Last week we shared with you some tips on reducing the likelihood of a home burglary with the use of proper door and window hardware. But homeowners also suffer losses of their home’s contents via natural disasters such as tornadoes. The last thing you want to worry about is itemizing losses for insurance claims. However, that process must be completed, if you want fair compensation for your losses and money to pay for things like new siding and other post-storm repairs or replacement of broken windows or doors.
A little fore-planning makes the recovery process a little easier. To take care of the issue before it truly becomes necessary, you should put together a home inventory.
Video: An ideal way to do this is to take a tour of your property with your video camera in hand. Be sure to talk about the various objects in your home as you record and remember to look in closets. Flooring and carpet are also important to document.
Take the camera outside, too, and film any unattached structures, like garages, pools or gazebos. Things like lawn furniture, grills, and kids’ play sets need to be included. Don’t forget all those items stored in the garage – snow blowers, bikes, lawn mowers, camping equipment, etc.
As you’re filming, remember to pan over things slowly, so you can have enough detail after the fact to get a fair estimate.
Once you have the video taken, either upload a digital copy onto YouTube or lock the tape away in a safe deposit box. The film won’t do you much good if it gets lost in the mess.
Smaller Items: If you have smaller valuable objects, like furs, musical instruments and jewelry, they should already be itemized with your homeowner’s insurance. If they’re not, give your insurer a call to get that process going.
The best way to make it through a disaster relatively unscathed is to be as prepared as possible for it beforehand. By taking inventory of possessions now, you can get to the task of restoring your home to a livable condition sooner rather than later.
Window Outfitters is a premier Window Replacement, doors, siding contractor and installer. As Contractor in the St Paul, Minneapolis, (Twin Cities) Minnesota (MN) metro, we proudly serve, but are not limited to, the following areas: Minneapolis Energy Efficient Vinyl Windows, Replacement Window Contractors Minnesota, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Lakeville, Savage, Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, Eagan, St Paul, Hastings, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Farmington MN, Chaska, Shakopee, Chanhassen, Victoria, Mendota Heights Anderson Windows Minneapolis, Marvin Windows Minneapolis.
