Personal Property Appraiser Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages a personal property appraiser business may carry — core, prevalent, and situational — why each matters, and the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current policy and check the box next to any coverage you can confirm is already in place — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor. Coverage checklist for appraisers of collectibles, antiques, fine art, and jewelry. Priorities reflect typical exposure for this class; confirm against your actual services, contracts, and clients.
Tick each coverage you can confirm you carry — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Have it? | Coverage | Why this business needs it | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appraisers E&O | Covers claims that a value was overstated or understated. | Core | |
| Bailee / Inland Marine | Covers client jewelry and art in your custody, which GL excludes. | Core | |
| General Liability | Covers home visits and clients in your office. | Core | |
| Business Personal Property | Covers your reference library and gemological instruments. | Core | |
| Transit / Shipping Floater | Covers items moving between clients, labs, and your office. | Prevalent | |
| Crime / Employee Dishonesty | Covers staff theft of high-value client items. | Prevalent | |
| Cyber Liability | Covers inventories that show where valuables are kept. | Prevalent | |
| Regulatory / IRS Penalty Defense | Covers defense in IRS appraiser penalty proceedings, if offered. | Situational | |
| Hired & Non-Owned Auto | Covers driving to client homes. | Situational | |
| Workers' Compensation | Covers employees once you have them. | Situational |
The coverage gap most often missed
The gap most often missed by appraisers is client property in their possession. Many carry E&O only and assume it covers a client's diamond lost or stolen from their office, but E&O generally excludes property damage — ISA offers bailee coverage separately for that reason. E&O also usually excludes fines and penalties, so an IRS appraiser penalty may come out of pocket.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your personal property appraiser coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Personal Property Appraiser Insurance · Personal Property Appraiser Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does a personal property appraiser business need?
The core coverages for a personal property appraiser business are Appraisers E&O, Bailee / Inland Marine, General Liability, Business Personal Property. This checklist also lists the prevalent and situational coverages worth considering, with a plain-English note on why each matters.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my personal property appraiser coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.