Renters · Updated September 2026
Walk through the place and total what it would cost to replace what is in it. Bed, couch, table, chairs, television, laptop, phone, kitchen equipment, clothing, tools, bikes, sports gear. Most people land somewhere between twenty and forty thousand dollars and are startled by the number, because nobody buys a household at once.
A phone video of each room, including inside closets and drawers, takes ten minutes and is worth more than a spreadsheet at claim time. Store it somewhere that is not inside the apartment.
Actual cash value depreciates everything you own. A six-year-old television pays out as a six-year-old television. Replacement cost pays what a comparable new one costs. The premium difference is typically small. Ask which one your quote is built on, because cheap quotes are often cheap for this reason.
If a guest is injured in your unit, if your dog bites someone, or if a fire you caused spreads to neighboring units, the liability portion defends you and pays. Claims of that kind can run far beyond anything your belongings are worth.
Leases often specify a minimum liability limit, commonly one hundred thousand dollars. Raising it to three hundred thousand usually costs a few dollars a month and is one of the better values in personal insurance.
Engagement rings and other jewelry, firearms, cameras, instruments, collectibles and sometimes high-value electronics sit under low sub-limits, especially for theft. Scheduling them covers an agreed value, usually with a lower or no deductible and broader perils, including losing the item rather than having it stolen.
An appraisal or a receipt is normally required. If you own one item worth more than a couple of thousand dollars, this is the conversation to have.
If a fire or water loss makes the unit unlivable, loss of use pays for temporary housing and the extra costs of living elsewhere. Check the limit — in a tight rental market, a short-term place can cost considerably more than your current rent.
A policy covers the people named on it. Roommates generally need their own, which also keeps one person's claim off the other's record. Couples on a lease together can usually be named on a single policy.
Questions about your own situation? Call 417.623.8300 or send us your current policy. We are licensed in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma.
Tell us roughly what you own and we will price it. Most renters policies run about $125 a year.