Almost every 15 seconds at least one home in America becomes the victim of a burglary according to the US Department of Justice.  In these tough economic times, crime, including home burglary, has been on the rise. Once-safe neighborhoods have become targets of home break-ins, especially due to the increase in empty homes as a result of the sharp increase in foreclosures.  That means every home owner should take extra precautions to ensure they don’t fall prey to a burglar.  Check out the tips below and consider if your home is burglar resistant!

Make your house unappealing
• Keep your trees, bushes, and hedges trimmed to thieves can't hide out
• Add lighting to all outside entrances around your house so burglars can’t easily hide
• Keep your window coverings closed when you’re not home.  That way they can’t see hot items such as TVs, blu-rays, 
  etc.
• When you buy new items, such as a new TV, don’t leave the empty box where anyone can see it.  Keep it inside until 
  garbage day.
• If you park your car in your drive way, don’t leave your garage door opener inside the car.

Make it difficult for even a skilled burglar to get in
• Install an alarm system.  With so many alarm companies around, make sure to check with the Better Business Bureau 
  before making your final decision.
• Install window film on all vulnerable windows, such as those next to door handles.
• Get to know your neighbors!  Helpful neighbors are a great defense if they see something suspicious at your house
  while you are not at home.

Don’t make their job any easier if they break in
• Keep valuables, such as jewelry and family heirlooms, in a secure place, not lying around.  
• Take a personal home inventory. By keeping a record of all the items in your home, you're prepared should you have  
  to file a homeowners claim.  And if you include serial numbers in your report, you actually make it harder for thieves to 
   sell stolen goods on the black market.  

Since the launch of the iPhone and hundreds of other smart phones, our phones, and the apps we download to them, have certainly changed the way we do so many things in our lives.  Whether you want to know how to say something in German, you need a flashlight, or you want to try a new recipe for dinner, there’s an app for that! 

This also holds true for the task of taking a home inventory.  There are a variety of iPhone and Android apps available to assist you in taking an inventory of all the possessions in your home.  But is creating a home inventory using a cell phone app going to create the inventory you need?  Well, that depends.

Are you confident an app can properly classify the unique, high-valued items in your home?
Home inventory apps usually include pre-set categories that allow you to select a category and then type into the phone what you own and where it is located.  If you own a collection of antique glass bottles, is it okay to classify them as a glass vase in the event the app doesn’t off the correct category?  Unfortunately, classifying an antique bottle as a glass vase could mean a difference in value of hundreds or even thousands of dollars.  If you own antiques, paintings, special wines or other specific items of value, a home inventory app may not provide you the detail or accuracy you need.

Do you have hours, or maybe even a day or two, to use your app to create your home inventory?
Recording all of your possessions, from your kitchen appliances to your shoes and belts, can be a daunting task.  Are you going to take the time to use the downloaded app?  Walking through your house and recording each item on your phone could take hours you might not be willing to give up. 

Are you confident in the security of the app’s server?
Home inventory apps often allow the user to upload the information they enter into the app to the app’s server where it is stored in the event it is needed in the future.  Storing your inventory in a secure place is essential in the event the file is lost due to fire, burglary or it is simply misplaced. But how secure are the servers where your information is to be stored?  What kind of security systems do they have in place? 

If you answered “no” to one or more of the answers above, you probably need more than just an app.  Hiring a certified Home Inventory Professional (HIP) offers a personalized, secure service that can be completed in a few hours.  What’s Under Your Roof?’s HIPs are trained to pay special attention to any and all high-valued and unique items in each home to ensure everything is properly recorded, classified, and valued.  Additionally, because our HIPs specialize in home inventories, they can create your personalized home inventory after spending a few hours in your home.  And in the event of a claim, providing an inventory created by a third-party may help substantiate your claim.  Finally, we maintain the utmost integrity and have taken specific measures to ensure the safety of your home inventory portfolio. 

However you decide to take your home inventory, don’t wait another day.  You never know when you might need it!

~Mika Moris, Marketing Director, What's Under Your Roof? 

Spring is in full swing, warm weather has arrived, children are restlessly awaiting the last day of school...it must be May!  The month of May has been named Home Inventory Awareness Month by The Inventory Institute.  

A recent study by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) revealed that 59% of consumers have not made a list or taken an inventory of their possessions.  The study also stated that “of those individuals with a home inventory, 48 percent do not have receipts; 27 percent do not have photos of their property; and 28 percent do not have a back-up copy of the inventory outside the home. Additionally, 59 percent of people with inventories have not updated their inventories in more than a year, meaning new purchases and gifts may not be covered.”

