Thanks for posting that. I decided to insure everything long ago, but with who has hung it up so far. This could be good. I need it to be insured on the road as well.
Any other ideas?
Ted

I have found the AFofM to have the fairest insurance and their pollicys for claims if very reasonable. It's about all the A F of M is good for, What I ment to say is , along with all the other benifits the A F of M offer their insirance for equ ;) ipment is great!!

I've had the A.F.of M. insurance for years, but this one Allen mentions would seem to be about 40% cheaper. Might be worth looking into.

I also insure my computer gear with Safeware Insurance out of Columbus, Ohio. They advertise in the computer mag's, and they are also a lot cheaper than the union insurance.

A.F. of M?

Ive heard good reports but I don't thinks they are available in all area's. I called and they weren't yet operating in Michigan, you'll have to check. I ended up getting an external rider policy through my home owners that was quiet reasonable.

Originally posted by Ted Nightshade:
A.F. of M?

aka Musician's Union.

Sorry, that's American Federation of Musicians for all you real engineers out there. ;)

Hey Bear,
I talked with my Agent and he will not touch it. Nothing on the road.

Allen

Very much appreciate all the info, folks. I personally can't even get homeowner's insurance due to my unorthodox rural living situation, but at this point the gear is worth as much as the house, and goes on the road.
Keep 'em coming.
Ted

Intertesting line about scheduling your insurance for only when you are actually travelling. DO most insurance companies do this? How much notice do you give? Or is it just a phone call away?

And what do you do when your stuff is in its home location (wherever that might be.)

Bear and others,

The $2500 sublimit for business personal property on a homeowners policy is usually, as you stated, just for that property on the premises described, (your home). Once the property leaves your home, most HO policies only cover $250. Commercial insurance is the best option. You have to have inland marine coverage to cover your gear away from your premises. If your agent/company does schedule your gear onto a homeowners policy, make certain the agent/company is aware of your business use, and make them show you where in the policy it states you are covered for business use. It's rare that a company will schedule business property on a HO policy beyond values of $2-3K (laptops for salesman, etc.) especially off premises coverage. Not a great time to be buying commercial insurance, BTW. Rates have been increasing quite steadily since late 2000, and even quicker post 9/11.

When I was renting my warehouse-studio, I had a commercial policy (through USF&G, The St. Paul) that cost about $1750 and escalated to over $2000 per year for coverage like you're talking about. When I bought my house, I had my homeowner's insurance written with a special additional rider (if that's what they call it) for over $100k in personal business property that gave me more and better coverage, including off-site use of the gear and it only cost me about $700 -- in California!! (Allstate). This, coupled with the availibility of "stated-income" mortgages and the power of the Home-Equity-line for buying gear with tax-deductible interest makes homeownership one of the greatest scams in the history of recording :D

-dave