How much personal property coverage should I carry on renters insurance in Georgia?
Carry enough personal property coverage to replace everything you own at today’s prices. For most Georgia renters that lands somewhere between $20,000 and $50,000, but the only reliable way to set the number is to add up what your belongings would actually cost to buy new.
Personal property coverage is the part of a renters policy that pays to repair or replace your stuff after a covered loss like fire, theft, or certain water damage. Many people guess low because they forget how much they have accumulated. Walk through each room and tally the big and small items: furniture, mattresses, the TV and electronics, computers, kitchen appliances and cookware, clothing, shoes, linens, sporting gear, tools, and anything in storage. The totals add up fast.
Two settings change how much you collect at claim time:
- Replacement cost pays what it costs to buy a new item today. This is what you want.
- Actual cash value pays the depreciated value, so a five-year-old couch pays out far less than a new one. You can read more in our explainer on actual cash value.
Also watch the sub-limits. Most policies cap categories like jewelry, firearms, cameras, and business property at a few thousand dollars. If you own an engagement ring or pro-grade gear, ask about an endorsement to schedule those items for full protection.
Here is a realistic Georgia example. A tenant in a Savannah apartment estimates $35,000 in belongings and chooses replacement cost coverage. A kitchen fire destroys furniture, a laptop, and most of her clothing. Because she insured to replacement cost, the policy pays roughly $18,000 to rebuy those items new, minus her deductible, instead of the depreciated $9,000 actual cash value would have paid.
Do not pad the number far beyond what you own, since you cannot collect more than your actual loss. The goal is accuracy, not a round figure. See our full renters insurance overview for what else a policy includes. For help building an inventory and setting the right limit, request a free coverage review with our team.