This study proves just how important Home Inventory Awareness Month is for consumers!  “All renters and homeowners should develop a home inventory, and this is especially important for established families with years' worth of family possessions,” said Kevin M. McCarty, NAIC President and Florida Insurance Commissioner. “Whether it is electronics, furnishings, collectibles, jewelry or clothing, families need to know what they own and how much it's worth.” 

Top Reasons You Need a Home Inventory

1. It’s one of the best ways to ensure you have the right amount of homeowners or renters insurance for your family and your small business.
2. In the event of a disaster or burglary, your insurance company will ask you to provide a list of everything you lost.  A complete and accurate home inventory can cut the time required to complete your claim from months down to as little as 36 hours!  A third-party inventory can also save you thousands of dollars on your claim by ensuring everything is included.
   

May is the perfect time to take inventory of your home or contact us to take care of it for you. Make sure you, your family, and your small business have the protection you need.

As I was flipping through the channels a few months ago, I happened across a show called “Storage Wars”.  I was quickly intrigued by this real-life show that follows buyers of repossessed storage units.  Each episode reveals that while many units filled with items of little value, other are filled with items valued at thousands, and even tens of thousands, of dollars. 

According to the Self Storage Association, nearly 1 in 10 households in America currently rent a storage unit, an increase of 65% in the last 15 years.  That’s a lot of stuff in storage!  But I wonder how many households can actually remember all of the items in their storage unit.  As the saying goes, “out of sight, out of mind”. 

However, should your unit be hit by a disaster such as a flood, tornado, or fire, or should a burglary occur, it would be very difficult to recover anything you are unable to list for the insurance claim.  For this reason, anyone planning to rent a storage unit should take a full inventory of the items prior to storing the items.  If you already rent a storage unit, head over to your unit and take a full inventory or your stored items right away.  The inventory should include a list of each item as well as pictures of the items, warranty information, serial numbers, and receipts when possible. 

If making a detailed list seems overwhelming or if you just don’t have the time, let one of our home inventory professionals help you out! 

~Mika Moris, Marketing Director, What's Under Your Roof?

Have  you ever considered just how many towels and sets of sheets you have in your linen closet.  Have you calculated how much it would cost to replace them? Have you ever documented the antiques or artwork in your home?  We all accumulate possessions and it can be surprising how much “stuff” we have.  Should something happen to your home, such as a natural disaster, a fire, or a burglary, can you make a list of everything that is missing?

That’s where a home inventory comes in.  A home inventory is a detailed list, most frequently including photographs, of all of the personal property in and around your home.  The more details, including purchase price, warranty information, and serial numbers, your home inventory captures, the better!  Home inventories should also include pictures of landscaping and any possessions not in your home, such as the contents of your storage unit. 

Now that you understand what a home inventory is, you may be asking yourself whether or not you need one.  If you are a homeowner, renter, or small business owner, you definitely need one!  There are a variety of reasons you should have a home inventory.

1.      To be prepared in the event of a disaster

Should you have to file an insurance claim as a result of a disaster or burglary, your insurance company will ask you to provide a list of everything you lost.  Can you remember everything in your home, or even a portion of your home, without looking?  Having a complete and comprehensive home inventory report prepared by a third party will save you thousands of dollars, hundreds of hours, and immeasurable anxiety should you ever need to file an insurance claim.  Whether the cause is burglary, natural disaster or fire, our home inventory service will provide you with confidence and peace of mind that your insurance policy will work for you.

Home inventories are also a great measuring stick for your insurance coverage.  With a home inventory in hand, you and your insurance agent can review your current coverage and make sure you have not only enough coverage, but also the correct coverage, for your home and its contents.

2.      For estate planning purposes

Taking inventory while dealing with a personal loss can be overwhelming.  Planning ahead and preparing a complete inventory makes estate planning easier and helps to make certain that the estate owner’s wishes are fulfilled during a settlement and makes the distribution of assets, especially those with sentimental value, much less difficult.  

3.      For pre-nuptial or divorce settlements

Whether you are beginning or ending a marriage, a home and/or small business inventory helps provide the physical asset value of your possessions. An inventory also provides peace of mind to adult children of parents who remarry to help ensure their inheritance is protected.

4.      When preparing for a move

Items are often damaged or lost during a move, whether you are moving down the street or across the country.  How can you prove to your moving company that you owned a set of golf clubs that didn’t show up at your new house? Completing a full inventory prior to a move can be a great asset should you need to file a claim with your moving company. 

If you identified with one of the items above, don’t wait any longer!  Contact us today for a free consultation.