| How to Take a Home Inventory |
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Would you be able to remember all the possessions you’ve accumulated over the years
if they were destroyed by a fire? Having an up-to-date home inventory will help you get
your insurance claim settled faster, verify losses for your income tax return and help
you purchase the correct amount of insurance.
Start by making a list of your possessions, describing each item and noting where you
bought it and its make and model. Clip to your list any sales receipts, purchase
contracts, and appraisals you have. For clothing, count the items you own by category
-- pants, coats, shoes, for example –- making notes about those that are especially
valuable. For major appliance and electronic equipment, record their serial numbers
usually found on the back or bottom.
Don't be put off!
If you are just setting up a household, starting an inventory list can be relatively simple.
If you’ve been living in the same house for many years, however, the task of creating a
list can be daunting. Still, it’s better to have an incomplete inventory than nothing at all.
Start with recent purchases and then try to remember what you can about older
possessions.
Big ticket items
Valuable items like jewelry, art work and collectibles may have increased in value since
you received them. Check with your agent to make sure that you have adequate
insurance for these items. They may need to be insured separately.
Take a picture
Besides the list, you can 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.
Videotape it
Walk through your house or apartment videotaping and describing the contents. Or do
the same thing using a tape recorder.
Use a personal computer
Use your PC to make your inventory list. Personal finance software packages often
include a homeowners room-by-room inventory program.
Storing the list, photos and tapes
Regardless of how you do it (written list, floppy disk, photos, videotape or audio tape),
keep your inventory along with receipts in your safe deposit box or at a friend's or
relative's home. That way you’ll be sure to have something to give your insurance
representative if your home is damaged. When you make a significant purchase, add
the information to your inventory while the details are fresh in your mind.
Information source: Insurance Information Institute, Inc.
if they were destroyed by a fire? Having an up-to-date home inventory will help you get
your insurance claim settled faster, verify losses for your income tax return and help
you purchase the correct amount of insurance.
Start by making a list of your possessions, describing each item and noting where you
bought it and its make and model. Clip to your list any sales receipts, purchase
contracts, and appraisals you have. For clothing, count the items you own by category
-- pants, coats, shoes, for example –- making notes about those that are especially
valuable. For major appliance and electronic equipment, record their serial numbers
usually found on the back or bottom.
Don't be put off!
If you are just setting up a household, starting an inventory list can be relatively simple.
If you’ve been living in the same house for many years, however, the task of creating a
list can be daunting. Still, it’s better to have an incomplete inventory than nothing at all.
Start with recent purchases and then try to remember what you can about older
possessions.
Big ticket items
Valuable items like jewelry, art work and collectibles may have increased in value since
you received them. Check with your agent to make sure that you have adequate
insurance for these items. They may need to be insured separately.
Take a picture
Besides the list, you can 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.
Videotape it
Walk through your house or apartment videotaping and describing the contents. Or do
the same thing using a tape recorder.
Use a personal computer
Use your PC to make your inventory list. Personal finance software packages often
include a homeowners room-by-room inventory program.
Storing the list, photos and tapes
Regardless of how you do it (written list, floppy disk, photos, videotape or audio tape),
keep your inventory along with receipts in your safe deposit box or at a friend's or
relative's home. That way you’ll be sure to have something to give your insurance
representative if your home is damaged. When you make a significant purchase, add
the information to your inventory while the details are fresh in your mind.
Information source: Insurance Information Institute, Inc.
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