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studio insurance

updated thu 3 aug 06

 

Margaret Arial on tue 13 may 97

Hi,
We just got homeowners insurance on our renovated farmhouse and have gotten
it on the outbuildings of substance but could not get it if i called them for
business purposes since i make pottery in them and sell it elsewhere i'm not
sure how this works and did not want to rock the boat at this
point.Hurricanes tornadoes and fire were my main concern here initially.Does
anyone have any thoughts on this? i am not selling off the property at this
time but would like that option in the future as well as to teach some
classes as i have 4400 sqft but would want liability coverage should i
venture that way.Even though my studio is not built like a home the valuation
was established at sqft replacement on par with a home with like coverage for
contents.I just don't know what they would do should Hugo's sibling come
along and they get a claim for kilns pug mills and the like? I worry about
asking stupid questions and giving more information than i need to (THE AGENT
SAID HE DIDN'T HEAR ME WHEN I SLIPPED AND SAID THE UPPER STUDIO WAS A FORMER
ARMY BARRACKS) that would disqualify my getting any coverage, however i want
my claim paid for bonafied losses of magnitude.If you prefer contact me
directly with comments.
Margaret ,my lettuce from the garden tastes great and little strawberries,
tomatoes and peppers are formed already.I am estastic being a grandmother for
the second time to a grandson, this time.

elca branman on wed 5 nov 03


The insurance companies lost a lot of money on Hurricane Andrew a couple
of years ago in Florida. Our insurance has almost doubled. With the
fires in California, this may happen again.

The rise in our rates here had nothing to do with us or any personal
mishaps.

Elca Branman

http://www.elcabranman.com

________________________________________________________________
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Bobbruch1@AOL.COM on wed 5 nov 03


Just received the insurance bill for the upcoming year, and noted a 40%
increase in premiums over the last few years. I'd be interested to know if this is
part of a national trend or whether my carrier is out of line. This is for the
most basic coverage, no supplies, inventory, students, assistance, or studio
sales etc. And - I've never filed a claim.

Thanks,

Bob Bruch

wayneinkeywest on thu 6 nov 03


Bob:
Unfortunately, this is part of a national trend.
Our liability insurance (business) has gone up
between 15-20% for each of the last three years.
Our auto went up a more "reasonable" (?) 12%.
Our homeowners jumped a whopping 32% last
year, and I don't even want to compute what the
increases were for our wind and our flood
coverages (required when you have a mortgage
in S. FL.) Makes me ill thinking about it. BTW,
no claims in the past 17 years. Our agent
doesn't even apologize anymore. He just
says "...you had better sit down..."

For these increases, you can thank the
court system for awarding "stupidity judgements",
like the woman that dumped coffee in her lap,
and of course the natural disasters we have all had.
Time to pay off the mortgage (sigh) and get
out from underneath it. (Yeah, I wish...)

If you think your carrier is out of line, just check
with any independent agent and get a quote.
Just make sure that you're comparing apples
and apples when it comes to coverage.
Wayne Seidl

> Just received the insurance bill for the upcoming year, and noted a 40%
> increase in premiums over the last few years. I'd be interested to know if
this is
> part of a national trend or whether my carrier is out of line. This is for
the
> most basic coverage, no supplies, inventory, students, assistance, or
studio
> sales etc. And - I've never filed a claim.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bob Bruch

Carolynn Palmer on thu 6 nov 03


Seems to be a national trend, don't know where you're located, but here in
Michigan, our studio insurance and our house insurance have both increased
around 40+%. We called our agent immediately upon receiving the bills and got a
song and dance about how all insurance is experiencing this increase "due to an
increase in claims the previous year caused by so many disasters in our state."

