5 pro tips to help protect your valuables at home. Wherever you call home, we know just how precious it is. Our friends at Chubb have put together 5 tips to protect your valuables at home as part of their ‘Art of protection’ series. Read through them below.
If you’d like a quote for insuring your valuables with Chubb, please contact our team today.
1. Have your valuables properly appraised.
Your valuables are likely worth more than you think, especially if it’s been a while since you last had them assessed. The secret to any appraisal is to find an expert who doesn’t have an active interest in purchasing your items. Also, avoid appraisers who charge a fee based on a percentage of the item’s value. A good place to start is to consult one of the major appraisal organisations, such as the International Society of Appraisers (ISA). In these instances, appraisers must complete courses and exams, demonstrate years of experience, and adhere to a set of strict ethical standards.
2. Pay extra attention to organic assets such as wine.
Whether you have a small or expansive wine collection, the temperature of your cellar should always be between 13-15oC. Excessive heat causes the wine to expand in volume putting more pressure on the cork, which can begin to leak. The relative humidity should be constant at 60%. Any higher risks mould developing on the labels, and any lower risks the corks drying out and cracking. Installing a dehumidifier can help keep it consistent.
3. For artworks, consider a wireless protection solution.
A method which has long been used in museums, wireless protection is now commonplace in both residences and private collections. A small wireless motion sensor is placed on the back of the painting. If the painting is moved, an alert is immediately issued digitally to the owner. The sensors are sophisticated enough to tell the difference between theft and harmless innocuous contact. The tags can also be applied to sculptures and other valuable antiques.
4. Don’t forget about your wardrobe.
Wardrobes tend to be routinely overlooked, despite regularly containing highly valuable clothing collections. From bespoke designer dresses and extensive shoe collections to suits, luggage and designer handbags, it’s easy to forget just how much your wardrobe may be worth if you had to replace these items as new. As a broad rule of thumb, high net worth individuals can have wardrobes worth upwards of ￡40,000 for women and ￡35,000 for men. For people with a dedicated interest in clothing, these figures can increase significantly.
5. Get dedicated jewellery safe.
A safe is the most effective way of storing your jewellery at home. Not only does it help protect against theft and fire, but it shields the more delicate pieces from damage, too. Keep items on a microfibre cloth, and store by type: pearls, diamonds, gemstones, for example. Certain metals can tarnish when they come into contact with other metals – silver being the chief offender. Keep these pieces separate. Make sure the safe has a tool and torch resistant rating of 30 minutes or more and is bolted to the floor or home structure.
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