Not everything you think or have heard about home inventories may be true. In fact, you may believe several of the many myths about home inventories, which might be putting your personal possessions at risk. Check out our list of the five top home inventory myths and learn the truth about each one from a home inventory professional.
1.My insurance company will take care of me. If you have homeowners or renters insurance on your house, you will likely be reimbursed for what was lost or destroyed...to an extent. If you cannot prove exactly what was lost or destroyed you may be reimbursed for substantially less or nothing at all.
2. I'll remember what I lost. Sure, you'll remember some of the items you lost such as TVs, large furniture, or jewelry, but there are likely thousands of dollars in other belongings that might never cross your mind.
3. There's an app for that. In today’s electronic culture, there seems to be an “app” for everything. However, an “app” can never replace a qualified inventory professional trained to create a personalized, complete inventory tailored to your specific needs. For something as important as a home inventory, you need something much more substantial than an app on a phone.
4. Home inventories are expensive. As with any quality service, there is a cost associated with a home inventory. However, the cost of a home inventory is only a fraction of what you could potentially lose if you are unable to properly file a complete claim. A home inventory is insurance for your insurance—an investment you cannot afford to overlook in order to properly protect your home and your family.
5. I can just do it myself. If you have a piece of paper, a digital camera, and a video camera, you can certainly go from room to room writing down information and taking pictures and video of everything you see. Unfortunately, there are items within your house that you may never think to inventory. Did you check the pantry stocked with $100 worth of canned goods? What about the utensils in kitchen drawers or the cleaning supplies under the bathroom sink? Hiring a professional will not only save you the hassle of figuring out what to inventory; it will also give you peace of mind knowing that you are in the hands of a qualified third-party professional who will vouch for you if you need to file a claim.
Source: Martin, Patrick. "Top Five Home Inventory Myths." steadfasthomeinventory.com. 17 June 2011. http://www.steadfasthomeinventory.com/home-inventory-blog/bid/57383/Top-Five-Home-Inventory-Myths
1.My insurance company will take care of me. If you have homeowners or renters insurance on your house, you will likely be reimbursed for what was lost or destroyed...to an extent. If you cannot prove exactly what was lost or destroyed you may be reimbursed for substantially less or nothing at all.
2. I'll remember what I lost. Sure, you'll remember some of the items you lost such as TVs, large furniture, or jewelry, but there are likely thousands of dollars in other belongings that might never cross your mind.
3. There's an app for that. In today’s electronic culture, there seems to be an “app” for everything. However, an “app” can never replace a qualified inventory professional trained to create a personalized, complete inventory tailored to your specific needs. For something as important as a home inventory, you need something much more substantial than an app on a phone.
4. Home inventories are expensive. As with any quality service, there is a cost associated with a home inventory. However, the cost of a home inventory is only a fraction of what you could potentially lose if you are unable to properly file a complete claim. A home inventory is insurance for your insurance—an investment you cannot afford to overlook in order to properly protect your home and your family.
5. I can just do it myself. If you have a piece of paper, a digital camera, and a video camera, you can certainly go from room to room writing down information and taking pictures and video of everything you see. Unfortunately, there are items within your house that you may never think to inventory. Did you check the pantry stocked with $100 worth of canned goods? What about the utensils in kitchen drawers or the cleaning supplies under the bathroom sink? Hiring a professional will not only save you the hassle of figuring out what to inventory; it will also give you peace of mind knowing that you are in the hands of a qualified third-party professional who will vouch for you if you need to file a claim.
Source: Martin, Patrick. "Top Five Home Inventory Myths." steadfasthomeinventory.com. 17 June 2011. http://www.steadfasthomeinventory.com/home-inventory-blog/bid/57383/Top-Five-Home-Inventory-Myths