How To Handle Collections

No, this post isn't about collecting money -- it's about homeowners who collect "things."

I received the following question from a fellow home inventory service professional:

He wrote:

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With music CDs, paperback books, movies, and various collections. how do you differentiate between 'stuff' and 'valuable collectibles'? I can see where one could spend hours annotating the above-listed property..or do you just list 'music CD collection = $X' etc.?

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My response:

That's a situation where I defer to the homeowner -- and it's easiest during the estimation process, I say something like, "Wow! I notice you've got quite a collection of CDs there. Would you like me to detail your collection, or inventory it as a unit?" If they want it detailed, I build it into the time. If they want it as a unit, I usually take multiple closeup pictures, and count the number of CDs to come up with an estimated value.

My husband, for example, has an extensive collection of DVDs (movies and TV shows). His collection is worth several thousand dollars (easily!) and replacing it title-for-title would be important to him in the event of a loss. If he were a paying client, he might want to pay the extra $100 or so (1 hour of on-site time) to have me detail the collection. But it would be up to him, not me to decide that.

I think most standard agreements say that collections will be inventoried as an aggregate unless the homeowner specifies. But be sure to ask the homeowner!