In this day and age, it’s more important than ever to make sure you document the contents of your home both accurately and frequently. It’s surprising how many people don’t realize the value of the things they own. They look at their insurance policies and think the personal property limit must be fine because it sounds like a lot of money. However, when you truly start inventorying your contents, you’ll be surprised at the grand total. It adds up very quickly.
Many insurers can provide you with kits to help track your contents. You can even find these online sometimes, or you can easily make a form yourself. There are also books and software available to assist you in what can be a massive undertaking the first time you attempt to complete the task.
Following are some tips in how to catalog the contents of your home.
*Don’t be overwhelmed. Take one room at a time, one wall at a time. You don’t want to miss anything by hurrying through it. In this case, slow and steady may just win the race.
*Make a detailed listing of your home contents. Include the make, model, and serial number of electronics and appliances. If it’s a collectible, record the information from the back or bottom of the piece. Anything important to the valuation of an item, or identifying it with precision should be documented.
*Take photos of everything. Piece them together as if you were walking through your home. You want to photo document everything, and if possible, from all sides, especially on valuable pieces and collectibles.
*Back up the photos with a video camera recording of your home. Don’t go too fast. Take your time, letting the camera clearly document each valuable and where they are located within the home.
*If you have your receipts, keep them with your inventory listing. Ideally, you want to have your description, the photographs, and the receipts all together.
*If you don’t have receipts, record as much as you can remember about when and where you purchased the item, as well as how much it cost.
*Don’t ignore the contents that are kept outside your home, as well as those the garage, attic, or basement, where appropriate. All of these should also be detailed on your inventory listing, photographed, and videotaped.
Cataloging the contents of your home can take a bit of time, but once it’s done, all you have to do is make sure to update it with each new purchase. You want to update your photographs once a year, if possible. Also, keep a copy of your inventory locked up. Remember, if your home is destroyed by fire and you haven’t safeguarded your contents listing, the work could all be for naught. Keep a copy in a safe deposit box or with a trusted family member.