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Protecting Your Heritage: Why Maine Collectors Need Specialized Coverage
Antiques insurance is a specialized form of coverage designed to protect valuable collectibles, artifacts, and heirlooms against risks that standard homeowners policies don't adequately cover. For collectors in Maine, where coastal humidity, harsh winters, and historic homes create unique preservation challenges, proper protection is essential.
Quick Guide to Antiques Insurance
1. Standard homeowners policies typically limit antiques coverage to just $2,500 per category
2. Specialized antiques insurance offers agreed value coverage with no depreciation
3. Documentation needed: Professional appraisals, detailed inventory, photos, provenance
4. Coverage types: Scheduled items, blanket coverage, or standalone collectors policy
5. Typical coverage: Theft, fire, accidental breakage, mysterious disappearance
That family heirloom rocking chair in your Wells living room or the collection of maritime artifacts in your Kennebunk home represents more than just monetary value. They're pieces of history, often irreplaceable and deeply meaningful.
"The first step a collector takes is to begin a collection. The next step is to care properly for the antiques and collectibles. The next major step is to protect your investment," notes industry experts. Without proper planning, both your investment and your heritage remain at risk.
Whether you're safeguarding a single treasured piece or an extensive collection, understanding your insurance options is crucial. Standard homeowners policies in Maine simply weren't designed with valuable antiques in mind, creating dangerous coverage gaps that many collectors find only after a loss.
From the coastal homes of Ogunquit to the historic properties of Biddeford, Maine collectors face unique risks including:
- Pipe freezing and water damage during harsh winters
- Coastal humidity affecting wood, textiles and paper
- Storm surge and flooding concerns near shorelines
- Higher-than-average heating costs increasing fire risks
The good news? Specialized antiques insurance solutions are readily available to Maine collectors who know where to look.
Antiques Insurance in Maine: Why Collectors Need It
In Maine's historic coastal communities, antiques aren't just possessions—they're stories. That Queen Anne chair passed down through five generations, the hand-carved decoys from a great-grandfather's hunting days, or that painting of Portland Harbor from the 1800s—these treasures represent our heritage in tangible form.
When we talk about antiques insurance, we're protecting items with special value due to their age (typically 100+ years old), rarity, condition, or historical significance. Here in Maine, with our rich maritime heritage and generations of skilled craftspeople, many homes harbor treasures that deserve special protection.
The typical Maine home contains far more valuable items than most homeowners realize. That Shaker sideboard in your dining room? The vintage lobster buoys decorating your sunporch? The collection of early New England glassware? Standard homeowners policies typically cap coverage for these items at around $2,500 per category—a figure that can be woefully inadequate even for families with just a few cherished heirlooms.
In communities like Wells and Kennebunk, where historic homes and deep community roots are the norm, collections often reflect our shared local heritage. The traditional furniture crafted in Alfred, maritime artifacts from York Harbor, or artwork depicting Ogunquit's dramatic coastline aren't just valuable possessions—they're pieces of Maine's cultural mix that deserve proper protection.
The True Risks Facing Pine Tree State Heirlooms
Maine's unique geography and climate create specific threats that make antiques insurance particularly important:
Our notorious winter freeze-thaw cycles can devastate antiques when pipes burst. The resulting water damage can ruin wooden furniture, textiles, and irreplaceable documents. Many standard policies exclude or strictly limit coverage for this type of gradual water damage.
The coastal humidity fluctuations in places like Wells and Ogunquit present serious preservation challenges, especially during summer months. Those refreshing ocean breezes we love can bring damaging moisture levels that cause wooden antiques to warp, crack, or develop mold—subtle damage that might not be covered by standard policies.
Burglary trends show thieves often target smaller, easily transportable valuables. This is particularly concerning in communities like Kennebunk and Biddeford, where many homes sit vacant during off-seasons, making them vulnerable targets for theft.
Storm surge and flooding concerns continue to grow for coastal Maine communities. With standard homeowners policies explicitly excluding flood damage, valuable collections in waterfront or near-shore homes face significant risks during increasingly common extreme weather events.
