Have you ever had to make a claim on your home insurance? If your home sustains damage or theft, you will probably already feel stressed when you file a claim with your home insurance company.
While it’s natural to feel overwhelmed when dealing with a major home problem, you can do something now to make the claim process go more smoothly. Learn why a home inventory is important and how to make your own.
What is a home inventory?
A home inventory is simply a list of your possessions along with the estimated or appraised value of each item.
Why is it important?
Creating a home inventory now, before you find yourself needing to file a claim, will make the process easier. When we’re overwhelmed or stressed, it can be hard to think clearly.
To make a claim, you’ll need documentation stating the value of each item you lost. This can be hard to do without an itemized list. Making a home inventory now will help your future self and ensure the success of your home insurance claim.
How to inventory your home:
Keeping your home inventory updated will make it more accurate if the time comes when you need to file a claim. You can do this as often as it makes sense: quarterly, annually or just when you make a new purchase.
Creating a home inventory can also make you wonder if you have enough or the right home insurance coverage. Have questions about your insurance policy? Just reach out, and we’ll be happy to help.
While it’s natural to feel overwhelmed when dealing with a major home problem, you can do something now to make the claim process go more smoothly. Learn why a home inventory is important and how to make your own.
What is a home inventory?
A home inventory is simply a list of your possessions along with the estimated or appraised value of each item.
Why is it important?
Creating a home inventory now, before you find yourself needing to file a claim, will make the process easier. When we’re overwhelmed or stressed, it can be hard to think clearly.
To make a claim, you’ll need documentation stating the value of each item you lost. This can be hard to do without an itemized list. Making a home inventory now will help your future self and ensure the success of your home insurance claim.
How to inventory your home:
- Go room by room. Breaking the list down by room should feel easier and help you stay organized. Working within categories like furniture, jewelry, antiques or art, list your belongings in each room.
- Keep receipts. When you make a large purchase, such as a couch or electronic device, save the receipt to document the value.
- Prioritize the most expensive items. Begin with your most valuable possessions, as these will be the most important to replace after a fire, burglary or other damage.
- Do your best to estimate. Sometimes it will be easy to determine an object’s value, such as having a piece of jewelry appraised, while other times, you just have to make your best guess. Don’t sweat it too much.
Keeping your home inventory updated will make it more accurate if the time comes when you need to file a claim. You can do this as often as it makes sense: quarterly, annually or just when you make a new purchase.
Creating a home inventory can also make you wonder if you have enough or the right home insurance coverage. Have questions about your insurance policy? Just reach out, and we’ll be happy to help.
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