Get quotes from retail vendors for replacement. Work with a known vendor here. I'm sure they can estimate a replacement cost for each game. Nib recent pins are much easier to quote.

Make up a list from ebay buy it now auctions that way they are insured for twice there value. Lol

It would be nice if you could get them to use E-bay prices.

Whatever you do, don't use the Pinside estimated values. They are generally way under the market.

I just added an additional $75, 000 for personal property with my insurance company. But not sure how to go about just getting 3 machines appraised. Keep us updated on this because I'm sure your not the only one wanting to know.

Try this list. http://www.bostonpinball.biz/ebay0513.htm

There does seem to be a need for such a service. I don't know how they could do it without seeing the pins in person, however. At least, that is how it works with art. I have a fairly large collection of antique prints that had to be appraised, and I paid a dealer to drive some distance to our house to do the job.

One problem is that the collection can change in value rather quickly, as we all know, so you'd have to get an updated appraisal from time to time.

Sounds like a good sideline for Don at pinballsonthemove.com since he drives around the country anyway. Are you listening, Don??? Anyone else?

Path of least resistance
http://user.xmission.com/~daina/pinlist_info.html

I told my insurance company (American family) that I had $200,000 in pinballs here and they didnt want anything. I offered pictures, home visit, etc. He just said he would make a note on my account and not to worry. If it ever comes down to it, I can get affidavit from friends that have been here attesting to what I have.

Tons of pictures, serial numbers. Just be able to prove what you had.

I don't know markmon I do not think you have a dollar over 199,999.99 in pinball machines I can not justify calling it 200K =D jk obv

I told my insurance company about my games, and they said it was covered under homeowners. I take videos of my machines including the serial numbers, and play a horrible 1 handed game to prove operation. Not easy filming and playing, but it gets the job done.

I upload them to youtube for "backup." I used to make them public until I got some wise ass remarks about how shitty my videos were, now I just keep them private.

I talked to Don about this a few weeks ago under the subject of insuring a pin he was shipping. The issue is that if a pin is classified as "collectible" you can even get insurance for scrapes and dings, but many insurance companies (at least state farm) want an appraisal for it. My assumption is that you need somebody with a brick and morter store, or at lease a web presence to do the appraisal, and that person needs to be fairly aware of how condition and other factors can influence value. You don't want your HEP Twighlight Zone being appraised at $4000.

Apparently these guys do appraisals but I don't know how they do as far as accuracy.
http://www.pinballpriceguide.com/appraisals/

Let us know. My concern with any apraiser and a HUO or something thats got a lot of expensive mods (things like color DMDs, chrome, etc), is that the appraiser won't take those things into consideration.

My insurance company too said that it was covered under homeowners. I think i does come under their policy.
water damage fort lauderdale

No matter what you think they are worth the ins. co. Will not give you the true value of that machine. Its called depreciation and they will tell you what it is worth and was worth.

Yes it WILL come under your homeowners policy but if you want it insured as a collector's item you need special insurance for that. This is the type of thing that will (at least according to my insurance company) provide coverage for dings and scrapes and things like that. This is the same type of insurance you'd get for a rare baseball, or a collectable gun, or even artwork. Also, you wouldn't have to worry as much about depreciation as long as your insurance is for the replacement value. This is part of the reason why the company wants an appraisal. If you do some work to set your games off from your other belongings as far as insurance is concerned there is less chance that you'll end up fighting with an agent over things like depriciation.

That being said, yeah, insurance companies usually try to low ball you or find some bullshit reason not to pay you. I do hate them so.