In Australia we have home and contents and insurance or just contents insurance if you are renting - the issues with general contents insurance is that it only makes a small allocation for collectables and art-work.

Because I worked in the fashion industry I insured my machines and when my dolls arrived I had a separate amendment made to our insurance policy for their coverage. It depends on your individual circumstances and what the insurance statistics are for your area.

Theft here is virtually non-existant but because of the volatile weather water-damage is most commonly claimed which isnt a worry with resin dolls. So my dolls are insured for "agreed value" with room for appreciation and I pay a small premium each year on top of our regular insurance (approximately $220 AUD). To take out the extra policy I had to provide receipts for purchase, photographs and "evidence of value" so basically it meant finding at three unrelated examples per-doll of their purchase price other than where I bought them - I have a few artist cast dolls which are irreplaceable so only insured for their purchase price. The assessor who amended the policy passed the information onto the companies art assessment department who then approved the allocated value and appreciation percentage.

There is a woman up the street who has a few BJD's and also collects re-borns. She uses a different Insurance company and also is a pensioner (over 60 y/o) when she insured her collection they sent an assessor to the house who had prior knowledge of the dolls etc...

So i guess it depends on who you insure with as to how they would do so...? For OOAK dolls like my artist dolls - because they are irreplaceable there is no way to insure them for anything more than their purchase price plus an agreed annual appreciation.

@ Kchan_teh_great - even though its distressing at the time there is a great comfort in having "your say" on things important to you in the event of the unmentionable happening. I had my own Will from the age of 18 - as that is "adulthood" in Australia - at the time all I had of value was REALLY crappy vintage car that I willed to my brother. Obviously it has changed since (12 years on) then but in our current will is a small note directing the executor to hold all valuables listed in lieu of what my children wish to do with them - and if they are to be sold there is information about where to sell them, how to correctly and their value at the time of writing. Its a little morbid doing it but you will feel a lot better - Even if its just a handwritten statement witnessed by a postal clerk/police office etc or a non-related friend and a copy kept somewhere safe in your home

 

I talked to my husband about it and my collection is covered under the house insurance. I also talked to him and my parents about what to do with my collection if something happens to me. They all know how much the dolls are worth and where to sell them if need be. I don't think this is a bad conversation to have. If they know what to do with your dolls, they could either give them to close family or friends they know will love them or ease some of the financial aspects of a loved one moving on.

 

I am definitely thinking of doing this. And having it separate or an ammendment made on the homeowners. I am guessing, but the homeowners probably wouldn't cover enough for the dolls. I really need to look into this more.
Thanks for the replies...it's a help.

 

The dolls could be covered under contents, but it will only cover so much. Limited, very valuable, and ooak dolls are an exception. The best bet would be to have insurance on the individual articles on your homeowners or renters.

 

I've considered a mini will about some of my possessions. I don't want my parents throwing things away that I had cherished or worked really hard to get (i.e., my doll). I want to include that she can't be sold (I don't even know if I can do that, but I'd try).

 

You can have that clause in a will, however ask yourself if you would really want to have it. Likely, the dolls would go to a family member or close friend who would not appreciate them, and would both resent the fact that they had something expensive that they had no joy out of and couldn't sell, and that they would probably just leave the doll in the top of a cupboard somewhere and forget about. Wouldn't it be much better for the people to sell the dolls to another collector, who would appreciate them more and give them a new lease on life? However, it's your descision, not mine, so I will say no more.

My dolls are covered by my home and contents, but I'm thinking of adding an additional premium to have them covered for their market value as they are quite valuable objects.

 

My dolls are not insured, and I once thought about insuring them, however, I have no idea how to go about it and if I can afford it. About the will thingy, I have considered it too and personally I feel it would be better to make some sort of arrangement for my dolls in case anything happens to me. My friends are not into BJDs and my parents doesn't know their true value, so I was thinking of arranging someone to sell them on my behalf (on DOA or somewhere similar) and then have the sales proceeds passed to my parents. At least this way, my dolls go to someone who is in the hobby, knows how to care for them and will love them.

 

I have a rider on my insurance specifically for my dolls. I think once you reach a large enough collection, or a collection worth enough money, it's common sense to do so. Homeowner's / renters insurance will only cover so much under general provisions. I had a nice, long chat with my agent about this.

 

There's a rather long thread about this already: http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?130511
Mine are insured, in Australia they only cover under $1000 for things out of the ordinary, so you need to specify that you have the items and their value.

 

There is a big thread about insuring dolls here. (looks like Kawaii-mon was a little faster than me!)

I do have mine insured as an addition to my renters insurance. I have them valued at what it would cost to replace them, and my premiums are only about 1% of that value. It's a darn good deal if you ask me! It covers fire, theft, and my own stupidity (accidental breakage)!

 

Last night I counted up how much my dolls are worth (referencing the marketplace, not including clothes and accessories)- the total came to $14,600. I'm getting insurance RIGHT NOW.

 

Unfortunately, there are no appropriate insurance service in Russia. If I had possibility for insuring my dolls I could do it, but our insurance companies do not provide such service. In they opinion dolls is insignificant

 

I have Apt. insurance so anything that l bring into the flat it's covered. But l wonder if my dolls are covered hmmm interested thought l will have to check this out one day.

 

I don't at the moment. (My first baby hasn't shown up yet.) I think if I collected enough dolls or other stuff, I would probably put a rider on my home insurance.

 

To have insurance with dolls! What a great idea! I should think about this too. A lot of time, I am just afraid my doll is going to be damage or stolen (I hope this ocunt as one of the insurance part.)

 

i have never thought about getting my boy insured. Thanks for the idea and im going to get my boy insured too

 

Mine are insured as an extra on my House Insurance.