The Importance of Creating a Home Inventory
You never thought it would happen. Lightning struck while you were away for the weekend, and your home is in ashes. It’s one of the worst moments of your life. While you’re still reeling from shock and sadness, you’ve got to start the process of rebuilding. Your insurance agent is ready to help you file the claim against your homeowner’s insurance policy. She wants to know if you have a home inventory. She says it’s to make sure you get as much back to replace your belongings as possible.
A home inventory? What is that and why would anyone need one?
We all hope we’re never in a situation where we lose everything and have to rebuild from nothing. But because anything can happen, it’s always better to be prepared. A home inventory is one way to help you replace your belongings quicker and in full.
What is a Home Inventory?
Simply put, a home inventory is a list of all of your possessions. The list includes clothing, appliances, electronics, kitchen goods, books, and everything you and your family own. If you own valuable items like jewelry, antiques, or collectibles, an inventory is especially important. For each item on the list, include a description, where you bought it, the make and model, and serial number when available.
- Attach receipts, purchase contracts, and appraisals for any specific items.
- Keep a count of how many items of clothing each family member owns (number of skirts, number of shirts, number of shoes, etc.).
- Write down the serial numbers of your kitchen appliances and electronics.
How to Make and Store Your Home Inventory
Your home inventory doesn’t have to be a handwritten list. You have different options for compiling your inventory. The important part is to get it put together and not procrastinate.
- Type it up in a document or spreadsheet on your computer.
- Take pictures. If you print them out, label the items on the back. If not, create a separate document to help identify the items.
- Record a video and talk about each item.
When you make your home inventory, open up closets and drawers and look under beds to make sure you don’t miss anything. Once you’ve made your home inventory, you can print it and put in a safe deposit box. You can also save it to an external drive or store it in the cloud with programs like Google Drive or DropBox. If you keep a digital copy, make sure to back it up.
Ultimately, however you store your home inventory, you want to make sure you have access to it if your home and belongings are destroyed. It’s not a good idea to keep the only copy on a computer in your home.
A home inventory will help you file your claim, receive the money you need to rebuild, and get your life back together a little quicker. It may seem like a big task, but make a plan and do one room at a time until you have it all done. Even if you don’t complete it, a partial home inventory is better than none at all.
If you have questions about creating a home inventory or anything else you can do to protect your belongings before disaster strikes, contact us at Click Insurance. We’re here to help.
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