Home Inventory Checklist-an EASY Solution

This weeks theme is ON FIRE!

Do you have a proper home inventory checklist?

What would happen if your home were burglarized, caught fire or was in some other catastrophic even? In an earlier blog, Spontaneous Combustion, we wrote about some very good friends that lost their home to fire and another friend (with the client hat on) that, on the day after his offer was accepted, it burned down Accepted Offer Goes Up in Smoke-LITERALLY!

If you had proper warning, what would you save? What would you miss the most?

Would you be able to list all the furniture, important documents, computers and electronic info all the way down to how many spatulas you would have to replace? Bath rugs? How many picture frames did you have on the wall. It may sound silly to think about these kind of things but it all adds up. If you have attended a wedding recently, think about the gift registries and how expensive it is to start a home! Home Inventory Checklist

Why not take this time and use this friendly reminder to hug your loved ones and then take an inventory of your home. At least that way if this ever happens to you or your loved ones, you will have an idea of what to expect.

Take the time to 'save' your possessions now. Make a home inventory checklist. Write down descriptions of your items and take photos.

Let the local police departments know the directions to your home all the way down to the color of home and the real directions of how to get there. Keep the driveway plowed and free of snow (an Alaska thing) and do not panic if you have to call.

When in doubt call 911 and speak clearly. Every second counts and you have to give the dispatchers all the information possible so they can send help right away.
Home Inventory Checklist

One option that we have run across is Know Your Stuff home inventory. This is a free service provided by the Insurance Information Institute. There is a video on the Know Your Stuff site that explains a bit bore on the process on the site but, essentially, it walks you through a computerized home inventory process. You can add rooms, change and maintain your home inventory. There is even a maintenance calendar where you can set up reminders via text or email messages.

When you go through the inventory checklist process, it allows you to go through your home room by room, piece by piece. You do not have to complete the task all at once. You can add items or skip through rooms with ease. It even allows you to print out your home inventory checklist.

The inventory information you save at Know Your Stuff is stored on remote servers and is accessible from any computer.
Home Inventory Checklist
Don't get caught in the emotions and grief in an emergency situation. With all the confusion of the fire trucks, the fire restoration folks, the insurance company, the neighbors and the scanner chasers, confusion and disbelief are the dominating emotions. Take the time now, even it it is one room at a time or one room a week, to invest in your home inventory checklist.

There are so many things to consider and a little planning and preparation WILL help.

Larry & Jacque

www.AlaskaDreamMakers.com

"It's Your Dream, That Makes it Ours, Too!" ™

Alaska Dream Makers

Larry & Jacque Ficek

Broker/Owner, ABR, CRS, GRI, SFR, Realtor®
Broker Associate/Owner, ABR, CRS, GRI, SFR, Realtor®

877-373-1020 toll free      907-373-8000 direct       888-818-6193 fax

*remember that you can choose your own search right from our websites. If you would like a more direct search, you can search on www.AlaskaDreamMakers.com but if you would like a more detailed search with access to property disclosures, plat maps and more, you can go to www.AlaskaDreamMakers.info for this search.

If you are still not sure about moving to the area, or if you simply want to visit our great state,
consider our short term and vacation rentals. Suite Dreams Alaska offers modern, convenient
and fully furnished (down to the silverware and linens) Alaska styled 'cabins.' Visit our website
and call if you have any questions. The cabins are in the heart of Wasilla. Owned and operated by licensed real estate professionals in Alaska (Larry & Jacque Ficek).

 

 

 
Post is included in group: Active Rain Newbies
Post is included in group: Addicted to Active Rain
Post is included in group: Advice for Buyers
Post is included in group: Advice for Sellers
Post is included in group: LATE NIGHT - EARLY MORNING AT ACTIVERAIN

20 Comments on Home Inventory Checklist-An EASY Solution

JAN
25
2011
796,892 Points 5 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Sounds like a really useful service, I will check it out.
3:08am • #1
Thanks for the info
3:24am • #2
162,900 Points 4 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Michelle, I did look through it and as soon as we block out some time. That is where we will be.

eHomes LLC, you bet! Anything that we think we can use we will share.

