In the event of a disaster, you may wind up losing your belongings, from a few items lost to flooding in the basement, to an entire household full of stuff. That is why it is important to create an inventory of your things , so you can have a record of anything you might lose.
For insurance purposes, you want to make sure that you have all of the information that you need. This way, you are more likely to be able to get the full replacement cost of your valuables.
Creating an inventory can be done in as little as an hour. Go through your home, room by room, and document your valuables. You want to write down information about the item as well as take some pictures. Include brand (make) names, if you can, plus approximate date purchased, model numbers and serial numbers if applicable.
When you take the photos of your item, you want to include enough background in the pictures so it is obvious that you actually owned these items and had them in your home. Of course, also take close ups, if it is important to note details of a piece, such as a watermark or other proof of originality or rarity.
You’ll also want to take photos of your home, itself, both outside and inside, showing its condition and making special note of any home additions or improvements.
Please photograph important paperwork, such as the deed to your home or your car registration, if you don’t already have this paperwork stored safely away.
Once you are done going through each room, save your information in one place on your computer, and then also save the information to a flash drive that will be stored off site of your home, such as in a safe deposit box or with a close relative.
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