Taking A Home Inventory Before Filing A Claim

Smart homeowners should video tape or take photos of their interior contents and valuables and keep records with their local independent insurance agent or in a safe deposit box. The saved video will help you create a room-by-room inventory of your personal possessions. Having an up-to-date home inventory will also help you when deciding how much insurance to purchase to replace the things you own. By documenting your losses, it may help in expediting your claim and result in a fairer and more substantial settlement.

Getting Started
If you have been setting up a household, starting a home inventory can be relatively simple. You could even attach recent wedding registries to substantiate new possessions. But, if you have been living in a house for many years, this task may seem daunting. If you set aside an afternoon and get your entire household involved, it can be an enjoyable experience. It is much easier to document your possessions before you suffer a loss from a fire, hurricane, burglary or other disaster.

Big Ticket Items
Make a note of expensive items, such as jewelry, furs, and collectibles. Valuable items may need separate insurance. But, don't forget more commonplace items such as toys, CD's and clothing.

Taking Photographs
Along with the written information, consider adding photographs of your possessions, which can be done easily with a digital camera. Those with film cameras can scan print photographs or have their film developer save the images to a disk. You can always simply store your print photographs with a copy of your inventory.

Videotape It
Walk through your house or apartment videotaping the contents (you may be able to do this with your cellphone). Remember to open draws and closets. One advantage of videotape is that you can narrate what you are filming.

*To learn more about home and renters insurance, contact your local Independent Insurance Agent.

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