At some point, all reasonable adults know that they will need insurance (part of “adulting”, as Millennials say these days.) They need it to protect their most valuable assets, such as their car, home, and their health. However, insurance covers a wide variety of items, as well. Many people may not be aware of this or even that they should insure them, including things which some may consider “toys”. For most of us, “toys” could mean actual toys or anything recreational or not necessary. Of course, unlike dollar store toys, these can cost up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars, which is why it makes sense to insure them.
As an insurance agent, you probably know your clients best and what hobbies they enjoy. If you do have clients who own expensive toys, it may be time to ask them if they have insurance or even thought of getting it for their expensive items. After all, natural disasters could be looming around the corner, which can destroy their toys, plus there’s always the possibility of theft or accidents. Make sure you tell your clients who own any of these toys that they should consider getting them insured.
1. ATVs and Off-Road Vehicles
ATVs and other types of off-road vehicles are a lot of fun to ride. This often involves driving into mud paths, unpaved trails, and they also allow people to go into places they normally can’t with a regular vehicle. However, this also means added danger of crashes and damage to the vehicles. Of course, owners should have adequate health insurance to take care of injuries, but seeing as how high the possibility of accidents are while opertaing such vehicles, then owners should definitely have insurance for them, too.
2. Watercrafts
While some people may enjoy the thrill of speed on land, others may prefer the excitement of the water and letting the wind blow through their hair as they zip around on their jet skis or speed boats. Of course, there’s also the peaceful serenity of simply gliding along in a boat or going fishing with their loved ones. Whatever they enjoy, your clients, who own any type of watercraft, should definitely have these toys insured. According to the most recent statistics from a report by the US Department of Homeland Security, US Coast Guard, and the Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety, the most common types of watercrafts that were involved in some type of accidents were: open motorboats (47%), personal watercraft (17%), and cabin motorboats (15%) and nationally, the total damage amounted to roughly $39 million.
While owners should operate their watercrafts responsibly at all times, accidents do happen every now and then, not to mention there’s always the possibility of theft and even liability if the owner is found at fault. Insurance will be able to pay for repairs, replacement, and even liability should any mishaps occur.
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3. Collectible Toys and Comic Books
Many adult “toys” are actual toys, but make no mistake: many of these collectibles can cost hundreds or even of thousands of dollars. For example, an original Darth Vader action figure with a double-telescoping lightsaber is worth about $6000 to $7000. And of course, there’s the granddaddy of all collectibles and memorabilia: the near-mint Action Comics #1 (featuring the first ever appearances of the world’s most famous superhero, Superman) which fetched a cool $1 million at an auction.
Comics and collectible toys are big business. Many people are even using them as investments, since prices will only increase as they age, plus they don’t have to worry about liquidity or their value going down if the economy crashes. Even if your clients are only keeping such collectibles for their own pleasure, it’ll be worthwhile to protect them with insurance, especially if they have amassed collections worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
4. Sports Memorabilia
Aside from “geeky” collectibiles, sports collectibles are another big ticket item. If you’re a sports fan, you’ve probably heard of the most expensive sports collectible ever – the rookie Babe Ruth jersey valued at $4.4 million. Of course, it’s unlikely that the everyday Joe will have such an item lying around in their house, but still, sports collectibles such as jerseys, balls, and cards still hold a lot of value, which will only continue to increase as time goes by. Many of these items can be quite flimsy as well, so they can be susceptible to damage, and thanks to the Internet, many thieves are more savvy and know that such collections could be worth a lot more than jewelry or electronics.
5. Art
Art could be considered the first type of “toy” available to adults. After all, it was only the richest families in Europe who could sponsor the likes of Da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael to paint and sculpt, so they’d have something pretty to display at home. Still, today, artwork can fetch thousands and even millions of dollars, and investing in art is booming. However, it can be risky too, seeing as paintings and even some sculptures are quite flimsy, not to mention easy to steal. Paint can fade, canvas can get damaged and it only takes one clumsy person or a small natural disaster and their investments are gone. A valuable item policy, rider, or even additional umbrella insurance can help cover your clients in case their artwork get stolen or damaged through no fault of their own.
For the most part, the destruction or loss of any of these toys shouldn’t have any major financial impact on your clients. After all, they don’t need toys to get to work or to live. However, for some, these items may have sentimental value. Perhaps some were passed on from their parents or grandparents, or maybe it represents something important in their lives. Insuring these items, however, will give your clients peace of mind, not to mention financial compensation to replace or repair them if, and when, the time arises.
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