One of the best things you can do to protect your home’s assets and make sure that your homeowners insurance covers their replacement in case of a total loss, is to make a home inventory.
A home inventory is essentially a documented list of all of your home’s belongings; in particular, your furniture, electronics, appliances and home accessories. Without a home inventory, the process of making a homeowner’s insurance claim may be quite a bit more difficult and time consuming. If you have a comprehensive home inventory list, however, you can rest assured knowing that your home’s belongings are properly insured.
The easiest way to make a home inventory is to assemble a list of all of your home’s contents, from room to room. Keep receipts, assess their value and record the date of sale. It may also help to record the make and model numbers of your electronics and appliances.
It is also extremely helpful to make a recording or take pictures of all of your home’s assets. Then, keep your inventory and video recording or pictures in a safe place, such as in a safe or outside of your home, such as in a safe deposit box. Simply walking from room to room, recording each room’s contents, is usually the best way to make proper home inventory.
What to Include in your Home Inventory:
- Televisions/VCRs/DVD players/Blue Ray players/stereos/Video cameras/Cameras
- Washer/Dryer/Air Conditioner/Furnace/Heat Pump
- Carpets/Area Rugs/Window Treatments
- Lamps/Light Fixtures/Chandeliers/Clocks/Mirrors/Pictures/Art Work
- Sofas/Chairs/Dining Room Furniture/Bedroom Furniture/Tables/China Cabinets/Entertainment Centers
- Pianos and other Musical Equipment
- Silverware/Crystal/China
- Apparel/Shoes/Coats/Furs/Suits/Dresses
- Jewelry (you may need a separate policy if your jewelry exceeds a certain amount)
- Refrigerator/Stove/Freezer/Microwave/Dishwasher/Small Appliances
- Office Equipment - File Cabinets/Computers/Printers/Scanners/Fax Machines/Business Supplies
- Sporting Equipment - Bicycles/Golf Clubs
- Outdoor Equipment - Toys/Luggage/Small Boats/Trailers/Lawn Mower/Snow Blower/gardening Tools
- Tools - Power Equipment/Hand Tools
- Antiques - In the case of antiques, it is often best to have them appraised for value and then to take out a separate homeowners insurance policy to ensure that their value is protected.
Tags: comprehensive home inventory, home assets, home inventory, homeowner's insurance claim, homeowners insurance