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If You Haven’t Done a Home Inventory, Now’s the Time to Do One

In the event of a fire or other disaster, would you be able to remember all your possessions? What about their values? Have any of them gone up or down in value since you purchased them? Do you remember when you purchased them? If this sounds incredibly overwhelming, there is a solution: home inventories. An updated home inventory helps recover from the damages faster, and will make obtaining the right amount of Homeowners Insurance coverage much easier.

Whether you're just setting up a household or you’ve been living in the same house for many years, the task of creating a list can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Keep it simple by following these steps.

Start Simple

The prospect of inventorying your entire house probably sounds daunting. Break the process down into smaller, more manageable steps.

  • Pick an easy spot to start. A contained area (cabinets, closets, or even shelves) is a great place to begin.

  • List recent purchases. Get into the inventory habit and then go back tackle your older possessions.

  • Include the basic information. Describe each item you record, noting where you bought it, the make and model, and what you paid.

  • Record serial numbers.

  • Check coverage on big ticket items. Jewelry, art and collectibles may have increased in value and need special coverage. While you're making your  list, check with your Arizona home insurance agent to be sure you’re covered for these items before a loss occurs.

  • Keep proof of value. Store sales receipts, purchase contracts, and appraisals with your list.

Try not to get overwhelmed. Once you've started your inventory, keep going even if you can't get it all done immediately. It's better to have an incomplete inventory to show to your Arizona home insurance agent than nothing at all.

Use Technology

Create a photo record of your belongings by capturing important individual items as well as entire rooms, closets or drawers. If your camera offers a description/labeling feature, take advantage of this to document what's pictured, where you bought it, the make or model. The more information that could be helpful in replacing and/or getting reimbursed for the item the better.

Walk through your home videotaping and describing the contents. You could describe the contents of cabinet, closet, etc. There are even mobile app options that can help you create and store a room-by-room record of your belongings.

Keep It Up-to-Date and Safely Stored

Your home inventory is only useful if it's accurate and accessible to provide information to your Arizona home insurance provider in case of a destructive disaster. Regardless of how you create your list, keep it backed up and in a safe place.

  • Add significant new purchases. Make a habit of adding new item information and receipts to your inventory while the details are fresh in your mind.

  • Store a copy of your paper inventory outside the home. Keep receipts and appraisals in a safe deposit box or at a friend's or relative's home. Make at least one backup copy of your inventory document to store separately.

  • Back up digital files. Keep a copy on an external drive or online storage account.

  • Understand your app. Be sure the information you input is backed up by the app developer and that you can easily access information when needed.

About Integra Insurance Group

Integra Insurance Group is one of Arizona’s leading independent insurance agencies. Located in Peoria, Integra has provided reliable insurance services to families and businesses for many years. We work tirelessly to provide our clients with the best insurance coverage at competitive rates, all with personalized customer service. To learn more about what we can do for you, give us a call today at (623) 322-5955.