As one Wells collector finded after a basement flood: "I assumed my homeowners insurance would protect my antique furniture. I was heartbroken to learn that not only was flood damage excluded, but even if it had been covered, the policy would have paid just a fraction of the actual value due to depreciation and sub-limits."
How Antiques Insurance Protects More Than Price Tags
Antiques insurance acknowledges that certain possessions simply cannot be replaced with a check. That roll-top desk where your grandfather wrote letters from his Biddeford home, the hand-stitched quilt made by your great-grandmother, or the painting of Portland Head Light that's been in your family for generations—these items connect us to our past in ways that mass-produced replacements simply cannot.
Beyond monetary compensation, specialized coverage often provides access to preservation advice and restoration specialists. After a loss, having your insurer connect you with experts who understand proper techniques for restoring period furniture or preserving damaged artwork can make all the difference in salvaging irreplaceable pieces.
The sentimental value of these items is immeasurable. When that hurricane lamp that guided your ancestors through Maine winters gets accidentally knocked over, or when smoke damage affects your collection of early Maine maps, having proper insurance means you're not just compensated financially—you're given resources to preserve your family's legacy.
As we often tell our clients at Sevigney-Lyons Insurance Agency, protecting your antiques isn't just about financial compensation after a loss—it's about preserving your family's heritage and Maine's cultural history for future generations.
Where Homeowners Insurance Falls Short for Wells & Kennebunk Collectors
Standard homeowners insurance policies in Maine are designed to cover everyday household items, not valuable collectibles or antiques. Understanding these limitations is crucial for collectors in Wells, Kennebunk, and throughout Southern Maine.
When I sit down with clients in our Wells office, they're often surprised to learn their cherished antiques aren't fully protected. Most homeowners policies impose a cap of approximately $2,500 for categories like art, antiques, and collectibles. For a Maine collector with even a modest collection of maritime artifacts or New England furniture, this limit is woefully inadequate.
Beyond these low limits, standard policies typically cover only "named perils" – specific causes of loss actually listed in your policy. While fire, lightning, and theft make the cut, many other risks facing antique collectors don't.
What's notably missing? That beautiful Federal-period mirror that simply disappears without evidence of forced entry falls under "mysterious disappearance" – typically excluded from standard coverage. Similarly, if your grandson accidentally knocks over your antique Kennebunk-made vase, that "accidental breakage" likely isn't covered either. For coastal collectors from Ogunquit to Biddeford, these gaps represent significant financial exposure.
Standard Policy Pitfalls for Antiques Insurance
Beyond these obvious limitations, several hidden pitfalls in standard homeowners policies can leave Maine collectors vulnerable:
Actual Cash Value (ACV) depreciation means your insurer deducts for wear and tear, even though many antiques actually appreciate over time. Imagine your 150-year-old Wells-made secretary desk is damaged in a fire – a standard policy might value it at far less than its true worth precisely because of its age, when its age is exactly what makes it valuable.
Paired items clauses can be heartbreaking for collectors. If you have a pair of antique candlesticks from a Kennebunk estate and one is stolen or damaged, your standard policy might only pay for the replacement of that single item, not the significant loss in value to the pair as a whole. As any collector knows, the pair together is worth far more than the sum of its parts.
Mold exclusions are particularly troublesome in Maine's coastal climate. Many standard policies exclude or severely limit coverage for mold damage, which can be devastating to antique wooden furniture, textiles, and paper items in our humid coastal environment.
As one Ogunquit homeowner finded the hard way: "After a small roof leak during a nor'easter, mold developed on my antique map collection before I even noticed the water intrusion. My standard policy denied the claim entirely due to the mold exclusion, despite the maps being valued at over $15,000."
When to Add a Rider vs Buy a Stand-Alone Policy
For Maine collectors, two main options exist to address these gaps: adding endorsements (riders) to your existing homeowners policy or purchasing a separate specialized Antiques Insurance policy.
