Over the past 10 years here in La Porte two of my neighbors have had house fires. Seeing firsthand what they went through will forever leave an impression on me as to the importance of having a Personal Property Inventory list.
You might not have thought about this, but if your personal property is destroyed or stolen, your insurance company will ask you to provide a record of them. The details become important come claim time. Do you know the model and serial number of your computer? How about how much you paid for that digital camera? Without a list of your valuables in front of you, the details may be forgotten.
According to an Insurance Information Institute study, only 43% of homeowners in the Midwest have a Personal Property Inventory list. That means over half of you reading this without one.
Foremost, a national leader in home insurance give this tip. A good Personal Property Inventory list has all your household goods and personal belongings on it. Have a complete inventory including the following information about your belongings:
· Room of the house the item is located
· Item description
· Purchase date
· Place of purchase
· Original cost
· Estimated current value
· Serial & Model number
· Video or Photographs of each item
· Receipts and appraisals
While nobody is fully prepared for a loss, a Personal Property Inventory in place can ensure a claim gets settled accurately and in a timely fashion. Regardless if you’re an existing client or not, you’re welcome to contact me about getting a Personal Property worksheet. While it’s top of mind, now would be a great time to have me do a no obligation review of your insurance program. I will help you translate insurance to English.