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What is a Home Inventory?
A Home Inventory is a prepared
list which includes detailed descriptions and photographs of the personal
property located in and around your home.
Why is having Home Inventory
documentation so important?
There are several benefits of
having a professionally prepared Home Inventory:
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Provides an undisputable
Third Party permanent record of the contents of your home and their
value to verify ownership in case of loss.
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Provides an accurate
accounting of items which are missing or destroyed following a burglary
or other calamity.
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Provides undisputable
identification by Model and Serial Number for theft-prone items.
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Provides indication of
having adequate insurance coverage.
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Provides accurate
estate-planning data.
What if
I never complete a Home Inventory?
You're
not alone. Many simply do not have time or the patience to do an
inventory of their personal property let alone keep it up to date. Our
service professionally documents your personal property quickly,
conveniently and affordably. Providing you with the peace of mind of
knowing you'll receive the maximum settlement for your loss in the shortest
amount of time while minimizing the disruption to your life.
Without
a completed Home Inventory, be prepared to accept the consequences. If
you have a loss and no inventory, the insurance claims adjuster is forced to
rely on receipts, invoices, cancelled checks, credit card slips, tax
records, etc. All of which may be difficult to reproduce especially
after a fire.
If proof
of ownership cannot be produced you are likely to receive a lower settlement
payment from your Insurance Company - one that will not be enough to replace
your belongings. It's YOUR responsibility to have a completed home
inventory ready. Your Insurance Agent will not check to see if you
have a completed Home Inventory until you have a loss to report.
Can you
afford NOT to have a Home Inventory?
How does
your service help me determine adequate insurance coverage?
We'll
assist you with a quick review of your insurance policy for the amount ant
type of coverage it provides on personal and household goods. The
review will prevent any disappointment with the settlement amount you
receive from your Insurance Company when a loss occurs. With the home
inventory documentation we provide which details both the actual market
value and the replacement value of your personal property; you'll be able to
discuss and adjust your coverage with your Insurance Agent.
What
will I receive?
We
provide a complete Home Inventory Report in an attractive portfolio which
details all of the personal property in and around your home. In
addition, you will receive a customized software application with your
Property and Home Inventory information which you can access on your
computer (Windows and/or Mac) and an Estate Organizer which will enable you
to detail all your financial information.
The Home
Inventory Reports provide:
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Total Value of your personal property - both Replacement Value AND
Actual Value.
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Detailed Photographs of your home.
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Your
Insurance Company and Agent contact information.
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Your
Insurance coverage information.
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Total Value of your property by category.
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Total Value of your property by location.
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Accurate descriptions of your possessions, individual replacement and
actual values provided during the inventory and multiple detailed
photographs of individual items.
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Historical or background information on each item as provided during the
inventory.
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Warranty information and Heir designations.
The
Customized Software provides:
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All
of the information listed in the Home Inventory Reports above, PLUS:
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Scanned Receipts or Appraisals for individual items.
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the
ability to view and/or print full sized item images.
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A
video of your property both inside and out which details architectural
details of your home, landscaping, additions, etc.
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Scans of your important documents complete with document description and
it's permanent storage location.
The
software allows you to search and sort so you can quickly access any
information about your possessions. You will also be able to reprint
any of the Home Inventory Reports, view and print individual items, photos,
receipts or appraisals, view videos, and view and print copies of your
important documents.
The
Estate Organizer may be completed at your leisure. It provides the all
of the information about your estate that you, your family members or your
financial adviser will need.
How long
does the service take?
The time to complete your home
inventory depends on the size of your home, the amount of personal property
you own and if you have a special collection requiring documentation, allow roughly an hour for every
1000 square feet of space inventoried.
What about
items in storage? Do I need to unpack them?
Yes, if you would like to have
the items in storage included in your home inventory. Please unpack
and have the items ready to inventory prior to your appointment time.
This will speed up the process and save you money. Part of the billing
for the service is based on time.
How far in
advance do I need to schedule my appointment?
We will work with you to
schedule a time for your home inventory that best suits your schedule.
Most appointments can be made within two weeks. Generally, we schedule
appointments during normal business hours on Monday through Friday.
However, we will work with you if you need an appointment after normal work
hours or need a weekend appointment.
Do I need
to be present while you are doing our home inventory?
Yes, we ask that you make
yourself available while we are working in your home. Every item
documented will need to have some basic and detailed questions answered that
only you will be able to answer.
Do you
move furniture?
No, we do not move
furniture. We will collect model and serial numbers from
televisions, computers, stereo equipment, etc where they are easily
accessible without moving your furniture and disrupting your home.
We can take the model and serial numbers directly from your owners
manuals that were included with the item when you purchased it if they
are readily available. If not, we will photograph and document the
item in place.
Do you
inventory everything? Even clothing?
We do inventory just about
everything. There are however some exceptions on certain items
that do not need to be inventoried. In some instances a quick
picture is all that is needed to document an item or a group of items.
To preserve your privacy, we do not open boxes, drawers or closets.
The home inventory we create is for you and you decide what is included
or excluded. We can only advise you on what should be included.
How
long does it take to receive the completed home inventory?
We will deliver your
completed home inventory in less than one week. It will be
assembled in an attractive portfolio for your safe keeping. We do
keep a copy secured as a backup. The portfolio will include your
home inventory in a printed format including photo documentation and a
CD for viewing on your computer. We also include an estate
organizer for you to complete at your leisure.
Now that you have your
completed home inventory, keeping it up to date will be fast and easy.
We will schedule periodic updates, usually on an annual basis, to make
adjustments for new items you have acquired.
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