Making an insurance claim for stolen or damaged belongings can be a pain. Can you remember how much you paid for your laptop? For your flat-screen TV? What if things are missing? Can you remember every item you had? Knowing these details ahead of time can save you a lot of headaches down the road.
Having a home inventory system is a great way to keep track of all your valuables, and it can be an immense help with your insurance claim. By having a record of all your belongings, your insurer can better determine their value, allowing you to replace them as quickly as possible.
Digital or Analog: A Matter of Preference
The method as to how you track your inventory is entirely up to you. If you’re the type of person who does everything on their phone, there are a number of apps that allow you to take a photo inventory, such as Sortly or Encircle. An app-based solution is also great in that it stores your inventory in the cloud, meaning you can access it from any phone, tablet or computer.
If you’re more of a pen and paper type person, a simple inventory list will work just fine. Once you’ve filled it out, however, make sure you store it somewhere safe. You could also scan or take a photo of it for digital storage. Additionally, having photos of your belongings helps a lot in determining their value. If you do utilize a physical list and photos, it’s a good idea to store them outside of your home, preferably in a safety deposit box.
Take the First Step with Our Home Inventory Sheet
If you prefer to keep things simple and easy, you can download our helpful home inventory list. We’ve done the job of organizing what information you’ll need; all you need to do is print it and fill it out. Again, make sure you store it somewhere safe.
Taking stock of your valuables can be an eye-opening experience. Not only do you realize just how much stuff you have, but you also gain an understanding of just how much it’s all worth. Whichever way you choose to do it, having a home inventory is an important thing to have for any household.