Adding a scheduled property endorsement to your homeowners policy makes good sense when you have a small number of valuable items, your collection totals less than $50,000, you prefer the convenience of a single policy, and your items remain primarily in your home. This approach specifically lists each valuable item with an agreed value, eliminating both the sub-limits and the depreciation concerns while providing broader coverage including mysterious disappearance and breakage.
A blanket floater works well for collections where items are added frequently or where individual pieces aren't extremely valuable. Rather than scheduling each piece individually, this endorsement covers a group of similar items up to a total limit – perfect for someone with an evolving collection of Biddeford textile mill memorabilia, for instance.
Stand-alone specialized collectors policies become the better option when your collection exceeds $50,000, you actively buy and sell items, your collection includes extremely rare pieces, or items travel to shows outside your home. These policies are designed specifically with collectors in mind, offering comprehensive protection including automatic coverage for new acquisitions and protection while in transit – crucial if you regularly visit Maine's numerous antique shows and auctions.
For more information custom to Maine collectors, visit our Specialized Insurance for Antiques & Collectibles in Maine resource page. We're happy to review your current coverage and identify any concerning gaps that might leave your treasured pieces at risk.
How to Value and Document Your Antiques for Full Coverage
Proper valuation and documentation aren't just paperwork—they're your safety net when it comes to antiques insurance. Without them, even the most comprehensive policy might leave you empty-handed after a loss.
Setting the Insurable Value of Your Collection
The world of antique valuation can feel like navigating Maine's coastal waters during fog season—tricky and full of hidden challenges. Several different approaches exist, each serving a different purpose:
Fair market value reflects what a willing buyer would pay a willing seller in today's market—typically lower than what you'd pay at a shop and subject to market whims much like Maine's changeable weather.
Retail replacement value represents what you'd actually need to spend to replace your treasure at a dealer—usually higher than fair market value and more realistic for insurance purposes.
Auction comparable value looks at recent auction results for similar items. Like our local real estate markets in Wells and Kennebunk, these values can swing dramatically based on who's bidding that day.
For true protection, most specialized antiques insurance policies use retail replacement or agreed value established through professional appraisal. Think of it as knowing exactly what you'd need to spend if your 18th-century Kennebunk-crafted sideboard needed replacing after a disaster.
Don't forget about inflation guard protection—a feature worth its weight in Maine maple syrup. Some policies automatically increase coverage by up to 6% annually to account for appreciation. Without this, even properly appraised items can become woefully underinsured faster than a summer tourist season in Ogunquit flies by.
The timing of appraisals matters too. Most insurers recommend refreshing appraisals every 3-5 years—sooner if the market for your collection type has shifted significantly. As any Biddeford antique dealer will tell you, markets can be as unpredictable as New England weather.
Research from the Antiques & Collectibles National Association confirms what we've seen firsthand: properly documented antiques with professional appraisals receive claims settlements averaging 40% higher than similar items without proper documentation. That's the difference between partial and true replacement!
Building a Bullet-Proof Evidence File for Antiques Insurance
If there's one thing we've learned serving Maine collectors for decades, it's that documentation is your best ally when disaster strikes. Here's how to create an evidence file that stands up to scrutiny:
Seek out professional appraisals from certified experts belonging to respected organizations like the American Society of Appraisers (ASA), Appraisers Association of America (AAA), or International Society of Appraisers (ISA). A local appraiser who understands Maine-specific items like maritime antiques or Shaker furniture can be particularly valuable.
Maintain detailed provenance records that tell your treasures' stories. For that painting of Portland Head Light or the antique lobster trap coffee table, this might include previous ownership documentation, certificates of authenticity, exhibition history, or mentions in publications.
Capture high-quality photographs showing each item from multiple angles. Don't forget close-ups of signatures, maker's marks, or distinctive features. These images should be updated whenever an item is restored or altered—just as you'd document changes to a historic Wells property.
Save all receipts and sales records documenting purchase details. Even for items handed down through generations of Maine families, any documentation of value helps establish worth.
Record serial numbers, model information, and measurements for all applicable items, treating each piece with the same care you'd give to documenting a historic Kennebunk home.
