Your Stuff Is Worth More Than You Think

Let’s face it: most of us walk through life thinking our apartments are filled with, well, not much. A few clothes, some electronics, maybe a plant that’s barely hanging on. But here’s the thing, you’re probably sitting on way more value than you realize.

Most renters seriously underestimate what their stuff is actually worth. That’s not just a hunch, that’s potentially thousands of dollars you’d be out if something happened and you didn’t have the right coverage.

Ready for a reality check? Let’s dive in.

Why your “basic stuff” adds up fast

Take a quick mental walk around your place right now. See that laptop you’re probably reading this on? That’s easily $800–$1,500. Your phone? Another $600–$1,200. Those sneakers by the door, the coffee maker, your winter coat, the TV, all those books and records…

Before you know it, you’re looking at $20,000+ in belongings. And that’s just the obvious stuff.

How can you calculate everything you own? 

Here’s how to get a real number on what you actually own:

1. Do the phone walk-through

Grab your phone and film a quick video of each room. Don’t skip the closets, bathroom, or that junk drawer everyone pretends doesn’t exist. This takes maybe 10 minutes, but it’s potentially worth thousands if you ever need to file a claim.

2. Focus on the big ticket items first

Start with anything worth $200+:

• Electronics (laptop, phone, tablet, TV, gaming console)
• Furniture (coffee table, couch, mattress)
• Appliances (coffee machine, blender, air purifier)
• Clothing and accessories (coats, bags, shoes, jewelry)
• Sports and hobby gear (bike, guitar, camera, workout equipment)

3. Don’t forget the “invisible” value

• Kitchen stuff (good knives, small appliances that you own)
• Personal care items (skincare, makeup, grooming tools)
• Books, records, art

4. Add it up by room

Room	Typical value range	Don’t miss
Bedroom	$8,000–$15,000	Mattress, bedding, clothes, jewelry
Living Room	$5,000–$12,000	TV, furniture, books, electronics
Kitchen	$2,000–$5,000	Your appliances, cookware, food
Bathroom	$500–$1,500	Personal care items, medications

What people actually own

Don’t believe us? Here are two scenarios that might sound familiar, and show just how fast “basic stuff” turns into serious money.

The “I don’t have much” graduate student

Thinks they own: $5,000 | Actually owns: $18,500

• MacBook Pro: $1,800
• iPhone: $900
• Bike: $1,200
• Clothes & shoes: $4,000
• Kitchen essentials: $800
• Furniture: $3,500
• Books & supplies: $1,500
• Electronics & misc: $2,000
• Gifts & sentimental items: $2,800
• Total: $18,500

The young professional couple

Thinks they own: $15,000 | Actually owns: $45,000

• Two laptops: $3,000
• Two phones: $1,800
• TV & entertainment setup: $2,500
• Exercise equipment: $1,800
• Kitchen appliances & gadgets: $3,500
• Furniture: $12,000
• Clothes & accessories: $8,000
• Jewelry & watches: $4,500
• Art & decor: $2,500
• Tools & misc: $5,400
• Total: $45,000

What about high-value items? 

Here’s where a lot of people get caught off guard: sub-limits. Most basic renters policies only cover about $1,500–$2,000 for certain valuable items like:

• Jewelry and watches
• Bikes

• Cameras and photography equipment
• Musical instruments
• Art and collectibles

So if your bike gets stolen and it’s worth $2,500, you might only get $1,500 back with your standard renters policy.

The fix? Add Extra Coverage for anything worth more than $1,500. With Lemonade, you get zero-deductible claims on these items plus coverage for “mysterious loss” (aka when stuff just…disappears).

What happens next?

Here’s the thing about renters insurance: it’s one of those adulting wins that’s actually easy. You don’t need to spend hours on paperwork or wait weeks for approval.

With Lemonade, you can:

• Get a quote in 90 seconds
• Start coverage immediately
• File claims through our app (seriously, it’s kind of fun)
• Get paid in minutes for many claims thanks to AI Maya

Plus, we cover your stuff worldwide. So whether it gets stolen from your apartment or lost on a vacation in Thailand, you’re covered.

Ready to protect what you’ve built?

You’ve worked hard for your stuff, don’t let one bad day wipe it all out. And now that you know what you’re actually worth (probably way more than you thought), getting the right coverage is a no-brainer.