Five tips to creating a home inventory for an insurance claim

Taking a home inventory of your belongings for insurance purposes has never been easier thanks to video-capable smartphones. The tools for this task are literally at your fingertips.

Something so simple can make a huge difference when filing a claim after a fire or burglary. No one wants to have to recount all their possessions in a time of stress or emotional strain.

Here are five tips to keep your video on track and in focus:

1. Keep it simple. This isn’t a full-length movie or documentary, so don’t worry about the perfect lighting or editing. Just point the video recorder and walk around each room of the house. Be sure to open any closets and film the contents. Feel free to talk about items during the process, but staying silent is fine too.
2. Store video offsite. Once the video is complete make sure to store it in the cloud or another place offsite from the residence. A home inventory won’t do anyone much good if it’s lost in a house fire with other belongings.
3. Focus on high-dollar items. A few items might need special attention, such as high-end electronics. Take clear shots of those items from different angles and record any visible model numbers or serial numbers. A good rule of thumb is to pick things that cost $1,000 or more.
4. 4. An app can help. To ensure critical contents are captured, it may be easier to use an app. Several are on the market such as Belongings, Encircle and Stuffanizer. Each of these will walk you through the process of videoing and offers a system of categorization.
5. Just do it. It’s a simple task, so there may be a tendency to put it off – don’t. You never know when you may be the victim of a fire or burglary.

Memories tend to fade or be faulty when it comes to lost items. A video and photos are tangible ways to capture all of the items that make a house a home, and having an accurate record of what was lost will help expedite the restoration process for insurers and their policyholders.

Call Best Insurance at (979) 297-2655 to get a homeowners quote.