A HomeInventory Can Help Manage Loss (NAPSA)—Insurance experts say that having a detailed inventory of your possessions can make a real difference in the event your belongings are destroyed or stolen. That’s because an up-to-date home inventory list can ensure a speedy settlement from your insurance companyin the eventofa loss. can be simple to create. Start by going through each room of your home or SOCIETY apartment and making a list of INSURING all your perYOUR SUCCESS sonal property, including furni- ture, clothing, bedding and jewelry. Be sure to write the date you bought each item, if you know it, Pay particular attention to financial records. Make a list of all your bank accounts, brokerage accounts, insurance policies, etc., noting where the pertinent documents for each are located. When you’ve completed your home inventory, make copies and put the originals in a safe place away from your home, such as a safety-deposit box. Makeat least two copies of the inventory. Leave one in a fireproof box and another in a safety-deposit box. If you have a third, give it to someoneyou trust in anothercity. Update the inventory every time you redecorate or make a new purchase. Contact your insurance com- pany if you have any questions about your policy. Also, ask your agent about obtaining replace- and how much youpaid. When you’ve completed your inventory, make copies and put the originals in a safe place away from your home, such as a safetydeposit box. The Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters (CPCU) Society urges consumers to follow these additional tips for maintaining a personal inventory: Supplement a written inventory with photographsor a video. Use a camera that date-stamps, or write the date on the back of each photo. Let the person who is most because this provision allows you to receive the entire cost for replacing lost items, regardless of depreciation. “Above all, having a home inventory will save a lot of time in the event that you need to submit a claim to your insurance company. I recommend using a video camera to verbally and pictorially describe your home and personal contents,” says Robert E. McHenry, CPCU, chairman of the CPCUSociety’s ClaimsSection. To find an insurance agent that each item. * Don’t forget to take inventory of your basement, attic, garage, and storage shed. Include all patio furniture and recreational equipment. www.cpcusociety.org and access the Agent & Broker Locator—a database of CPCU Society members searchable by location or company. You can also call (800) 932-CPCUto learn more. familiar with the room describe ment cost coverage on contents, has the CPCU designation, visit
