If I asked you to make a list of everything in your home from memory, could you do it? For most people the answer is no, which is why a list of items in your home, or a "Home Inventory", is so important. With recent natural disasters in California, we are reminded that everything can be wiped away in a flash. Whether natural disaster, burglary, electrical fire or who knows, there are lots of reasons why your insurance company would require detailed, documented proof of items that were stolen, damaged or destroyed. They will want an itemized list, which is virtually impossible to create when you're reeling from a disaster and trying to recall everything from memory. A home inventory is not just for disasters though, it may help you adjust your current coverage as your determine what it would really cost to rebuild if everything were gone. For most people, the value of their home falls well short of the value with all their belongings.

What to Include

As much as possible! Obviously you'll want to list the big stuff like furniture, appliances, jewelry and valuables, but how about the little things? What about the drapes, rugs, toys, dishes, etc? EVERY item in your home needs to be documented. Don't hesitate to include video tapes, photographs and receipts in a home inventory as well.

Where to Start

Though it may seem like a HUGE task, the hardest part is usually just getting started. Preparing your home inventory can be even easier with the right tools. Most people start with the old notepad and a pen. While this is an option, inventory software is an excellent alternative. You can find home inventory software called Know Your Stuff (www.KnowYourStuff.org) provided by the Insurance Information Institute. This software is not complicated to use makes creating a home inventory much less of a headache. It even has an inventory wizard and the ability to store digital or scanned photographs and receipts. Plus, once you have completed your inventory, it makes it easier to keep your information up-to-date and keep an accurate record of your possessions. You can Google "Home Inventory" to find even more information and software for this.

Once your home inventory is created, is is VERY IMPORTANT to remember to keep a copy (including all receipts, pictures, etc.) in an off-site location. Good suggestions include a friend or relative's home, your office (if you have a drawer that locks) or even your bank's safe-deposit box. Another option is to store your information on-line. An example would be a secure server at Secure Swiss Databank (http://www.vault24.com/public/product.php) where you can access it day or night. A less-secure option (but better than nothing) is to email a copy to your web-mail account (like gmail, yahoo or hotmail) and file it with your "important emails". This way, you can rest easy knowing that, should something every happen to your home or its contents, you can access your inventory 24-hours a day from anywhere with internet access. This should give your insurance company a great head-start on getting you back where you want to be.

Final tip

Don't wait to get started. It just SEEMS like a task that will take days. In actuality, most people can get a home inventory completed in just a few hours... and you never know when you might need it, so get on it!

Ryan Cave, The "Caveman"
Truth, Honor & Personal Integrity
214-789-9366
www.CaveRealty.com