Dorm Room insurance?

[zurgswife]

My dd has CSI but her computer and other electronics are high end due to her needs of her major. It's cheap and she's covered if anything happens. She has to buy so much additional insurance because of her major and the equipement through the school she uses I figure I should insure her own property as well. It gets used on projects as much as other stuff of the schools.

 

[Christine]

So you're all anti the insurance, huh?

I figure for $100 per year, everything is covered not just for theft but for accidental damage too. Spill a drink, drop it, whatever, it's replaced with just a $25 deductible.

http://www.collegestudentinsurance.com/

No, I don't think we are anti-insurance.

The point is, check your homeowners policy. You may actually already have the *same* coverage and it's already paid for.

Or, you may be able to get a ride slapped on to your current policy for $35 a year that will give you the same thing this policy covers for $100. It's worth a call to your provider.

 

[rgf207]

So you're all anti the insurance, huh?

How did you guess? We are all anti-insurance at the dis

 

[Denise W]

Your Homeowners policy will "cover" their stuff, but they will be subject to the same "named peril" coverage you have on your policy - theft, fire, vandalism, etc. (there are usually 17 named perils). Accidental breakage is not one of those. You get more coverage if you pay extra to schedule the item on your policy, but the basic policy only covers the regular perils your stuff is covered for.

Denise

 

[golfgal]

That's one I've never heard of!



.

Any golf tournament that offers a prize for a hole in one does so through these insurance policies. You can pretty much get an insurance policy to cover anything you want.

Your Homeowners policy will "cover" their stuff, but they will be subject to the same "named peril" coverage you have on your policy - theft, fire, vandalism, etc. (there are usually 17 named perils). Accidental breakage is not one of those. You get more coverage if you pay extra to schedule the item on your policy, but the basic policy only covers the regular perils your stuff is covered for.

Denise

Where are you that they still have named peril policies????? Most policies today are not named and cover everything except those things that are specifically excluded and those things are very limited-usually acts of war, nuclear fall out, earthquakes, etc. but you can rider any policy to cover these if you want too.

 

[disykat]

I've actually been wondering about this. My DS is a musician and I've been worrying about his instruments.

 

[golfgal]

I've actually been wondering about this. My DS is a musician and I've been worrying about his instruments.

We have our kids' instruments scheduled on our policy--again, waiving the deductible if they are lost but it also covers repairs if they are vandalized (scratched in the band room, etc.). We have our golf equipment on this policy as well. This particular policy is a personal property policy through State Farm. I think we have 2 saxophones, 2 trombones, 5 sets of golf equipment and some art work on this and it's $90/year, no deductible, not considered a claim against your homeowner's insurance. You do need to have a home or auto policy with State Farm to get this though, I think. Otherwise, you can schedule them on your regular homeowner's policy. It was just less expensive to go this route for us.

 

[bumbershoot]

I'll be buying renters insurance for DD18, who is moving into an apartment for college. I'm a renter myself, and it covers more than just theft. What if she burns the place down making dinner? Unlikely, but she couldn't afford to replace an apartment. Would she be covered for that if I had homeowners? (Thinking of buying a house next summer). Her apartment is 100% in her name even though I'm paying--I didn't have to cosign or anything, and she's going to community college.

You need to call your insurance agent and see what your specific insurance policy will take care of, and if your adult child's apartment will be covered with your insurance or if she needs her own.

 

[The Orchid]

I've actually been wondering about this. My DS is a musician and I've been worrying about his instruments.

Me too! My daughter is going off to Cornish in September and I was wondering what we could do to protect her instruments. The DIS never fails to amaze me. Seriously, if I have a question about just about anything, I often come to the DIS and do a search before I even google. The answer is ALWAYS there!

 

[tvguy]

I figure for $100 per year, everything is covered not just for theft but for accidental damage too. Spill a drink, drop it, whatever, it's replaced with just a $25 deductible.

http://www.collegestudentinsurance.com/

I think it depends of the value of what your kids are taking to college. My kids only items of value were their computers, at just over $1,000 each. $100 is a pretty steep premium to cover that little stuff. My homeowners does cover their stuff, but it has a $1,000 deductable, so the majority of any loss would still be out of my pocket. They had the free cell phones, and the cheap I-Pods plus clothing, maybe a total of $3,000 to $3,500 total property value. Most of us don't carry collision insurance on a $3,500 car, so insuring a simlar amount of property in a dorm seems frivilous.
But I realize in this high tech, gadget filled era that some kids are taking some pricy stuff to college....I watched a 52" Plasma TV being moved into a dorm room..........certainly put my 26" 15 year old tube TV to shame. Also saw an 8 foot leather couch going up the stairs, I'd LOVE to see how they fit that in a dorm room!

 

[love2disney]

Did not read the other answers. But for laptops or other high end electronics consider getting a squaretrade.com warranty. They have a accident coverage which includes spills and drops even running over the said electronic with ur car.

 

[MrsPete]

I don't think we'll add any special insurance when our daughter heads out to college next year. The things that'd matter MOST are her laptop and her phone; one because it's necessary for classes, the other because it allows her to communicate with us. In general, people don't steal clothes, and if she were to lose/ruin her ipod or something similar, she'd be unhappy but it wouldn't keep her from her studies.

I will, however, be big on prevention:

We'll be buying her a laptop either for Christmas or graduation, and I will get her the Best Buy replacement warranty. A friend of ours bought this for a teenager, who ended up spilling a bowl of Captain Crunch on the laptop THE FIRST DAY SHE OWNED IT. The warranty replaced it. I don't normally buy specialty insurance like this, but for a student who's going to eat, sleep, and live in one small dorm room . . . with a roommate . . . it seems like common sense.

