Keep an Inventory of Your Home

When was the last time you did a Home Inventory? Have you ever done one? If you have, then has it been placed in a safe deposit box or a fire retardant safe? So you ask- what do we have to lose?

In the case of a fire, flood, or burglary; a lot!

Consider cataloging your home and its contents. Make up a Home Inventory Documenting Checklist. With this you’ll be able to create a home inventory quickly and easily using a notebook, digital/video camera, or a combination of whatever you come up with. So then what’s the payoff? Simple. Knowing that after an unfortunate circumstance within your home, you're going to be completely in control of knowing what your family had, and what might be missing afterwards. Let’s face it, how can anyone really remember everything that’s in a household.

Begin by starting to catalog large or valuable items, like furniture.Record these pieces individually. Top of Form

In the Living Room, record all the furniture and note when and where you purchased big-ticket electronic equipment, such as televisions and computers.Be very detailed. State when an item was purchased and what a replacement would cost today. Better yet-save and copy those receipts. Group together smaller items, such as DVDs and CDs.Estimate how much you paid and when you bought them.

Make note of any artwork.These should be on your homeowners insurance if they aren’t already.

Have appraisals for all expensive jewelry. These forms are crucial.

Inventory all your families’ clothes, (coats, shoes, boots, handbags, etc.). Don’t forget all the smaller items too. Undergarments are costly and are easily overlooked since they may seem insignificant during your inventory.

In your kitchen, record the make, model, and serial numbers of your appliances. Take a photo of these so you may accomplish this task in minutes. Catalog your dishes, flatware, china-even the Tupperware.Estimate how much you paid for them collectively. Don’t forget the washer and dryer.Write down their makes and model numbers or snap that photo of the manufactures placard with all the information on it.

Your garage may have thousands of dollars stored in it. Round up the small tools and sports gear.Itemize drills, lawn mowers, snow blowers, and bicycles. And are there any ATV’s or Recreational Vehicles the back barn or shed?

Safeguard Your Inventory. Keep your original notebook and pictures in a bank safe-deposit box.If you wish, make additional copies to keep at home, if you own a fireproof safe in which to store them. Consider having a backup copy. You might want to entrust a family member or friend with an extra copy of your inventory.But don’t give it to someone who lives in your immediate area—your neighbors’ homes, along with yours, could be affected by a family emergency such as a tornado or flood. Update your home inventory every time you make a big purchase.

Related Content:
Home Security Begins Before Intruders Enter
Prevent Theft: Never Stash Valuables Here
Protect Your Residential Keys  

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