Whether you have owned your home for decades or are new to
homeownership at the Lake of the Ozarks, this information is for you! Imagine the nightmare of having your home damaged or destroyed; now to make matters worse, imagine trying to remember every valuable item in your home to report to the insurance company. Would you even be able to remember all the contents of your home? Thousands of Americans find themselves in this situation every year and now's the time to make sure it doesn't happen to you!
Why do you need a home inventory?
When you make an insurance claim, you will be required to provide information about everything that was lost. This can be extremely difficult while you are experiencing a loss. For example, if someone broke into your home and robbed you, you're going to be stressed out, worried it might happen again and feeling unsafe. This is not the time you want to be trying to remember everything that was in your house so you can report what is missing. Some things such as a TV may be obvious, but other items like jewelry may not be as noticeable. Having a list of everything in each room of your home will allow for a speedier process so you can get your life back to normal as quickly as possible.
How do you create a home inventory?
For starters, you could take a video of your home including each room and all the major items in them. This will get you by until you have time to compile a detailed list of inventory information. You now need to decide how you are going to store the inventory information you collect. Thanks to the Insurance Information Institute, you can easily create a home inventory list with their free "
Know Your Stuff" software. The software is user-friendly, takes just four easy steps and provides free, secure online storage. You can even access your inventory list from your phone through their smartphone app. After you set up an account, you create a name for each room and simply add the items contained in that room. The program also provides you with all the specific information your insurance company is going to want to know when a claim is filed. You can even upload images of the items as well as receipts to prove the value of large ticket items.
Now that you have a home inventory, be sure to keep it up-to-date as much as possible. If you invest in a new purchase or get a nice gift for your birthday or other holiday, be sure to add it to the list. You should update it at least once a year and more often if you make any expensive purchases such as a TV or furniture. Spending some time to keep your inventory up-to-date will relieve some future stress if something were to happen to your home. You will also want to make sure your insurance covers all your personal property. Go over your completed list with your insurance agent to ensure you have proper coverage. A home inventory is a very inexpensive and easy way to save yourself a headache and valuable time down the road, so do yourself a favor and start one today!
I would love the opportunity to help you manage your
Lake of the Ozarks Mortgage Loan or refinance. Give me a call at (573) 746-7211 or send me an email at mlasson@fsbfinancial.com with any questions you may have!!
For Lake area news, resources and tips on financial services, please
Sr. Residential Mortgage Lender
NMLS #: 493712
2265 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Suite B
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