Made about as much sense as the weekly rise and fall of gasoline prices!
-Carolynn Palmer, Somerset Center, Michigan


In a message dated 5/11/03 6:51:18 PM, Bobbruch1@AOL.COM writes:

<< Just received the insurance bill for the upcoming year, and noted a 40%
increase in premiums over the last few years. I'd be interested to know if
this is
part of a national trend or whether my carrier is out of line. This is for the
most basic coverage, no supplies, inventory, students, assistance, or studio
sales etc. And - I've never filed a claim.
Thanks,
Bob Bruch >>

Susan Fox-Hirschmann on thu 6 nov 03


Its the old saying
"Can't live with it (cause of price_
can't live without it!"
Susan
Annandale, VA

pdp1@EARTHLINK.NET on thu 6 nov 03


Too bad there are not Insurance Co-Ops or Unions ( are there
any?) whose subscribers-members may support the duplication
of the general formalities of the insurance disciplines,
while having reasonable rates and deferences to
subscribers-members.


Otherwise we remain dependant on rigged market offerings of
services as are not sympathetic to other than their
stock-holders greed...and their own.


Phil
Las Vegas

----- Original Message -----
From: "Carolynn Palmer"

> Seems to be a national trend, don't know where you're
located, but here in
> Michigan, our studio insurance and our house insurance
have both increased
> around 40+%. We called our agent immediately upon
receiving the bills and got a
> song and dance about how all insurance is experiencing
this increase "due to an
> increase in claims the previous year caused by so many
disasters in our state."
>
> Made about as much sense as the weekly rise and fall of
gasoline prices!
> -Carolynn Palmer, Somerset Center, Michigan
>
>
> In a message dated 5/11/03 6:51:18 PM, Bobbruch1@AOL.COM
writes:
>
> << Just received the insurance bill for the upcoming year,
and noted a 40%
> increase in premiums over the last few years. I'd be
interested to know if
> this is
> part of a national trend or whether my carrier is out of
line. This is for the
> most basic coverage, no supplies, inventory, students,
assistance, or studio
> sales etc. And - I've never filed a claim.
> Thanks,
> Bob Bruch >>
>
>
____________________________________________________________
__________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your
subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached
at melpots@pclink.com.

Steve Slatin on thu 6 nov 03


Phil --

If I understand correctly, what you're describing is similar to what's
known as mutual insurance. Bigger in the life insurance area than in
other insurance. Buying a policy of mutual insurance makes you both a
policy owner and a stockholder in the firm itself. The insurance policy
puts you under contract to pay into the common fund from which claims
are paid.

The last few years there have been a couple of big mutual insurance
funds
that "de-mutualized" -- they eliminated the membership requirement and
paid out stock in the firm to all existing members under the old mutual
structure. Had some interesting tax consequences.

-- Steve, who found ice in his slip-bucket today in the AFTERNOON!

-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of
pdp1@EARTHLINK.NET
Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2003 12:11 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: Studio Insurance

Too bad there are not Insurance Co-Ops or Unions ( are there
any?) whose subscribers-members may support the duplication
of the general formalities of the insurance disciplines,
while having reasonable rates and deferences to
subscribers-members.


Otherwise we remain dependant on rigged market offerings of
services as are not sympathetic to other than their
stock-holders greed...and their own.


Phil
Las Vegas

Kathi LeSueur on thu 6 nov 03


OWLPOTTER@AOL.COM wrote:

>Seems to be a national trend, don't know where you're located, but here in
>Michigan, our studio insurance and our house insurance have both increased
>around 40+%. We called our agent immediately upon receiving the bills and got a
>song and dance about how all insurance is experiencing this increase "due to an
>increase in claims the previous year caused by so many disasters in our state."
>
>Made about as much sense as the weekly rise and fall of gasoline prices!
>-Carolynn Palmer, Somerset Center, Michigan
>
>
>
>
>
Carolyn,
Call Dobson McOmber in Ann Arbor and see if they will write you a
policy. They moved us from CNA to Michigan Insurance Co three years ago.
Our increase this year was minimal. Dobson is an independent agent and
can fit the policy to you.

K

Kathi LeSueur on thu 6 nov 03


pdp1@EARTHLINK.NET wrote:

>Too bad there are not Insurance Co-Ops or Unions ( are there
>any?) whose subscribers-members may support the duplication
>of the general formalities of the insurance disciplines,
>while having reasonable rates and deferences to
>subscribers-members.>>>>>
>

I don't think this would be much of a solution. People seem to think
that if they don't make a claim their rate should not go up. And, they
often think they deserve to get back in claims each year every penny
they put out each year. But it takes just one large claim to eat up the
payments of 1000 others. Just think about the losses in California. If
your insurance company writes policies for California homeowners and
businesses you are going to pay for the losses. In the past insurance
companies were able to offset costs with their earnings in the market.
That is no longer true. And, think of the number of natural disasters
that have taken place in the past five years. Its no wonder rates are
going up dramatically.

