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

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

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.

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. 

@amitynick thanks for posting a positive result with an insurance company.  Most people only post when they have a negative experiene and then the haters pile on and people hate insurance companies.  it isn't always bad. 

Lets hope the OP has a similar mostly positive experience with insurance.

As for limits, you choose how much you want to pay for and many people go with lower limits to save money.  that is a personal choice and I see you wish you'd gone with higher limits.

Finally, you didn't mention all the priceless things you lost.  While you got your insurance coverage worked out, the pain and stress and loss must have been tough.  I don't wish that on anybody.

Jerry

@jsal3689 ,

I lived on the Gulf Coast many years. You anywhere near Panama City?

I’ve now got a house in the Northeast part. If somebody loses a few shingles in a storm anywhere in the state, my insurance goes up.

@OP, sending positive vibes your way. You and your loved ones won the Life Lottery. Compared to that, anything you lost materially is meaningless.