Take a Home Inventory Now

If you're looking for or already have a Florida home insurance policy, you should take a home inventory. We'll explain why and how to go about it here.

Why Do a Home Inventory?

If you had a fire in your home and some or all of your possessions were destroyed, would you be able to remember everything you owned in order to file a claim on your home insurance? A current home inventory can expedite your claim and, if you're shopping for home insurance, it can also give you a very accurate idea of what your possessions are worth. Having an accurate estimate of the worth of your belongings when you're shopping for free Florida insurance quotes will allow you to pick the right level of coverage for your needs. Finally, a home inventory will also help you prove the existence and the value of your possessions during the claims process.

Doing the Inventory

Ideally, you should do a home inventory before you get free Florida insurance quotes on a homeowners policy and every year thereafter. Your items lose value over time, and you also add new belongings to your home over the years, so it's important to keep the inventory up to date. Here are some tips to help you perform your home inventory:

• Don't get overwhelmed. The best time to do a home inventory is when you're first moving into your home. You can take inventory as you unpack things that way. However, if you're already established in your home, don't worry it's a daunting task, but it can be done. Just take it room by room and start with newer possessions first.
• Pay attention to high-dollar items. If you have valuable items like jewels, collectibles, art, etc. that may have appreciated in value, you may need to get free Florida insurance quotes on a separate policy or a rider for them. These items may be too valuable to be covered by your standard Florida home insurance.
• Take pictures or use video. You can save yourself a lot of time writing and describing if you simply videotape the items in your home instead. You can make copies of the tape or DVD and keep at least one in a safe place away from your home.
• Use your computer. Many financial software programs include a home inventory program that allows you to do a room-by-room accounting of your belongings.