For true peace of mind, store this documentation in multiple places: a secure cloud service with encryption, a fireproof home safe, a safe deposit box at your local Maine bank, and with your trusted insurance agent at Sevigney-Lyons.
Many of our clients use digital inventory apps designed specifically for collectors, allowing detailed cataloging with photos and descriptions—all securely backed up in the cloud, safe from Maine's notorious power outages during winter storms.
Remember: After a loss, the burden of proving what you owned and what it was worth falls squarely on your shoulders, not your insurer's. The more thorough your documentation, the smoother your claim will be—and in our experience, that makes all the difference during an already stressful time.
Selecting the Right Antiques Insurance Policy: Key Features & Costs
Shopping for antiques insurance in Maine doesn't have to be overwhelming. Understanding a few key coverage options will help you make the best choice for protecting your treasured items.
When comparing policies, pay attention to how they handle valuation—this makes all the difference when you file a claim:
Replacement cost coverage pays to replace damaged items with new ones of similar kind and quality without deducting for depreciation. While this works well for your everyday household items, it's problematic for true antiques that simply can't be "replaced new." After all, how do you replace a new 200-year-old rocking chair?
Actual cash value coverage pays the depreciated value of items—a particularly poor fit for antiques that often appreciate rather than depreciate with age. The last thing you want after losing a valuable antique is to receive a fraction of its worth because the insurance company applied depreciation.
Agreed value coverage is what we recommend as the gold standard for antiques and collectibles. You and your insurer agree on the item's value when the policy is written. If a total loss occurs, you receive the full agreed amount—no haggling, no depreciation, no surprises.
Most quality policies also include inflation guard protection, automatically increasing your coverage limits (typically up to 6% annually) to help keep pace with appreciating values. This is especially important for collections that might grow in value faster than you realize.
Don't overlook accidental breakage coverage—crucial for fragile antiques like the Eastport sea captain's porcelain collection you inherited or those delicate crystal glasses from your grandmother's home in Biddeford. Standard policies often exclude breakage entirely.
As for cost, premium rates for specialized antiques insurance typically range from $1.50 to $2.50 per $100 of insured value annually. For example, a $50,000 collection might cost $750-$1,250 per year to insure—a small price to pay for protecting irreplaceable treasures.
Your choice of deductible will affect your premium. Options generally range from zero to $5,000, with higher deductibles resulting in lower premiums. Many collectors in Wells and Kennebunk opt for lower deductibles on their most valuable pieces, recognizing that even minor damage can significantly impact an antique's value.
Agreed Value Coverage—The Gold Standard for Antiques Insurance
Agreed value coverage deserves special attention because it offers Maine collectors several significant advantages:
With no depreciation applied at claim time, the value established when you purchase your policy is exactly what you'll receive for a total loss. This holds true regardless of market fluctuations, giving you certainty in an uncertain world.
This payout certainty means no disputes over value after a loss occurs. This is particularly important for unique items where determining "fair market value" could become a subjective and contentious process—the last thing you need when dealing with the emotional impact of losing treasured items.
Many agreed value policies include automatic coverage for new acquisitions—a valuable feature for active collectors. Typically, new purchases are automatically covered for 30-90 days (up to certain limits, often $2,000 per item) while you notify your insurer and arrange permanent coverage. This is perfect for those weekend antiquing trips through Ogunquit and York!
A Kennebunk collector recently shared her experience: "When a pipe burst during January's cold snap and damaged my antique quilt collection, I was relieved to have agreed value coverage. There was no debate about the quilts' worth—the insurer simply issued payment for the full agreed value, allowing me to seek out comparable replacements without financial worry."
For the most current information on agreed value coverage options, visit our Antiques and Collectibles Insurance: 2025 Guide.
Estimating Your Annual Premium in Maine
Several factors influence what you'll pay for antiques insurance in Maine:
Item type and fragility affect rates significantly. That delicate porcelain from the old Biddeford mill owner's estate will typically cost more to insure than sturdy wooden furniture, simply because it's more susceptible to damage.