And, yes there are co-ops for insurance. One I was insured by a number
of years ago went belly up. Insurance is a tough business .

Kathi

>
>
>
>
>

Millie Carpenter on thu 6 nov 03


there used to be Assurance Societies at the turn of the last century.
Mostly religious or immigrant groups, they seem to have gone the way
of everything that was good and simple. Perhaps the potters council
could rejuvinate the idea

Here in the DC area, not only did the insurance rates shoot up this
year because of the natural disasters, but we got a special notice
reminding us because of where we live, that acts of war, including
domestic terrorism are not covered, got this notice from homeowners and
health companies.

Millie in Md. in the soft drizzley spring that we are having in Md.
;-)


On Thursday, November 6, 2003, at 03:11 PM, pdp1@EARTHLINK.NET wrote:

> Too bad there are not Insurance Co-Ops or Unions ( are there
> any?) whose subscribers-members may support the duplication
> of the general formalities of the insurance disciplines,
> while having reasonable rates and deferences to
> subscribers-members.
>
>
> Otherwise we remain dependant on rigged market offerings of
> services as are not sympathetic to other than their
> stock-holders greed...and their own.
>
>
> Phil
> Las Vegas

pdp1@EARTHLINK.NET on thu 6 nov 03


Hi Kathi,



For example...

A co-operative Assurance Co.

Ceiling 5,000.00, or 10,000...or 15,000.00 say, and, only
for Ceramic Studios.

Simple guidelines of what is covered and what is not, and
why...and, tips on how not TO need to file a claim as for
common sense safety and risk lowering.

Fire, Flood, Acts of God, Riot, Stampedes, Martial Law,
foreign embargo, I-screwed-up, etc clauses as are
covered...reference and appeals may be made to standard
underwriter risk considerations and defferential
consideration made for the reasonable risks of location,
particulars ( KIln in living room) and so on.

Cheapest possible 'rates'...hopefully even character
references from extant subscribers, or something to weed out
scammers, for subscribers TO be accepted.

etc.

It can be anything...it would be whatever someone makes it
TO be.


Best...

Phil
Las Vegas

----- Original Message -----
From: "Kathi LeSueur"


> pdp1@EARTHLINK.NET wrote:
>
> >Too bad there are not Insurance Co-Ops or Unions ( are
there
> >any?) whose subscribers-members may support the
duplication
> >of the general formalities of the insurance disciplines,
> >while having reasonable rates and deferences to
> >subscribers-members.>>>>>
> >
>
> I don't think this would be much of a solution. People
seem to think
> that if they don't make a claim their rate should not go
up. And, they
> often think they deserve to get back in claims each year
every penny
> they put out each year. But it takes just one large claim
to eat up the
> payments of 1000 others. Just think about the losses in
California. If
> your insurance company writes policies for California
homeowners and
> businesses you are going to pay for the losses. In the
past insurance
> companies were able to offset costs with their earnings in
the market.
> That is no longer true. And, think of the number of
natural disasters
> that have taken place in the past five years. Its no
wonder rates are
> going up dramatically.
>
> And, yes there are co-ops for insurance. One I was insured
by a number
> of years ago went belly up. Insurance is a tough business
.
>
> Kathi
>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
____________________________________________________________
__________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your
subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached
at melpots@pclink.com.

Janet Kaiser on wed 12 nov 03


Do not forget that the company you insure with / buy insurance
off is not the end of the road where the buck stops (so to
speak). They are also underwritten by global enterprises. For all
you know, ABC Insurance of Nebraska, USA may be underwritten by a
Swiss corporation or Lloyds of London (which nearly went belly-up
following a spate of oil tankers hitting rocks around the world a
few years ago, inc. the Amoco disaster in Alaska).

