InsureMe Advises Beginning the New Year with a Home Inventory
(PRWEB) January 5, 2006 -- While the new year approaches full speed ahead, many of us reflect back on 2005 in appreciation for everything we have: life, love, family and friends.
We’re also thankful for our homes, the shelter they provide and everything they contain. So, as we look forward in anticipation toward the year ahead, it seems only wise to plan ahead, protect what we have—and prepare for the unknown.
Have you ever considered how you’d recover if a natural disaster leveled your home (a situation many others have dealt with in the past year)? What would you do if a burglar broke in while you were away and made off with all your valuables?
According to the FBI, burglary affected 2.1 million homes in 2004, with an average loss of $1,642 per occurrence. That’s a significant loss…especially if you’re inadequately insured. And, as the number of natural disasters continues to rise, the financial risk associated with such devastation can also wreak havoc on your bank account, too.
To protect against loss in the year ahead, InsureMe, the leading consumer-agent link for buying insurance online, recommends starting 2006 with a complete home inventory. This is simply a list of all your personal possessions and everything you know about them.
An up-to-date home inventory can help you:
- Determine the correct amount of insurance to purchase
- Settle insurance claims and receive compensation more quickly in the event of a loss
- Verify losses for income tax purposes
To create a home inventory, walk room-to-room in your home, listing all your possessions individually. If you have a camera or video recorder, take that along, too.
Then:
- Note the date
- Describe each item, including model numbers, serial numbers, colors, sizes and any other identifying characteristics
- Take pictures or video, as appropriate
- Record the place of purchase (or approximate values, in the case of gifts)
- Collect verifying receipts to store with your list
- Make two copies of your inventory, and place one in your home and the other in a safe deposit box or other secure location outside your home
- Update your list yearly
Don’t forget to list your holiday gifts—as well as every significant purchase you make hereafter. Having all that documentation to give your insurance agent will make your life much easier if you ever need to file a claim.
Prepare for the new year with a home inventory of your own. Then rest easy—and have a prosperous 2006!
About InsureMe
InsureMe, an Englewood, Colorado-based company, links agents nationwide with consumers shopping for insurance. Specializing in auto, home, life, long-term care and health insurance quotes, the InsureMe network provides thousands of agents with insurance leads every year. For more information, visit www.InsureMe.com.
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