The Basics of a Home Inventory

The Basics of a Home Inventory

13December,2018
By Hoffman Brown Insurance | | No Comments
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Benefits of a home inventory and how to get started.

If your home suffered a disaster tomorrow and your belongings were destroyed, would you remember everything you owned off the top of your head? Would you recall the value, make, model, and condition? Most homeowners would struggle. That is why a home inventory is an essential part of protecting your property.

Why Create a Home Inventory?

In order to settle a homeowner insurance claim, the insurer needs to know what the stolen or damaged items were, when you purchased them, their value, and any other details you can recall. Most people would not be able to do this by memory for all their possessions, especially after a traumatic experience like a disaster or a burglary. Having a home inventory on hand will allow you to know exactly what you lost, and it gives the insurer a better understanding of how they can help you recover.

In addition to aiding the claims process after a disaster, a home inventory can help you keep track of warranties, establish how much home insurance you really need, and highlight issues to consider in financial planning. Although a written list is a great start, taking photographs and video recordings can ultimately help you prove ownership of items.

How to Get Started

  • Gather needed supplies: a camera and document holder for any receipts.
  • Move room by room to make the task easier.
  • Capture each item separately. Sets of items, such as dinner plates, can be photographed together.
  • Record each item, paying particular attention to any model or serial numbers. Describe your belongings in as much detail as possible.
  • Gather receipts of any belongings and keep them safe.
  • Pay particular attention to big-ticket items.
  • Keep the digital recording safe. Email a version of it to yourself or save it in the cloud so that you can access it anywhere.
  • Update your home inventory whenever you sell/donate/purchase items.

Homeowners need peace of mind that their property and possessions are protected. The insurance professionals at Hoffman Brown Company can help to do just that. Get in touch today.

COVID-19 Update:

The Coronavirus, officially COVID-19, has become a global health emergency. One of the measures Hoffman Brown Company has taken to keep our CLIENTS and Teammates safe was to design a complete virtual work environment. For the foreseeable future, our colleagues will be conducting business virtually to avoid any disruption in our ability to serve you. These measures are based on the CDC’s guidance and will evolve with the situation. Please know that we are fully functional, available and look forward to being of service.