List of personal property
You can never be fully prepared for the possibility of a disaster at home. Think about all the possessions you have accumulated over the years. Now try to remember the exact details of each one. This is a tall order, especially for those with large collections or valuable items with a serial number or rating. In these cases, a little preparation and a list of personal items can help.
Making a list of personal possessions does not necessarily require a lot of expense or a lot of time; Today, smartphones with video or photo capture capability and the apps suitable for that purpose can make it easier for you. However, this list must be planned and completed, preferably regularly. It is also important to properly store the data collected. The loss of documents relating to a list of personal property in the event of fire or theft is not uncommon.
To start
Making a list of personal possessions can be as easy as going through all your possessions with a pencil and a piece of paper. For those who are less comfortable with technology, this might be the best solution. Several sources, such as the Insurance Bureau of Canada, offer spreadsheets and printable forms that you will find helpful. If you are however ready to use more modern means, there are a whole range of options:
Apps and websites - Visit the app store for your smart device, such as Google Play or the Apple App Store, to view apps for listing personal property. These applications are designed to make the task at hand easier and faster. Several websites also offer tips and tools to help you build your personal property list.
Photos or videos - It is ideal to have a concrete description of your list of personal goods; photos or videos, however, are a great way to supplement this information. The advantages of photo or video are ease and speed. For example, taking a photo from a DVD or Blu-Ray DVD collection will likely take you much less time than capturing each individual title. Remember to check the quality of your photos or videos to make sure that the resolution and content of the images are adequate. If you take photos of items with shiny or reflective surfaces, be sure to hold your camera tilted to the object to reduce glare. In the case of a video, it is easy to pan too fast with your device, which would result in not entering all the details necessary to correctly identify your assets. Also, if you have access to audio, it is recommended that you take the time to comment on your video, giving details of particularly important articles. Most people forget to properly clean and organize their homes before taking pictures and videos. This detail can actually help you get a better claim settlement. Real estate brokers use property valuation for a similar purpose.
Frequent update
It is essential to update your list of personal possessions frequently. Our lives are continually changing, and so can our possessions. It is advisable to make a commitment to draw up a list of personal belongings each year. Once you have made a first list, you will simply have to take the time to update it in the following years.
Protecting Your List of Personal Property
Ideally, keep your list of personal belongings somewhere other than your home. That way, if anything happened to your belongings, your list would be in a safe place. A safety deposit box is the best option for those who are not comfortable with technology. More tech-savvy people will be able to opt for cloud storage. A spreadsheet copied to a USB drive or files burned to a DVD can also do the trick when it comes to listing personal property, as long as it's kept safe away from home. If you want to keep your data on-site in a safe, make sure the safe is fire and waterproof.
Adequate insurance
Once you have your personal property list, you should be able to calculate the dollar value of all of your possessions. Are you properly insured? Remember that the insured value of the contents of your home shown in your home insurance is normally a percentage of your home's value and is an estimate. Therefore, this value could very well be lower
إرسال تعليق