Insurance Information Institute

TAKING A HOME INVENTORY

This software will help you create a room-by-room inventory of your personal possessions.

Having an up-to-date home inventory will help you:

· Purchase enough insurance to replace the things you own.

· Substantiate losses for your income tax return.

You can always simply make a list in a notebook and save receipts and photos in a file. This software, however, should make this task fun and simple. More importantly, with the click of your mouse, you can update this list as you buy or eliminate personal possessions.

Download your FREE copy of this Award Winning Software HERE.

Getting Started

If you have been setting up a household, starting a home inventory can be relatively simple. You could even attach recent wedding registries to substantiate new possessions.

But, if you have been living in a house for many years, this task may seem daunting. If you set aside an afternoon and get your entire household involved, it can be an enjoyable experience. It is much easier to document your possessions before you suffer a loss from a fire, hurricane, burglary or other disaster.

Big Ticket Items

Make note of expensive items, such as jewelry, furs, and collectibles. Valuable items may need separate insurance. But, don't forget more commonplace items such as toys, CD's and clothing. Taking Photographs

Along with the written information, consider adding photographs of your possessions, which can be done easily with a digital camera. Those with film cameras can scan print photographs or have their film developer save the images to a disk. You can always simply store your print photographs with a copy of your inventory.

Videotape It

Walk through your house or apartment videotaping the contents. Remember to open draws and closets. One advantage of videotape is that you can narrate what you are filming.

HOW TO USE THIS SOFTWARE

· Creating a New Inventory

When you start the program for the first time, you should click on the "new" button on the upper left hand corner of the screen.

· The Wizard

The set-up wizard will then ask you a series of questions, including the names of the rooms in your house.

· Adding Items

Now that you have setup your home, you can begin to add items to your home inventory room by room. On the left hand side of your screen you will see a list of rooms. First, click on the room where you would like to add an item and then click on the "+ item" button on the left hand corner of your screen. When you make a significant purchase, add the information to your inventory while the details are fresh in your mind.

· Adding Photographs / Receipts

When you add an item to the room, you will see an upload option for pictures and receipts. For photographs, you can use images taken with your digital camera. If you don't have a digital camera, you can scan print photographs into your computer or you can save the photos with a copy of your home inventory report. The same goes for receipts.

· Printing Your Report

There are a number of report options available to you if you want to print a report of your home inventory. Click on the "print" button on the upper left hand corner of your screen.

Storing Your Project

Keep your inventory along with receipts in your safe deposit box or at a friend's or relative's home. That way you'll be sure to have something to give your insurance representative if your home is damaged or destroyed.

STORING YOUR HOME INVENTORY

Once you have completed your home inventory, you have a number of options for storage:

· Burn a CD

You can burn your home inventory file onto a CD and store it outside of the home, such as with a family member or in a safe deposit box.

· Save Electronically

You can save your home inventory to your hard drive and/or e-mail it to a trusted friend or family member for safe keeping. You can also e-mail it to yourself so that a record will reside in cyberspace. This way, if your home is destroyed, you can access this information remotely.

· Print a Report

This software offers a number of report options. You can print the information and store it in a safe place outside of your home. Along with these documents, you should keep important receipts and other important insurance information.

If you have any questions on storage, please feel free to fill out the form on the following page:

http://www.knowyourstuff.org/help.htm

To learn more about home and renters insurance, visit www.iii.org.