subject: Document Your Possessions in 3 Easy Steps [print this page] Document Your Possessions in 3 Easy Steps
The FBI reports that 9.3 million property crimes were committed in 2009. That's over 3,000 burglarized homes for every 100,000. Perhaps you've been told to document your possessions in case of burglary or natural disaster, but what is the best way to go about it?
Essentially, the best way to document your possessions is by video. You may ask, "Why video as opposed to a written list with receipts?" The reason is that a receipt shows that you once purchased something but does not prove that you still have it. A time-stamped video taken once a year (or prior to seasonal conditions like wildfire season) will show proof and substantiate your claim.
Below are three easy steps to document your possessions by video:
1) Go from room to room in the interior of your home and take video of all your possessions. Be sure to zoom in on item bar codes and serial numbers and make sure you have a time stamp on your video. Don't worry about narrating the value of each item; there are insurance pricing specialists that evaluate pricing costs.
2) In addition to documenting the interior of your home, take pictures or video of the exterior, including the landscaping. Documenting your landscaping is important because if you have a fire, you may not remember what tree went where.
3) Be sure to back up the video and put a copy in a safety deposit box or give a copy to a relative who lives at a different residence.
Note that any receipts you may still have may be helpful to a pricing specialist. If you no longer have receipts then try to have the most specific descriptions you can. For example, you bought that couch at such-and-such a store and it was this style for approximately $5,000.
Taking video of your possessions may take a little time, but in the long run you'll have proper documentation and your claims process will go smoothly.
