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Household
Hints & HELP!
Household
Inventory
submitted
by Lorene Bartos, Extension Educator
This article appears in the May 29, 2005
Lincoln Journal Star Newspaper.
Do
you know what’s in your house? Pick a room, can you
name everything in it and what the replacement value is?
If you were the victim of a natural disaster, such as tornado,
flood, fire or robbery, would you be ready for an insurance
adjuster? A home inventory is the best way to be ready.
A
home inventory is not a difficult project, it just takes
time. You need to inventory everything in each room —
even the little “stuff” which may be missed the
most. Don’t forget to inventory blankets, pillows,
sheets, clothes and shoes, supplies and equipment we take
for granted.
Make
more than one copy of your home inventory and store copies
in a place other than your home, such as a safety deposit
box or with friends or families.
Start
with one room at a time in your house and write down every
item. There are many home inventory checklists and software
programs available for your convenience, however, you don’t
need them to do the job. Date all information, this will
be helpful when replacing items. Taking colored photographs
of items can be very helpful. Mark all photos with room,
item and date. Digital cameras can make this an easy job
and all the information can be stored on a disk. You can,
also, video tape each room and its contents.
Keep
the following information on items in each room of your
house:
-
purchased price and date
-
replacement value
-
serial number
-
model & number
-
warranty (copies are OK)
-
colored pictures
Check
your homeowners insurance policy to see what is covered
and the replacement value. Visit with your insurance agent
as to what needs to be updated on your policy. You may need
to have extra rider insurance, for such things as flooding,
jewelry or other valuables, etc.
When
doing your inventory, don’t forget the garage, attic
and other out buildings. Think about all the sports and
lawn equipment. Remember the holiday, special occasion and
seasonal decorations.
Take
the time — inventory your possession. Make it a family
project.
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