
When you file a homeowners insurance claim, don’t give the original inventory or item receipts to anyone, not even your claims adjuster.
For ease of reference, organize clothing into categories. If you’re feeling old school, you can put your photos, inventory list, and video recording in a safety deposit box. Save an inventory list on your personal computer and keep a copy online. Video record your home as you walk through it and describe the contents throughout the house. Take pictures of rooms and important individual items. HOME INVENTORY SERVICE FULL
A standard homeowners insurance policy often doesn’t have enough coverage for these items, so you may need scheduled personal property coverage to insure their full value.
List high-value items, such as jewelry, artwork, furs, and collectibles. Here are some tips for organizing your home inventory: Whichever way you start, you can use our handy home inventory template and worksheet to keep track. Maybe you want to focus on your valuables first. How you organize your home inventory depends on what makes sense for you. Home insurance policies typically cover those items. Remember to include off-site items in your home inventory, such as belongings you keep at a storage facility or in a garage. A description, including the make and model. What Should Be Included in a Home Inventory?Ī good home inventory should have the following information when it’s available for each item of personal property: Listing the value of each individual item presents a clearer picture of how much you’d be out if you suffered a total loss. Plus, you’ll be able to prove eligibility for tax deductions or disaster assistance.Īnother good reason to take inventory of your belongings is to make sure you get enough personal property coverage. This typically results in a faster, more accurate claims settlement. But if you do a room-by-room home inventory before trouble hits, you have many of the documents you need to support your claim. That can be a lot to deal with, especially if you’re dealing with, say, the aftermath of a hurricane.
“Sworn proof of loss” is an official, notarized sworn statement demonstrating the facts about your loss, the scope of damage, and the value of your personal items that were lost, damaged, or stolen in a way that’s covered by your homeowners policy. Your insurance company most likely won’t require you to have a home inventory, but it might ask for a sworn proof of loss when you file a claim. Do I Need a Home Inventory for Insurance Purposes?
In fact, 49 percent of homeowners have made a home inventory of their belongings. That way they get a better sense of how much personal property coverage they need. Some people even inventory their items before they apply for home insurance. That not only helps you get your claim settled faster, but it also minimizes your chances of forgetting to include an item in your claim. It can be valuable when you need to file a claim because it helps your insurance company verify your damaged property. A home inventory is a list of all your personal possessions along with their approximate financial value.