Good news for security-conscious homeowners: security systems can significantly reduce your premiums. Maine insurers typically offer discounts for central station alarm systems, smart home monitoring, security cameras, and temperature and water leak detection systems. These not only protect your collection but save you money.
Distance to fire stations matters in rural Maine areas. Homes in Wells, Kennebunk, Biddeford, and Ogunquit generally have good fire protection, but if your collection is housed in a more remote location along the coast or inland, you may face higher premiums.
Your inland versus coastal location plays a significant role in Maine insurance rates. Properties near the coast in towns like Ogunquit may face higher rates due to increased risk of storm damage, salt air exposure, and humidity fluctuations that can affect delicate antiques.
Don't forget to ask about discount bundles that are often available when you insure your antiques with the same carrier as your home and auto policies. At Sevigney-Lyons Insurance Agency, we can help identify these opportunities to reduce your overall insurance costs while maintaining comprehensive protection.
Special Considerations: Dealers, Transit, and Off-Site Storage
When it comes to protecting antiques in Maine, some situations require extra attention beyond basic coverage. Whether you're running an antique shop in Kennebunk, transporting precious items to a show in Portland, or storing family heirlooms during the off-season, specialized insurance solutions become essential.
Antique Store Owners & Dealers: Beyond Personal Antiques Insurance
If you've turned your passion for antiques into a business in one of Maine's charming coastal towns, your insurance needs expand significantly beyond what a collector requires.
General liability insurance becomes non-negotiable when you welcome customers into your shop. If a visitor trips over that authentic Shaker chair in your Biddeford storefront or a display cabinet tips over in your Wells gallery, this coverage protects you from potentially devastating claims and legal expenses.
Business interruption insurance provides a financial safety net if disaster strikes. Maine's unpredictable weather – from nor'easters to ice storms – can force temporary closures. This coverage replaces lost income when you can't open your doors, helping pay ongoing expenses like rent and utilities.
"After a pipe burst flooded my Kennebunk antique shop last February, business interruption coverage was a lifesaver," shares one local dealer. "It kept us afloat financially during the three months of repairs when we couldn't welcome customers."
Professional liability insurance, also called errors and omissions coverage, protects you when providing expert services like appraisals or authenticity verifications. If you mistakenly authenticate a reproduction as an original, this coverage responds to potential claims.
Workers' compensation isn't optional in Maine if you have employees. When your staff is moving heavy antique armoires or climbing ladders to adjust lighting, accidents can happen. This coverage ensures your team receives medical care and wage replacement if injured on the job.
Bailee coverage specifically protects items belonging to others while in your care – crucial for dealers who accept consignments. Without it, you could be personally liable if a consigned Civil War-era quilt is damaged in your shop.
Many Maine antique dealers find that a comprehensive Business Owner's Policy (BOP) efficiently bundles these coverages together, often at a lower premium than purchasing them separately. At Sevigney-Lyons, we can help tailor a BOP to your specific antique business needs.
Safeguarding Antiques on the Move or on Loan
Maine's antique community is active and mobile – whether participating in the popular Kennebunk Antique Show, loaning pieces to local historical societies, or transporting items between summer and winter homes. These transitions create unique insurance challenges.
Inland marine insurance provides specialized protection for items away from your primary location. Despite its nautical-sounding name (particularly confusing in coastal Maine!), this coverage protects valuables in transit or temporarily located elsewhere. It's essential when bringing your antique silver collection to a show in Ogunquit or loaning period furniture to a museum.
Many standard policies limit or exclude coverage for items in transit, making inland marine protection crucial. For more details, visit our resource on Inland Marine Insurance benefits.
Professional packing and transportation requirements often appear in policies covering high-value antiques. Your insurer may specify that items valued above certain thresholds must be handled by specialized art movers rather than general moving companies. These professionals understand the unique needs of antiques – they won't wrap your 18th-century painting in regular packing paper or stack heavy items on delicate ones.