Also, I'm going to buy her a laptop lock (about $20). A campus police officer told us at a college visit that laptop theft is the biggest crime on campus, and these little devices prevent crimes of opportunity. These locks attach the laptop to a desk or bedframe so that the thief can't carry the laptop away.

Finally, I'm going to buy her some type of lockbox big enough for a wallet, camera, ipod, etc.

For college students, I think I believe more strongly in prevention than in insurance.

 

[MrsPete]

I think it depends of the value of what your kids are taking to college. My kids only items of value were their computers, at just over $1,000 each. $100 is a pretty steep premium to cover that little stuff. My homeowners does cover their stuff, but it has a $1,000 deductable, so the majority of any loss would still be out of my pocket.

Yeah, I think some people get into the "gotta be protected against loss . . . need insurance" mindset, and they lose track of the value-to-cost ratio. A laptop is the only expensive thing I anticipate buying for my daughter's dorm room. Pretty much everything else she'll take will be expendable.

 

[cruisnfamily]

Also, I'm going to buy her a laptop lock (about $20). A campus police officer told us at a college visit that laptop theft is the biggest crime on campus, and these little devices prevent crimes of opportunity. These locks attach the laptop to a desk or bedframe so that the thief can't carry the laptop away.

Finally, I'm going to buy her some type of lockbox big enough for a wallet, camera, ipod, etc.

I asked the parents over on college confidential about these laptop locks and did their children use them and most responded that no the kids didn't use these. You can view the thread here to see some points of view on this. That was my original plan and it has since evolved into no laptop lock but get dorm insurance.

 

[pumba]

Remember all the books that sometimes go over 1000 per semester.......those to replace would be horrible..
Our granddaughter had a low cost insurance and I think it was well worth it......luckily she didnt have any problems.
Buy insurance on her laptop when you get it......Our GD had a book shelf up over her desk fall and broke her keys on hers right before Christmas break...she brought it to the store and she had it back before January semester started...The insurance would take care of her dropping her morning coffee on it too.....

 

[bdcp]

Did not read the other answers. But for laptops or other high end electronics consider getting a squaretrade.com warranty. They have a accident coverage which includes spills and drops even running over the said electronic with ur car.

Really? Don't read other answers. Sounds like an ad to me.

Our homeowners does cover those things and I did have a claim when my DS dropped his laptop.

 

[golfgal]

I don't think we'll add any special insurance when our daughter heads out to college next year. The things that'd matter MOST are her laptop and her phone; one because it's necessary for classes, the other because it allows her to communicate with us. In general, people don't steal clothes, and if she were to lose/ruin her ipod or something similar, she'd be unhappy but it wouldn't keep her from her studies.

I will, however, be big on prevention:

We'll be buying her a laptop either for Christmas or graduation, and I will get her the Best Buy replacement warranty. A friend of ours bought this for a teenager, who ended up spilling a bowl of Captain Crunch on the laptop THE FIRST DAY SHE OWNED IT. The warranty replaced it. I don't normally buy specialty insurance like this, but for a student who's going to eat, sleep, and live in one small dorm room . . . with a roommate . . . it seems like common sense.

Also, I'm going to buy her a laptop lock (about $20). A campus police officer told us at a college visit that laptop theft is the biggest crime on campus, and these little devices prevent crimes of opportunity. These locks attach the laptop to a desk or bedframe so that the thief can't carry the laptop away.

Finally, I'm going to buy her some type of lockbox big enough for a wallet, camera, ipod, etc.

For college students, I think I believe more strongly in prevention than in insurance.

The laptop locks take a quick snip of a wire cutter to get through and off they go. The lock boxes are just as easy to pick up and toss in a backpack as a wallet. The best prevention is for your college student to lock their door when they are not in the room-even if it is a quick trip to the bathroom. While these devices give YOU peace of mind, they don't really deter theft.

 

[Denise W]

Where are you that they still have named peril policies????? Most policies today are not named and cover everything except those things that are specifically excluded and those things are very limited-usually acts of war, nuclear fall out, earthquakes, etc. but you can rider any policy to cover these if you want too.[/QUOTE]

I live in the Northeast and have worked in the insurance industry as a claims adjuster, underwriter and independent agent for 35 years. I think I have a little experience and know what I am talking about when it comes to auto and homeowners insurance. And yes, companies still sell policies with named perils on contents.

Denise

 

[golfgal]

Where are you that they still have named peril policies????? Most policies today are not named and cover everything except those things that are specifically excluded and those things are very limited-usually acts of war, nuclear fall out, earthquakes, etc. but you can rider any policy to cover these if you want too.

I live in the Northeast and have worked in the insurance industry as a claims adjuster, underwriter and independent agent for 35 years. I think I have a little experience and know what I am talking about when it comes to auto and homeowners insurance. And yes, companies still sell policies with named perils on contents.

Denise[/QUOTE]

I am in the insurance industry too and no one around here sells named peril policies any more so I was just wondering--well, you can get them for mobile homes I guess.

 

[Denise W]

golfgal said: "Where are you that they still have named peril policies????? Most policies today are not named and cover everything except those things that are specifically excluded and those things are very limited-usually acts of war, nuclear fall out, earthquakes, etc. but you can rider any policy to cover these if you want too."

I live in the Northeast and have worked in the insurance industry as a claims adjuster, underwriter and independent agent for 35 years. I think I have a little experience and know what I am talking about when it comes to auto and homeowners insurance. And yes, companies still sell policies with named perils on contents.

Denise

Sorry the quote feature did not work correctly. The post above this is actually my post trying to quote what golfgal said to me on page 2.