Texas we are now 3 weeks into the 2011 Hurricane Season. It has been quiet so far, so you still have time to prepare. Every year I write a series of articles with helpful hurricane season tips:
2011 Hurricane Season Begins June 1st
Texas Hurricane Season Supply Checklist 2011
Here is the biggest mistake most policyholders make during hurricane season: Policyholders fail to document their belongings and home.
It is extremely important for a policyholder to document the inventory and current condition of their belongings. Grab your camera or camcorder and follow along CSI Homeowner. If the camera has a date stamp feature, activate it so the date is recorded as well. If you are making a video recording it is good to narrate the video, rooms, and items. No excuses, most cell phones now have cameras and video capabilities now.
1) Go into a room and take pictures of the entire room. Take a picture from the doorway of each wall. Walk to the middle of the room and take a picture. Turn a half step, and take another picture, until you have a complete 360 degree panoramic recording of the room.
2) Take pictures in the hallways, open the closets, open the cabinets, open the drawers, garage, attic, basement, barn, safe, storage shed, anywhere you may have contents that you may claim on insurance in case a disaster happens. My 32 drawer toolbox required over 75 photos that included serial numbers of tools and the toolbox itself.
3) Take pictures of those upgrades: kitchen cabinets, hardwood floors, custom tiled floors, custom built ins, upgraded carpet, fine rugs, or ungraded finishes.
4) Document your valuables: fine art collection, gun collections, diamond jewelry collection, and secure them. By the way take photos of any serial numbers or identification numbers while you're at it.
This process serves 2 important steps. It documents your actual possessions. Claiming anything else like that 70" 3D LCD TV you have been thinking about upgrading to but never bought is insurance fraud. Second this process documents the condition that your items are in before a storm or disaster strikes.
Still have your camera handy, don't put it down yet. Let's take a walk outside.
1) Take pictures of your roof, chimney, walls, windows, garage door, patio, doors, siding, outdoor kitchens, pools, furniture, lighting, fences, gates, air conditioners, generators, and anything related to your home. Document any upgrades, maintenance, or improvements to handle negotiations with the insurance company settlement.
Keep several copies of the photos or videos.
Copy the photos or videos onto CD, DVD, USB jump drives, and flash cards. Keep multiple copies and do not rely on a computer that can go missing or destroyed in a storm. Put the photos onto storage media and in a Zip Lock bag. Then put them into a safe, or deposit box. Store an extra copy at a relatives home further away. Keep a copy in your car.
Hopefully these steps will never have to be used, but in case of a major storm or hurricane you will have great documentation of everything necessary to provide to your insurance company to begin the process of making a claim.
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