Create a Home Inventory Before a Hurricane Hits

Preparing for a hurricane goes far beyond buying batteries and boarding up windows. To be fully prepared, a home inventory should be done for insurance purposes and should be updated regularly. One company in Florida called AccuClaim is helping residents by fully documenting its clients' home inventory and creating the necessary proof that will be needed in case a claim needs to be filed.

AccuClaim was created by Rachael Burt, a licensed catastrophic claims adjuster who worked on claims for hurricanes Charley, Jeanne, Katrina, and other devastating natural disasters across the country. Rachael started AccuClaim in response to the overwhelming number of homeowners who suffered catastrophic damage, didn't have a home inventory, and were forced to try to create one after the disaster. This lack of record keeping is responsible for delaying Rachael's ability to resolve the home owner's claim in a timely manner. Many claims that could be wrapped up in a matter of days stretched out for months because of nonexistent records along with poor communication from displaced homeowners.

If you decide to do a home inventory on your own, using a video camera to document your valuables is the best way to make a permanent record of the items in your home. If you don't have access to a video camera, still photographs are sufficient. In addition to a video or photographs, a written inventory of all jewelry, electronics, antiques, art, furniture, appliances, and other valuables should be made.

These documents along with insurance papers and property deeds should be kept in a safe place, either outside the residence such as in a safe deposit box or other secure location or in a fire-proof safe inside the home. With the threat of a hurricane or flood, your dishwasher can provide a waterproof compartment to temporarily store these important documents. If you use a computer to save your photos, lists, videos, and other documents, be sure to back everything up to a disc or print a hard copy and keep it in a safe place or mail it to a relative who lives in another area.

Hurricane season reminds us that we must prepare for the displacement of our family in case of a major storm. The reality is that good record keeping can mean the difference between a timely settlement or months of headaches and paperwork in the event of any insurance claim that must be filed.