Are Your Student’s Valuables Safe – Everything Safe?

How Safe Is Their Stuff?

One more thing to worry about: is the stuff safe? Right up there on the anxiety ladder along with the call from my college daughter saying that she has lost her phone, keys, student ID, or (fill in the blank), is the call I get when they tell me someone took their cell phone, watch, or other valuable.

Through their tears and wailing about their stolen item, I find myself asking — once again — if they had locked their door. You see, for all the time my daughters have lived in dorms, apartments, sorority houses, and off-campus houses, I have personally and regularly witnessed them forgetting to lock their room doors (and — not usually but sometimes — the front door, too). When I make a mere “Mom mention” about that, I get a sassy response along the lines of “I’m just running down the hall to the bathroom,” or, even better, “Mom, no one would ever take my stuff.” It is exactly this naiveté that has taught them a painful lesson. Sadly, not everyone is good and kind and honest.

To be fair, in my daughter’s situation, her property was not taken by a roommate, but by a visitor to their living space. But, I’m pretty sure all of our students have had or will have visitors in their living space at one time or another. This is exactly why I have always purchased renter’s insurance for them. Most recently, I even purchased a dorm vault. They did not have dorm vaults when my older daughter went to school. We all wish that invention had come along a little sooner, that’s for sure!

Put It In The Vault

My current Gator is going into her junior year, so I’m a little late to the Dorm Vault party. This cleverly designed safe takes up very little space and can be attached to a heavy piece of furniture with either a security cable or a bolt. It is designed specifically to comply with residence hall and apartment lease regulations that do not allow it to be mounted to the wall or bedposts. I was so impressed with the Dorm Vault that I reached out to the Founder/Owner to learn more about his company. He agreed to offer readers of HaveUHeard an exclusive 10% discount. Use code HUH10OFF to receive this exclusive offer and lock things up safe and tight.

Equally important is having renter’s insurance. If you read your student’s undergraduate housing agreement, Article 5, Miscellaneous, 5.2, you’ll see that the University is not liable for loss of or damage to Student’s personal property kept in Student’s assigned Space or on or about any of Department’s facilities. For dorms,  your homeowner’s policy will most likely cover 10% of the total personal property or up to $1,000. This means an item costing over $1,000 will not be fully covered.

For off-campus apartments, renter’s insurance may even be required, especially in the newer luxury apartments. What I like about having renter’s insurance is that it covers personal property and is not limited to the mandated liability insurance. You can check with your homeowner’s insurance policy to see if it already covers your student or if they offer it as a an additional option.

Shopping for Safety

I shopped around, checked with some friends, and here’s what I found out about the renter’s insurance companies that many students are using:

National Student Services, Inc.  800-256-6774

Gallagher (aka College Student Insurance)  888-411-4911

Security First (which is a Florida Renter’s Insurance company)  877-900-3974

Nationwide  877-669-6877

Allstate

Progressive

State Farm

Geico

GradGuard

Stillwater Insurance

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