Climate-controlled transportation becomes especially important in Maine's challenging climate. Our humid summers and freezing winters can wreak havoc on antiques during transit. Wood can warp, paint can crack, and textiles can develop mold in improper conditions. Temperature and humidity control during moves helps prevent these costly damages.
GPS tracking and security protocols may be required for extremely valuable collections. When transporting that rare maritime painting collection between your Ogunquit summer home and winter residence, your insurer might require specific security measures.
Off-site storage considerations matter tremendously for Maine's seasonal residents who may store collections during off-seasons:
"I learned the hard way about storage requirements," one Biddeford collector shares. "I kept my grandfather's antique tool collection in a standard storage unit one winter. The insurance claim was denied because my policy required climate-controlled storage for items over a certain value. Now I know better."
When using storage facilities, be sure to:
- Verify your policy covers items in your specific type of storage
- Understand any climate control requirements spelled out in your policy
- Confirm the security features your insurer expects for stored items
- Check if duration limits apply to storage coverage
At Sevigney-Lyons Insurance Agency, we understand the unique challenges Maine antique dealers and collectors face. Our team can help ensure your treasures remain protected whether they're in your Wells showroom, being transported to a Biddeford exhibition, or safely stored during Ogunquit's quiet season.
Filing a Claim & Frequently Asked Questions
Despite taking every precaution, losses sometimes happen to even the most careful collectors. Understanding how to steer the claims process before disaster strikes can make an already stressful situation much more manageable.
How to File an Antiques Insurance Claim Without Headaches
If your precious Maine antiques suffer damage or theft, follow these steps to ensure a smooth claims experience:
Contact your insurer immediately after finding the loss. Most antiques insurance policies have strict reporting deadlines, sometimes as short as 30 days from when you find the problem. In coastal areas like Wells or Ogunquit where seasonal homes might go unchecked for weeks, this timing becomes especially critical.
Document everything thoroughly before touching or moving damaged items. Take detailed photographs from multiple angles showing the extent of damage. As one Kennebunk collector shared, "The photos I took immediately after our pipe burst saved us thousands – they proved the condition of items before emergency cleanup began."
File a police report for any theft, vandalism, or suspicious loss. Maine insurers will require this official documentation, and the report details often help substantiate your claim. Biddeford and Wells police departments can provide copies of these reports for your insurer.
Prevent further damage if safely possible. If antique furniture is getting wet from a leak, moving it to a dry area makes sense – but document its condition first. During Maine's harsh winters, this might mean relocating items away from drafty windows or leaking areas.
Gather your documentation including appraisals, provenance records, purchase receipts, and pre-loss photographs. That detailed inventory file you created will prove invaluable now. Cloud-stored documentation is particularly helpful if your physical records were damaged in the same event.
Keep meticulous records of all conversations with your insurance company. Note names, dates, promised actions, and claim numbers. This paper trail can be crucial if complications arise later.
Understand salvage rights before settling your claim. If your insurer pays the full agreed value for a completely destroyed antique chair from Ogunquit, they may technically own what remains. Some policies allow you to keep damaged items for a reduced settlement – an important consideration for family heirlooms with sentimental value.
Avoid these common missteps that can complicate your antiques insurance claim:
- Disposing of damaged items before the adjuster inspects them
- Starting restoration without getting approval from your insurer
- Missing deadlines for submitting documentation
- Accepting quick settlement offers without reviewing them against your appraisals
- Failing to document the condition before emergency repairs begin
Frequently Asked Questions about Antiques Insurance in Maine
Does my collection need a new appraisal every five years?
Most Maine insurers recommend updating appraisals every 3-5 years, or sooner if market values have shifted significantly. For collectors of regional pieces like Maine maritime antiques or New England furniture, local market trends can cause values to fluctuate considerably. After a particularly strong season at the Wells antique shows, for example, certain categories might see notable appreciation.
Is accidental breakage covered under antiques insurance?
Specialized antiques insurance typically includes accidental breakage coverage, while standard homeowners policies often exclude it. This distinction becomes crucial for Maine collectors with fragile items like antique china, glassware from Portland Glass Works, or crystal pieces that could easily shatter during our region's frequent power outages and storms.