Because the insurance business is global, the costs of all
natural and man-made disasters are borne by *everyone* who pays
insurance *world-wide*. Whether it is the ridiculous amounts paid
out for litigation and frivolous law suits in the USA, an oil
tanker disaster off the coast Spain, severe flooding along the
Elbe river or mud-slips in Latin America, any large payouts
ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD also affects personal insurance rates no
matter where in the world you live...

It has gone beyond the simple association, affiliation and group
assurance systems and schemes of the past and is all part of the
insidious globalisation of daily life which most of us remain
totally oblivious to, but which provide a very small number of
individuals with huge wealth at the cost of ordinary folk
everywhere around the world from Albania to Zimbabwe...

Sincerely

Janet Kaiser -- in the UK where the insurance industry is
considering introducing a lie detector in a bid to cut down the
number of fraudulent claims being made... Incredible when in my
experience you dutifully pay your premiums, only to be told that
you are not covered when you do make a claim once in every 30 to
40 years... I am obviously missing something!?

*** IN REPLY TO THE FOLLOWING MAIL:
>there used to be Assurance Societies at the turn of the last
century.
>Mostly religious or immigrant groups, they seem to have gone
the way
>of everything that was good and simple. Perhaps the potters
council
>could rejuvinate the idea
*** THE MAIL FROM Millie Carpenter ENDS HERE ***
***********************************************************
The top posted mail was sent by Janet Kaiser
The Chapel of Art : Capel Celfyddyd
8 Marine Crescent : Criccieth : Wales : UK
Centre of Excellence for The Arts
Home of The International Potters' Path
Tel: ++44 (01766) 523570 http://www.the-coa.org.uk
Open: 13.00 to 17.00hrs : Tuesday to Saturday
************** AVG Virus Protected ********************

wayneinkeywest on wed 12 nov 03


That's IT! I have had ENOUGH of high premiums, poor service
and lackadaisical coverages.
Potters must now embark on a new world project...to cover the
world, and keep it safe, we should all build enough tiles to completely
insulate the planet from danger. One of the math wizards no doubt
can tell us the surface area of the planet, which will then
get divided by the number of metal-workers, potters, and others capable
of creating impenetrable tiles to cover the planet.
Whomever is not perceived to be a threat can stay under the tiles, and all
the threatening ones (depending) can move outside the barrier with all the
nasty weather that causes our insurances to go up.

Sound like a plan? (Oh , somebody slap me!)
Wayne Seidl

> Do not forget that the company you insure with / buy insurance
> off is not the end of the road where the buck stops (so to
> speak). They are also underwritten by global enterprises. For all
> you know, ABC Insurance of Nebraska, USA may be underwritten by a
> Swiss corporation or Lloyds of London (which nearly went belly-up
> following a spate of oil tankers hitting rocks around the world a
> few years ago, inc. the Amoco disaster in Alaska).
>
> Because the insurance business is global, the costs of all
> natural and man-made disasters are borne by *everyone* who pays
> insurance *world-wide*. Whether it is the ridiculous amounts paid
> out for litigation and frivolous law suits in the USA, an oil
> tanker disaster off the coast Spain, severe flooding along the
> Elbe river or mud-slips in Latin America, any large payouts
> ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD also affects personal insurance rates no
> matter where in the world you live...
>
> It has gone beyond the simple association, affiliation and group
> assurance systems and schemes of the past and is all part of the
> insidious globalisation of daily life which most of us remain
> totally oblivious to, but which provide a very small number of
> individuals with huge wealth at the cost of ordinary folk
> everywhere around the world from Albania to Zimbabwe...
>
> Sincerely
>
> Janet Kaiser -- in the UK where the insurance industry is
> considering introducing a lie detector in a bid to cut down the
> number of fraudulent claims being made... Incredible when in my
> experience you dutifully pay your premiums, only to be told that
> you are not covered when you do make a claim once in every 30 to
> 40 years... I am obviously missing something!?

