Home Inventory
Make sure the insurance company pays you fairly for all of your covered property that is damaged or destroyed in an unforeseen loss. An inventory of damaged contents of your home and other property showing the quantity, description and amount of loss will substantiate your claims and make the process a lot smoother. Remember: it’s much easier to document your possessions before you suffer a loss from a fire, tornado, burglary or other disaster.
How to Create Your Home Inventory
Take pictures and Videotape! Take pictures of rooms and important individual items. On the back of the photos, note what is shown and where you bought it or the make. Don’t forget things that are in closets or drawers. Walk through your house or apartment videotaping and describing the contents, or do the same thing using a tape recorder.
You can also create and maintain your home inventory with free software available from the Insurance Information Institute. At www.knowyourstuff.org, you can download the software, learn how to use it, and continue to update your inventory after it is completed.
What Should You Inventory?
You should take inventory of everything of value in your home. Write a brief description of the item including when and where it was bought and its make or model number. Here is a list of some of the most common items:
- Electronics
- Kitchen and household appliances
- Furniture
- Clothing
- Jewelry
- China
- Silverware
- Artwork
- Antiques
- Linens
- Books and CDs
Some items, like jewelry, antiques, and other special items, may need to be insured separately. R&R Insurance can help you make sure you have the coverage you need.
Storing the Inventory
Store a copy of your inventory in a safe place outside of you home—with a friend or in a safe deposit box. If your inventory is electronic, store it on a cd or flash drive. That way you’ll be sure to have something to give your insurance representative if your home is damaged. Also, whenever you make a significant purchase, remember to add the information to your inventory while the details are fresh in your mind.
Keeping Important Documents
It’s also important to keep a record of legal documents, such as birth certificates and passports, and financial documents, such as bank accounts and insurance policies. You can also use your home inventory to record information about these papers. Note insurance policy and bank and investment account numbers along with and insurance policy contact information.
Contact us today for more information about your home inventory.