Home Safety Tips — Protecting Jewelry, Electronics, and Heirlooms from Theft or Disaster

Protect your jewelry, heirlooms, and electronics with these expert-backed home safety tips. Learn how insurance endorsements and inventory tools can make all the difference.

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Why Home Safety Matters
​From irreplaceable family heirlooms to expensive electronics and fine jewelry, your home holds items of great value—both financial and sentimental. Unfortunately, these are often the first things targeted in a burglary or lost in a fire, flood, or other disaster.

According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting, a burglary happens every 25.7 seconds in the U.S. The average loss? About $2,661 per incident (Insurance Information Institute, 2023). And that’s before factoring in emotional loss or property damage from fire, water, or storms.

Top Risks to Watch Out For

• Theft/Burglary
• House Fires
• Water Damage (Burst pipes, leaks, flooding)
• Tornadoes and Windstorms (common in TX, KS, MO)

Protecting Valuables:
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Create a Home InventoryA detailed home inventory can streamline claims and prevent disputes.

• Use free tools like NAIC's Home Inventory App or apps like Sortly or Encircle
• Include serial numbers, receipts, and photos
• Store a backup digitally (cloud storage or email)

2. Secure Your Home

• Install smart locks, cameras (like Ring® or Nest®), and motion sensors
• Use timers for lights when traveling
• Consider alarm systems monitored by a central service

🏡 Carrier Tip: Safeco, Allstate, and Foremost offer home security discounts for monitored alarms, smart devices, and even water leak detectors.

3. Store High-Value Items Safely

• Use a fireproof, waterproof home safe for:
  • Jewelry
  • Wills or deeds
  • Backup hard drives
• For items over $2,500 in value, consider removing them from your home or placing in a secure deposit box

Understanding Coverage GapsStandard Homeowners Insurance Limits:Most policies have sub-limits on:

• Jewelry: $1,000–$2,500 (theft only)
• Electronics: May be depreciated or subject to per-item caps
• Collectibles/Heirlooms: Often not fully covered without an endorsement

What You Can Do:

• Ask about Scheduled Personal Property endorsements
• Consider a separate jewelry policy for items of significant value
• Review replacement cost vs. actual cash value coverage with your agent

Final Thoughts
Securing your valuables isn't just about having locks and alarms—it's about pairing the right safety measures with the right insurance coverage. A few proactive steps today can help protect your peace of mind tomorrow.

Corin Insurance partners with trusted carriers like Foremost, Allstate, Safeco and Brite Co to ensure your most precious belongings are protected from the unexpected.

Disclaimer:
This blog is intended for educational purposes and does not constitute insurance or legal advice. Coverage options vary by carrier and policy. Please speak with a licensed insurance advisor to evaluate your specific risks and policy needs.