Some belongings are more than just “things” — they’re sentimental treasures, valuable investments, or items you’d struggle to replace. Whether it’s a diamond ring, a rare firearm, a piece of fine art, or a growing collection of gold and silver, standard homeowners and renters insurance often isn’t enough to fully protect these valuables.

That’s where a Personal Articles Floater (PAF) comes in. At The Catawba River Insurance Group (The CRIG), we help clients across North Carolina add this important protection so their most prized possessions stay covered no matter what.

What Is a Personal Articles Floater?

A personal articles floater is a specialized policy that insures high‑value items individually. It provides broader protection than most homeowners policies and typically covers:

• Theft
• Accidental loss
• Accidental damage
• Mysterious disappearance

This means if something gets lost, dropped, damaged, or “just goes missing,” you may still be covered — which isn’t always the case under a standard home policy.

Items Commonly Covered

Personal article floaters can insure a wide variety of valuables, including:

• Jewelry: Engagement rings, wedding bands, diamond jewelry, custom pieces
• Guns & Firearms: Individual firearms or collections
• Collectibles: Sports memorabilia, coins, stamps, vintage items
• Fine Art: Paintings, sculptures, limited editions
• Luxury Watches: Rolex, Omega, Breitling, and other high‑value brands
• Musical Instruments: Guitars, violins, brass and woodwind instruments
• Precious Metals: Gold, silver, bullion, rare metals
• Designer Handbags & Fashion: High‑end accessories with significant value

Why a Standard Homeowners Policy May Not Be Enough

While homeowners insurance does include some coverage for personal belongings, it often has:

• Low limits on categories like jewelry and firearms
• No coverage for accidental loss or breakage
• Restrictions on high‑value or one‑of‑a‑kind items

If you own something valuable, a personal articles floater can help close the gaps and provide peace of mind.

Benefits of a Personal Articles Floater

• Broader protection than standard policies
• No deductible on many floater policies
• Ability to insure individual items for their appraised value
• Worldwide coverage — your valuables are protected wherever you go

Do I Need an Appraisal?

Often, yes — especially for jewelry, fine art, firearms, and collectibles. An appraisal helps determine the correct insured value and ensures you’re properly covered if you ever file a claim.

Why Work With a Local Independent Agency?

At The CRIG, we help you review what you own, identify gaps in coverage, and compare personal article floater options from top insurance carriers. Whether you keep valuables at home, travel with them, or maintain a small collection, we’ll help you protect them the right way.

Protect What’s Priceless

Your valuables deserve more than basic coverage. Let us help you safeguard the items that mean the most to you.

Call us at (828) 324-1600 or visit thecrig.com to learn more or request a quote.