As an insurance agent; I know I should do it. As a homeowner; I know I should do it. What is the “it” that I‘m finally going to do today? It’s taking out my video recorder and walking myself through my home for an hour with the camera rolling.
Have you ever spoken to someone or even a relative-of-a-someone who has experienced a full or even a partial FIRE claim? Those are the people that have walked around with their recorders. They saw or experienced first-hand just how difficult it can be to get on the horn with a claims adjuster and describe everything you had in your home for the past twelve years.
Close your eyes right now and tell me what is in the 3rd cabinet on the right in your kitchen. What’s in the second drawer down? In your vacuum closet - what tools are in there? Heck, what is under your bed? Luggage? Christmas toys you forgot from last year? If you can’t begin to make a list of everything in your house when you’re relaxing, imagine trying to itemize the objects in your home after the stress of a home fire.
Take that hour and walk through your home and record. Record closets. Record drawers. Record the garage full of tools and sporting gear. Record linen closets. Even if you capture a few seconds of a drawer it’ll dramatically improve your memory in recalling items for the insurance company’s claim handler.
If you don’t record to the best of your ability, your insurance carrier is probably not going to provide you a bonus $10,000 check to cover items “you forgot about”. Do it for yourself.
After creating your film, if you have the capability and/or ability to post that video online to a private server for your personal use, do so. Online is the farthest place from a fire! Or, transfer that video to two CD’s and house it in two other homes (law of number in case of fire!).
Lastly, suggest that your friend or relative does the same. Ask them if they know what is in their 3rd cabinet on the right in their kitchen…