Insuring telescopes

[thorthemighty]

I am planning to house my scope(when I eventually buy one) in my shed. I don't have any contents insurance and do not intend to get any as I don't have anything of much value. The telescope + associated equipment will be the most expensive items in my possession and with them being outside I will want to insure them so I am asking the patrons of SGL - does anyone insure their observing stuff separately and if so who would provide such cover? Are there any specialist companies out there?

[Tinker1947]

Leaving stuff outside in a shed then asking for insurance, might just be a bit expensive, i would think its doable, but at what price, be handy if you find out to post for others...

[Stephen]

My contents insurance costs me about £12 a month.

Even if just the TV got nicked, I'm happy with that.

Scopes are included on that as a single item is not in excess of £1000.

I think you would struggle to find someone who would insure your scope (in the garage) as a single item for much less than that?

[Rob L]

Contents insurance covers you for plenty of stuff besides the obvious.

If you had a leaky pipe in your ceiling that burst and caused the plaster to collapse and cause damage to your carpets and furniture. All of that including repair to the ceiling would come under contents.

As suggested above, I don't think you could insure a single item in an outside building for much less.

[MorningMajor]

I don't have any contents insurance and do not intend to get any as I don't have anything of much value.

Whilst I am by no means trying to advise you otherwise - consider what you may think of as "valuable" - do you have -or maybe I should say own - any furniture, carpets, curtains, beds, chairs etc as all those things are considered valuable in insurance terms - how much would it cost to replace everything you own?

If you found someone to insure your scopes I doubt it would be cheaper than standrd contents insurance with the scopes included - good luck, let us know how you get on

[TheThing]

... All of that including repair to the ceiling would come under contents...

Sorry Rob, you're a bit off there.

The ceiling would be covered by the BUILDINGS insurers, not the contents - just to clarify.

Contents are generally defined as 'anything that rattles, if you could turn your house upside down and shake it.'

There are a few exceptions to this rule - tenant's improvements (if they apply to you) and; laminate flooring (which is classed as contents as it is a floating floor, but has to be covered by your buildings insurers if you have no contents cover) are the ones you'll most likely come across.

[Rob L]

Sorry Rob, you're a bit off there.

The ceiling would be covered by the BUILDINGS insurers, not the contents - just to clarify.

You're right, sorry if I misled anyone with the wrong information. I think in the example I gave you'd have to claim from both.

Rob