Take the Time To Prepare a Home Inventory

Without looking, try to write down the entire contents of your living room. Now, check to see how many items were missed. Did you remember the drapes . . . the carpet . . . the rugs?

Now try it again with every other room in the house. It may be surprising to see how many items you overlooked.

Imagine trying to come up with this list after a devastating fire, in the aftermath of an earthquake or a home burglary. An up-to-date household inventory makes it easy to identify everything that must be replaced. It can also help to settle insurance claims quickly and accurately.

“Since most people have a hard time recalling exactly what they have in every room of their house, a documented home inventory helps to easily identify exactly what was lost,” said Candysse Miller, executive director of the Insurance Information Network of California. “It can help homeowners determine the value of their belongings and, with that, their exact insurance needs.”

A household inventory can be created on paper, in a computer database, by photos or on video. Begin by listing major items in each room, and be sure to note information such as serial numbers, purchase prices, present value and dates of purchase. It is also a good idea to attach receipts.

Items that are not used every day are particularly easy to overlook, but so are many common household items. For example, everyone sleeps on a mattress, but surprisingly, this is an item that is often forgotten. During a home inventory, be sure to include luggage, small appliances, sports equipment and garden tools.

A home inventory should be kept in a safe place away from the house, such as a safe deposit box.

For a free brochure on creating a home inventory, visit the IINC Web site at https://www.iinc.org or call (800) 397-1679.