Preparing for After

June is the start of our hurricane season in the South. So many organizations stress how important it is to have an escape route planned, as well as supplies to help you get through the escape period. Rarely do they talk about preparing for after the event. I recently found myself facing a small disaster in which I was not fully prepared. My house was struck by lightning which caught the roof on fire filling the attic with smoke. We were fortunate that someone was home and caught the fire early. There was minimal damage to the house itself, but we found it took down our electrical system and the things attached to it.

After contacting our insurance company, I quickly realized how important it is to have good documentation on our belongings. Before the incident, I had taken pictures of all of our belongings to prove what items we owned. Although I discovered, the important information to file a claim was the value, the serial numbers, and model numbers of each item. Most of the items were intact so I could find the necessary information. My computer, although, was completely dismantled and all of the information and serial numbers went with it. The insurance company continued to request more information about the computer although it no longer existed. It took several days of looking for information and contacting the computer manufacturer to satisfy the insurance company so we could file our claim. Although our disaster was a small one, I think of those who lose an entire household of goods from fire or floods.

We all think ‘it will never happen to me’ until it does. Not only is it critical to have an escape plan and the necessary supplies to feed our families, but it is just as important to have a home inventory of our belongings so we can claim our goods afterwards. I have discovered free home inventory software located at www.knowyourstuff.com that allows you to upload pictures of each room in addition to itemization of your goods including their value, make, model, and purchase date. The information is stored online so it can be accessed from anywhere. If I had completed a home inventory prior to the fire, my insurance claim would have been quick and easy. Learn from my experience and complete a home inventory today. If the task is too daunting, Personalized Solutions can complete a home inventory for you. For more information contact Jill Weaver at jill@organizebeaufort.com or 843-521-7099.