Document Your Posessions To Make Your California Home Insurance Policy More Effective

January 10, 2012

Document Your Posessions To Make Your California Home Insurance Policy More Effective

It’s so important to have a record of all your personal possessions, in case of loss. One way to do that is to take the time to go through the tedious, difficult process of documenting what you own and adding it to your California home insurance policy. The easier way to do that in this day of technology is to photo or video your home and all the items in it. The following list could be very helpful in identifying what you own and, more importantly, be used as proof of loss in case disaster strikes such as a serious storm, theft, or fire.

Make sure and print a couple of copies and keep at least one in a location away from your home. Also keep pictures and video electronically on home and work computers, and send a copy to a close friend or relative to keep electronically for you. If you also want to keep a paper copy at your home, use an insulated safe (small ones are sold for in-home storage of important papers). Another good location is to put a copy in a plastic bag and keep it in your freezer (which can offer extra protection for non-food items).

Besides listing what you own, it’s also good to do the following:

take pictures of and/or videotape your possessions
keep your sales receipts, especially of high priced items
keep your warranty information
get appraisals and keep them current (appropriate for expensive property)
for items which you don’t have receipts or product information, include information on when and where you bought the property

It may seem like a lot of work, but you’ll be happy to have this gold mine of information to assist your insurer in giving you protection against loss of your possessions. Your agent should also recieve a copy of this list to add to your California home insurance policy for their records. IF you do not feel like taking the time to fill in this list, Microsoft Excel offers a great pre-made spread-sheet as well.

General Personal Property Inventory

Inventory completed by______________________ (name)

Date completed____________________________

$__________Sofa, couches, etc.

$__________Chairs

$__________Tables, End tables, etc.

$__________Desks, secretaries

$__________Chests, cabinets

$__________Cupboards, buffet, etc.

$__________Lamps

$__________Pictures, wall hangings

$__________Clocks

$__________Decorations

$__________Books

$__________Draperies, curtains, blinds

$__________Rugs

$__________CD players, DVD players and accessories

$__________Radios

$__________Televisions

$__________Digital Recorders

$__________Home entertainment accessories (speakers, digital equipment)

$__________Computers, scanners, copiers, monitors, printers, speakers

$__________Other computer accessories

$__________Table linens

$__________China, chinaware

$__________Crystal, glassware

$__________Kitchen appliances

$__________Small appliances

$__________Cookware

$__________Cutlery, Utensils, etc.

$__________Beds, mattresses

$__________Dressers, vanities

$__________Bedding, blankets, linens

$__________Bath towels, linens

$__________Suits (men’s, women’s)

$__________Coats (men’s, women’s)

$__________Dresses

$__________Jackets, sweaters

$__________Skirts, slacks

$__________Shirts, blouses

$__________Hats, gloves

$__________Purses, wallets

$__________Costume jewelry

$__________Robes, lounging wear

$__________Shoes, boots, slippers

$__________Luggage

$__________Sports equipment

$__________Miscellaneous effects

$__________TOTAL Valuables and Treasures

$__________Fine jewelry (list items separately at the bottom of the page)

$__________Valuable furs (list items separately at the bottom of the page)

$__________Art treasures

$__________Silver, silverware

$__________Camera equipment

$__________Guns and accessories

$__________Musical instruments

$__________Stamp collection

$__________Coin collection

$__________TOTAL

$__________GRAND TOTAL OF ALL ABOVE

List specific items and value below:

$__________ item__________

Written by: Rhonda Remland

Photo Credit: Blue Lava

Source: Rough Notes

Document Your Posessions To Make Your California Home Insurance Policy More Effective