Then today I read where Kelly Kasper shared this item on her website:
DOCUMENT YOUR BELONGINGS
Have you ever had to work with your insurance agent or agency after you had sustained a loss? Hopefully, you have never experienced a need to file a claim, but if you have as have I, having the necessary documentation will go a long way in making the experience less painful.
In the event that we have a regional interruption or you are targeted for a burglary, you will want to have a pictorial inventory of your possessions. Your insurance company will ask for specifics of what was damaged, destroyed or stolen.
Take the time to walk throughout your home taking pictures or movies of your possessions. Capture the model and serial numbers for your high-end items, electronics, computers, etc. This will assist the police in identifying your belongings should they find them. If you have receipts, photograph those too, it would be a great addition to show the purchased value, so as to estimate replacement value. Have your jewelry appraised to reflect their current value. Have current pictures of your family and your pets to aid in reunification, if needed.
Once you have created the pictorial documentation, store it on a flash drive, in the cloud and/or with your "out of area" contact. This way, you will have multiple means of getting the documents in a timely manner. The aftermath of dealing with your insurance company should go much more smoothly, if you take the time to document your belongings, now!
SO GET SHOOTING!
One last tip regarding taking pictures. If you have small children and you are planning to head out for a family outing, take a picture of your child in the clothes that s/he will be wearing that day. That way if you are separated, you can share not only a picture of your child, but one that was taken in the clothing s/he is wearing!
