Most of us believe that our treasured antiques and personal possessions are secure from damage within the walls of our homes. While that is usually true, there are many common, and often unrecognized, circumstances that can easily bring about disaster in your home. From my observations during 23 years of appraising in Louisiana, danger to your precious and fragile antiques can come from any direction. Homeowners usually consider thefts and fires as the main threats to their possessions. Although they are certainly the most devastating, the majority of our cases concerning property losses arise out of other events.

For example, while preparing to move, my wife and I discovered that termites had quietly eaten a large hole in our living room Oriental rug. In another instance, during an estate appraisal in the French Quarter, I found that the voracious critters had migrated through the floor and devoured the complete pine interior of an 1850s rosewood washstand, in addition to the floor beneath it. Apparently the dense rosewood was unappetizing to the termite’s palates. In another case, hailstones broke through a parlor window demolishing a collection of Oriental porcelain. And in another, water from a leaking pipe migrated downward into an valuable antique crystal chandelier, causing the metal fittings to rust and crack the glass. Even the garage can be a hazardous place to store valuable articles. That was evident when I was called upon to appraise a smashed antique desk, which met its demise in a collision with the family sedan.

Of all the menaces to the heirlooms in your home, deliverymen and workmen can offer the greatest threats The majority are careful and considerate, but there are some who are so intent on finishing the job that they inadvertently put something precious at risk. In one incident, a delivery driver knocked over a recently restored antique breakfast table, cracking the top. Pottery took flight in an antiques shop during a delivery, when the careless deliveryman carrying a mirror bounced around the room as though he were in a pinball machine. You can’t be too careful when tradesmen are in your home. They require supervision, as one client learned, after a plumber making a repair in the bathroom knocked over an entire display cabinet containing her prized collection of crystal perfume bottles.

Moving to a new home, whether local or long distance, takes your possessions out of your sight and control, and exposes them to the greatest possible risk. Your treasures are in the hands of people who may not recognize their sentimental or material value. It’s just stuff to them. How can you protect yourself and your valuables? Choose your mover and packer carefully. Check for complaints with the Better Business Bureau. Ask about their experience transporting and storing antiques and request references. If you have any doubts, ask the local auction houses and major antiques dealers for the names of the shipping companies they use. Small firms that specialize in packing and transporting valuable furnishings do exist. If you decide to use one of these, get references from prior customers and make certain they carry the proper insurance (and make sure you’re insured as well). Most important, in every case, be on hand to observe the packing, loading, unloading and unpacking. Take nothing for granted. An owner who cares can prevent most problems.

If you need to store furnishings, make certain that the storage area is climate controlled. Personally visit the site and make an inspection. Climate control is more than an air conditioner in an open room. And most important, make certain that you are insured for the full replacement value of your transported or stored property. During an extensive home renovation, a client stored their inherited family antiques and memorabilia in a “secure” storage unit. When the construction work was completed, they found that the unit’s contents had been stolen. A heartbreaking discovery.

Most of us will be fortunate enough to avoid these lurking calamities. But it’s still a good idea to be prepared. The best way is to make a videotape or take photographs of your entire household contents. Besides the furniture and things that have recognizable intrinsic value like silver china, crystal, art and antiques, you should document the clothes closets, draperies, lamps, appliances, computers and electronics. Those necessities of life really add up. Don’t forget the contents of the garage or shed, for lawn equipment and tools are costly. And of course, keep the videotape or photos in a safe deposit box or other secure place. Chubb customers with valuable articles coverage can store photographs of their collection online using Masterpiece Manager, Chubb’s online collection management system. While you’re in the preparedness mode, it’s an excellent time to check with your insurance agent, to determine if your coverage is adequate. And if your insurance carrier requires it, have the most valuable articles properly appraised. This may seem like a lot of work, but if the unforeseen happens, believe me, your family will be grateful to you forever.