Janet Kaiser on wed 12 nov 03


Oh, but Wayne Sweety, we started doing that in 1997... Still need
another 3,000 tiles just to finish The International Potters'
Path a paltry 50 sq metres which was supposed to be completed by
the Millennium. Don't need a mathematical genius to work out it
will take forever to complete, but if you make the tiles I
promise we will continue building! LOL

Janet -- battoning down the hatches... Warnings of structural
damage from severe weather coming in from the direction of
Florida!! Why is the USA currently sending us all its crap?!?! If
you do this to your friends, heaven help your enemies!? :o)

*** IN REPLY TO THE FOLLOWING MAIL:

>That's IT! I have had ENOUGH of high premiums, poor service
>and lackadaisical coverages.
>Potters must now embark on a new world project...to cover the
>world, and keep it safe, we should all build enough tiles to
completely
>insulate the planet from danger.

*** THE MAIL FROM wayneinkeywest ENDS HERE ***
***********************************************************
The top posted mail was sent by Janet Kaiser
The Chapel of Art : Capel Celfyddyd
8 Marine Crescent : Criccieth : Wales : UK
Centre of Excellence for The Arts
Home of The International Potters' Path
Tel: ++44 (01766) 523570 http://www.the-coa.org.uk
Open: 13.00 to 17.00hrs : Tuesday to Saturday
************** AVG Virus Protected ********************

Meg Levine on tue 26 oct 04


I am looking for a new liability/property insurance policy for my studio. It is hard to get a policy in the NY area these days. Does anyone have a carrier/insurance agent in the tri-state NY area for studio coverage that they would recommend? Thanks, Meg Levine mlceramics@aol.com

Morgan Britt on wed 27 oct 04


Is your studio and your residence on the same property? My agent found
me a policy through The Hartford. It is economical and also allows me
to have business pursuits on my home property. It does not cover my
equipment and inventory costs completely if say... the studio burned
down... but it does cover a percentage of it, the building. and also
will kick in if anyone were hurt in the studio.

I'm looking for a simple product liability policy if anyone has ideas.
I was told to look in the archives but didn't find any, and the Potters
Guild doesn't seem to offer it either.

Morgan Britt

Mayssan Shora Farra on wed 27 oct 04


Hello Morgan

I got mine through the (no agent)Hartford too as part of our homeowner's
insurance, it also covers shows and my work that is someplace else on
exhibit ( after deductible) and all liability, and I told them how much my
equipement is worth and they will pay it , I can up it but the premium will
go up then.

It was reasonable and they just came out with it this year for home based
businesses as they saw the need for it.

We have had Hartford( with AARP) for a few years now for home and cars and
they have been easy to deal with and quite reasonable, In certain things it
is good to grow old :)

Mayssan in drizzley Charleston WV

http://www.clayvillepottery.com

nori on tue 1 aug 06


hi, everyone.

i need some input on studio insurance - i'm a first-time buyer, with no
experience other than auto & home.

i'm part of a group ceramics studio with 5 members.

we rent 1500 square feet of studio space in a large, industrial building.

we have a workroom, where all the forming is done... wheel & hand building.

there's a separate kiln / glaze room that is shut off, with a vented
electric kiln & our glaze materials.

there's a 3rd room, which is our show room / library.

i've been talking to insurance agents about this but i'm not getting any
consistent answers.

i think / guess we need insurance to provide a safety net against

- loss / damage of equipment, material & inventory
- injuries to visitors
- product liability

i'm not sure we need a safety net against studio members getting injured?

and i'm getting conflicting input about whether we should have a group
policy, or each of have our own.

at any rate, any advice you can offer on this would be greatly
appreciated, including

- types of insurance
- dollar levels
- good / bad experiences with specific carriers

thanks so much for any input!

--
Clifton, Norwich & Sabra

My pottery www.catclay.com

PEO International www.peointernational.org/about/

A little effort + no money = a big difference! www.samplesoap.org

Kathi LeSueur on wed 2 aug 06


nori wrote:

> hi, everyone.
>
> i need some input on studio insurance...........
> i'm part of a group ceramics studio with 5 members.
> we rent 1500 square feet of studio space in a large, industrial
> building.>>>


You need to contact an agency that specializes in commercial insurance.
This will not be a company like State Farm, Allstate, etc who write
primarily residential policies. This will be an independent agency who
writes insurance for a number of companies and can tailor the coverage
to your needs.

Kathi

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