2. misc-audio
  3. 192740-153278

Heed the warning! My soundsystem and records are a pile of ashes

Hi Audiogon family,

Wanted to reach out with a message of warning to please endorse your soundsystem on your insurance policy if you have not already. I have just lost my home and all belongings in the Eaton Fire in Altadena, CA, and I will likely not be able to recover it in full because I did not specifically insure it.

This also goes for records! I'm learning that I will probably be sub-limited on my $80k record collection that I have been assembling since childhood.

I know that stuff is stuff. I literally had to evacuate within minutes because of my house's proximity to the fire's origin. How I wish I had grabbed some of the priceless, unbuyable records that I searched high and low for throughout my life. But I'm alive, my family is alive, and that's what matters most. 

I've worked so hard to provide for my family all these years - we are not a trust fund situation. Records/hifi - MUSIC - was, is and will continue to be my most beloved hobby. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy, and hope some of you may heed my advice to avoid losing your priceless collections.

I have a gofundme setup if anyone is feeling generous, but would appreciate any thoughts and prayers as well. I've found encouragement from my community has been a major saving grace for us during this time. Also, if anyone has experience starting again from the ground up, I'd love to hear your inspirational stories.

128x128nardandsaffron
mahler123
3,378 posts
 

The important thing is that you and your family are safe, but heartbreaking story.

troutstreamnm
48 posts
 

So sorry for your loss. The really important thing is you and your family are safe. 

amitynick
13 posts
 

I lost my home last year to a lightning strike and fire 

I had standard replacement coverage for my possessions

I did not have My audio equipment or records listed separately in any way

The insurance company paid full replacement value for all my equipment and records up to the maximum of my policy. I learned the hard way that I should have had a higher maximum, but generally, they covered everything

About $200,000 in equipment and records was Covered and replaced  

It’s a lot of work explaining to the adjuster how your particular record album isn’t a $20 Walmart version but an audiophile grade special issue worth quite a bit more but other than that it went pretty smoothly

I had the original Bowers and Wilkins Nautilis 801 speakers and they actually paid $55,000 to replace them with the latest version of the 801 D4 signature

I have Safeco insurance, which is owned by liberty mutual

I suspect different insurance companies and different policies and different adjusters may make all the difference so everybody check with your insurance agent and insurance company 

and make sure your policy is for full replacement value

erik_squires
16,245 posts
 

I was reading recently of several homeowners in Florida whose insurance companies had mis-represented the adjuster's damage assessment.  I can't imagine the trouble anyone near those fires is going to be having.

fbgbill's avatar
fbgbill
307 posts
 

Wow so sorry for your loss. Hope you are able to replace what's important. Something I started several years ago is a spreadsheet listing every record album and CD I own. I can add notes as necessary to each as needed. Of course pictures is also a good idea and everything saved in the cloud for good measure. 

More to discover