Are antiques stored in my Ogunquit vacation home protected when I'm not there?
It depends entirely on your policy terms. Some policies restrict coverage during extended absences (typically 30+ days), while others maintain full protection year-round. Given how many coastal Maine properties remain vacant during winter months, seasonal residents should specifically address this with their agent. Some insurers require winterization protocols or regular property checks to maintain coverage.
What happens if an item is partially damaged? Will the insurer pay for restoration?
Quality antiques insurance policies cover reasonable restoration costs by qualified specialists. The best policies also cover "diminution in value" – compensating you if the item loses market value despite expert restoration. For instance, if your antique Biddeford-made clock is damaged and repaired but no longer functions as originally designed, this coverage acknowledges that loss in collector value.
Does flood insurance cover my antiques in a basement?
Standard flood insurance has very limited coverage for basement contents, often excluding them entirely. For Maine coastal homes in Wells or Kennebunk with valuable collections, a specialized policy that explicitly covers flood damage to antiques is essential. This becomes particularly important as coastal flooding and extreme weather events increase in frequency along Maine's southern coast.
Can I insure antiques that I use regularly, like furniture?
Absolutely. Unlike some collectibles policies that only cover items "not in use," quality antiques insurance protects functional antiques that see regular use. That antique dining table where your family gathers for holiday meals in your Kennebunk home, the grandfather clock that still chimes in your Wells living room, or the sterling silver tea service you bring out for special occasions – all can be properly covered while remaining part of your daily life.
Conclusion & Local Expert Help
Protecting your valuable antiques in Maine isn't just about insurance policies – it's about preserving pieces of history that tell your family's story and connect you to our state's rich heritage. As we've seen throughout this guide, standard homeowners insurance simply wasn't designed with your cherished heirlooms in mind.
The coastal humidity of Ogunquit, the winter freeze-thaw cycles in Wells, or the seasonal occupancy patterns common in Maine vacation homes all create unique risks that require specialized protection. When these treasures have been passed down through generations or carefully collected over decades, they deserve insurance that truly understands their value.
At Sevigney-Lyons Insurance Agency, we've been helping Maine families protect their treasures since 1930. Our deep roots in Wells, Kennebunk, Ogunquit, and Biddeford mean we understand the specific challenges local collectors face. We're not just insurance agents – we're your neighbors who share your commitment to preserving Maine's cultural heritage.
What makes our approach different? We take the time to understand your collection and your concerns. Our services include:
Personalized collection assessments that identify your specific risks and coverage needs, whether you're protecting maritime antiques, New England furniture, or Maine artwork.
Access to specialized markets through our partnerships with over 20 top insurance carriers, allowing us to find the perfect antiques insurance solution for collections of any size.
Documentation guidance to help you properly inventory and appraise your items, ensuring you'll have everything needed if a claim occurs.
Regular policy reviews to make sure your coverage keeps pace with changing values and new acquisitions.
Claims advocacy when losses happen, helping you steer the process and ensuring you receive fair treatment.
We often hear from clients who are surprised to learn how affordable proper antiques insurance can be, especially when bundled with other policies. For many collections, the peace of mind comes at a cost equivalent to insuring just a single significant piece.
Whether you're safeguarding a single family heirloom rocking chair or an extensive collection worth hundreds of thousands, we can help you find the right coverage at competitive rates. Our independent agency status means we work for you, not the insurance companies, allowing us to recommend solutions truly custom to your situation.
For a friendly, no-pressure conversation about protecting your antiques, or for a free review of your current coverage, reach out to our team today. We're proud to serve Maine collectors with the expertise and personalized service they deserve.
Learn more about our personal insurance offerings by visiting our Personal Insurance Coverage Provider in Wells, Maine page.
Remember – protecting your antiques isn't just about financial recovery after a loss. It's about ensuring these treasures continue telling their stories for generations to come. Let us help you safeguard what matters most.