Jacque & Larry
5:03am • #3
167,145 Points 4 Featured Posts Outside Blog

I know we all should do it, but it sounds like such a HUGE task.  I will go the the link you provided next, it sounds like it could make it a little less overwhelming.  Thanks for sharing!
9:44pm • #4
JAN
26
2011
360,486 Points 76 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Great blog it is so important to keep an inventory off site or in a fireproof safe.  Starting over is hard enough!  Great practical advice for everyone.
8:00am • #5
724,094 Points 5 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Hi Larry & Jacque. Sounds like a great service. Doing a home inventory can be daunting, but it’s very necessary.
10:41am • #6
JAN
27
2011
162,900 Points 4 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Brenda, you are right with the overwhelming part! I remember how scarred they were and how frustrating it was for our friends. They had fireman, insurance adjusters, curious neighbors, ambulance chasers and the restoration company all in their home and some items thought to be lost was simply 'saved' by one of them. They did not know who, when or where the property was until the home was almost back together. Crazy!

Tni, thank you for your thoughts on this one! Our friends had a hard time remembering the detailed items so I asked them if they had any visitors from out of state. Kind of an odd question but they had (and have again) such a beautiful home, you know the visitors had to take pictures inside and out of the home. They did have some family visit and were able to put some more things on their list.

Bill, it can be daunting! Larry would probably not mind if some of my collections would go away, but this is on our list to do. We are going to take the room by room approach and see how long it takes.

Thank you all for reading this and hopefully we can save someone else from what our friends went through.
12:00am • #7
JAN
28
2011
150,055 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Larry & Jacque - this does sound like a good service and a potentially useful housewarming gift.  Thanks for the information! 
1:13am • #8
JAN
29
2011
469,049 Points 18 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Hit Router Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Larry and Jacque--One of the insurance companies I recommend to my clients has recently started offering 'home videos' to help with the inventory taking.  I have not checked into it thoroughly, but all of this sounds like a wonderful idea should there be a disaster.  Thanks for the interesting post!
11:55pm • #9
JAN
31
2011
162,900 Points 4 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Wende, it would be great to do as folks are moving in and unpacking. Maybe even lending out a camera to help out as they move in would be a nice service to offer. I do not know that I want to know exactly what someone has (we don't like to keep social security numbers in the office for client security) but whatever we can do to help we are there!

Pat, that sounds great. I would still be a little leery of who does the videos though. We have seen some odd ducks trying to sell alarm equipment around our town. He even missed the alarm sticker on the door when he knocked. Hmmm

Jacque & Larry
11:38pm • #10
FEB
02
2011
218,330 Points 13 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Jacque & Larry~ The link sounds great. Moving time would be a good time to do that inventory, if only people could do it then.
7:43am • #11
FEB
06
2011
287,375 Points 26 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Hit Router Called Shot Master

Great idea here. I do like Pat's idea ( above ) that the insurance company would take the lead and have a video done. I think a lot of home owners would probably think this is a great idea, but many wouldn't take the initiative to actually do it.
1:42pm • #12

Just stopping by today to invite you to the 2nd Annual ActiveRain Super Bowl Party. Hope you’ll come and bring some friends!
2:30pm • #13
FEB
09
2011

Great article. We have "inventory guides" in my office - most people take photos or videos.  Anything with a serial number should be written down.
6:01pm • #14
FEB
10
2011
1,444,054 Points 26 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Very good advice for everyone. Most of us do not have a formal inventory of the property in our home.

I will post your blog on my Facebook business page.

 Life is good in Maryland!
7:28am • #15
FEB
11
2011
289,689 Points 6 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

NOw this is a post that I would have re-blogged, but I can't  Bring it back..  More content like this please!
2:36am • #16
957,768 Points 53 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Great reminder to complete before it is too late.     
6:36pm • #17
FEB
13
2011
180,181 Points Outside Blog

I think this is very good advice, one of my closing gifts is an inventory book. Hopefully it is used.
2:41am • #18
FEB
18
2011
340,178 Points 8 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

It's certainly something to think about.  Beautiful wedding pic - my daughter is also getting married this summer.
8:52am • #19
OCT
28
2011

Hi,

We have a home inventory business here in Wasilla and was wondering if we could have a link from your site to our site; if so we can work out a payment to you if we recieve customers from your site. 

Please take a look and let me know what you think.

www.alaskahomeinventory.com

Thank you,

Raine
Raine Aragon
12:26am • #20


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Larry & Jacque Ficek, Wasilla Alaska Realtors

Wasilla, AK

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Alaska Dream Makers

Address: PO Box 870276, Wasilla, AK, 99687

Office Phone: (877) 373-1020 x 1

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