Let’s talk bookcases. More importantly, are bookcases part of Home insurance coverage, and which one? It might sound simple, but the answer can make a big difference when it comes to what your policy actually covers – and what it doesn’t. Knowing whether a bookcase is considered personal property or part of the structure is the kind of detail that matters big time when filing a claim.

So whether you’re a book lover, a cookbook collector, or someone who stores plants, routers, and mystery items on your shelves (we’ve all been there), you’ll want to keep reading. Because when the unexpected happens, you don’t want to be left wondering, “Wait… was that even covered?”

Here’s a handy little rule of thumb I always share with my clients (and now you):

If you can pick it up and carry it out the door, it’s considered Personal Property. Learn more about Personal Property coverage, what is covered, and to what extent here.

If it’s bolted in, built-in, or basically not going anywhere without a crowbar, it’s part of the structure.

Boom. That’s it. That’s the secret sauce.

But let’s break that down just a little more – because, hello, this is insurance, and we like to be thorough (but never boring!).

Let’s say you have a beautiful freestanding oak bookcase from your favorite home store. You bought it, assembled it (or maybe bribed someone else to), and filled it with novels, photo albums, and – let’s be honest – a few knick-knacks you couldn’t say no to.

If you were to move, you could slide that bookcase right into the moving truck. That makes it yours, and in the insurance world, it falls under what we call Contents Coverage or Personal Property Coverage.

So if there’s a covered loss – like a fire, theft, or that all-too-familiar California scenario, an earthquake – and that bookcase gets damaged or destroyed, you’d be looking at your Personal Property coverage to replace it.

Pro tip: Always double-check that your contents coverage is enough to replace all the things you love and use truly. Furniture, electronics, kitchen gadgets, clothes… it adds up fast!

Now, imagine that your bookcase isn’t going anywhere because it’s built into the wall. Maybe it was custom-designed, nestled into that perfect nook in your living room, and you couldn’t imagine your home without it.

That’s no longer “just a bookcase” – that’s part of the structure. In insurance terms, that makes it the responsibility of your Dwelling Coverage.

This coverage is what helps repair or rebuild the physical structure of your home after a covered event. So if that built-in gets damaged during, say, a house fire, your Dwelling coverage comes to the rescue.

Important distinction, right?

This little bookcase distinction applies whether you rent, own a condo, or have a single-family home – but there are a few extra things to keep in mind, depending on your situation.

You’re generally not responsible for the building itself, but you are responsible for everything you own inside of it. So your freestanding bookcase and the things on it? Covered under your Renters Insurance.

Built-ins? That’s likely on the landlord’s policy – but it never hurts to ask or clarify with your broker.

Things get a little trickier. You own the interior of your unit – but whether or not built-ins are covered depends on your HOA’s master policy. Some cover original features (like builder-installed built-ins), while others don’t. Your personal Condo insurance policy might need to pick up the slack. Again, this is where having a good insurance pro on your side pays off.

You’re on the hook for both the dwelling and your personal property, so make sure both areas of your policy are strong enough to fully protect your stuff and your structure.

If you remember nothing else from this article, let it be this:

• Freestanding bookcase = Personal Property
• Built-in bookcase = Part of the Structure

It’s easy to forget until it’s time to file a claim – but that’s why you have us. 😉

Whether you’re buying your first home, updating your Renters policy, or just realized you might be underinsured (it happens more than you’d think), this is a great time to review your coverage.
Grab your policy, make a quick list of big-ticket items, and give your favorite local insurance broker (hello!) a call or message. We’ll help you figure out if you’re covered the way you think you are – and if not, we’ll fix it.
Because at the end of the day, your insurance should work as hard as you do.
And yes – bookcases matter.