Insurance and appraisal of guzheng?????????

[Vi An]

Good regards all,

It is officially cold as heck winter up in the north. I am currently building my igloo and wondered about insuring my guzhengs.

Problem is non of my guzhengs were brought direct from the maker and I do not have their official invoice. Plus I don't think there is a person in Canada who appraises guzhengs!

What should I do?

Thank you,

Vi An

[Bryan]

Insuring and appraising as in?

[Vi An]

For a performing musician who invests thousands of thousands of dollars into their musical instruments and other gear. It is at some point really important to get an insurance plan in place to protect the assets. If your instrument gets damaged you know that an insurance may help you to fix it or replace it. Appraising is having a qualified appraiser to inspect and state a value for your to claim for insurance purposes. You have to take your instrument to them and pay them to give you an estimate. So if he or she inspects your instrument and declares a value of $100 dollars or if they think it is worth that much, or they will value it at what they know you can replace it for, then you can buy an insurance plan for the instrument at $1000 dollars. When you damage it the insurance plan will adjust to help you pay for damages, if the instrument is beyond repair, they may give you $1000 to replace the instrument.

[davidmdahl]

I suggest that you start talking with insurance agents, Vi An. You may find a complication since you are using the instruments professionally. Some conventional insurance companies do not handle these policies, at least in a way effective for a musician on the road playing gigs. I know that this is a issue faced by professional flutists whose instruments can cost $10,000 - $20,000, and more. One popular insurer for musicians is Clarion Insurance (http://www.clarionins.com/). They may have suggestions for getting an appraisal.

Best wishes,

David

[calden]

Vi An:
David is correct about needing commercial insurance.

I have my homeowner's and car insurance with State Farm here in the US. I moved there from AAA insurance because State Farm could offer me a commerical rider policy for my instruments, PA equipment, etc., that AAA couldn't. So, for about $200 a year ( I think) I have all my performing stuff insured - doesn't matter if it's damaged/stolen while in the house, at a gig, in the car, on a plane, etc. Your homeowner's/auto agent may be able to get a similar commercial rider.

I would think that if you had a written appraisal from a store that sells guzhengs ( thinking Clarion music in San Franciso, among others) that your insurance people would accept that. I mean, you're not asking them to insure some hugely expensive jewels. Even a local music store that could feasibly ORDER a replacement guzheng for you would be able to vouch for the replacement cost. A written letter, with accompanying identifying photos, should work.

Carlos

[Vi An]

Thank you both muchly! ^_^