UF/IFAS Okeechobee County Extension Service
UF/IFAS Okeechobee County Extension Service
458 Highway 98 North
Okeechobee, FL 34972-2578
Phone: (863) 763-6469
E- mail: dsclements@ifas.ufl.edu
June 16, 2004
Feature Article - for release the week of July 20, 2004
Debbie Clements - Extension Agent – 4-H/
Family & Consumer Science
A
Household Inventory is part of Hurricane Preparation
Floridians
are constantly reminded that hurricane season is here and that the season is
expected to be worse than last year. There are many things that individuals and
families can do to protect themselves and their property from the destructive
impact of storms.
There are two important steps you can take to prepare for
disasters such as hurricanes. First,
prepare or update a household inventory. Second,
review and update your property insurance policies.
If all of your possessions were destroyed by a natural disaster, could you -
from memory - list everything in your house, car, or even the hall closet?
Do you know the value of your property?
Do you know how many small appliances you own, complete with model name
and date you bought each? Do you
know how much it would cost to replace your family's clothing, books or tools?
When you purchase homeowner's or renters insurance you hope you will never have
to use it, but purchasing insurance is only part of being prepared for a loss. If
you don’t have a list, you are not prepared for a loss and may not get the
full benefit of the coverage you have purchased.
A household inventory of all your possessions (written and pictures) is
essential to help you remember what you own.
A household inventory is a list of items that you own and the approximate
value of each. Ideally, receipts
for furniture, appliances and other major durable goods should be placed in the
inventory file to show actual costs. It is a good thing to update your household inventory every
year.
The first step is to determine the type of forms that you will use in recording
your possessions. You may obtain booklets and publications that are
fill-in-the-blanks. Household
and personal property booklets can also come from your insurance company or our
County Extension Office ( FCS 7103 -
Family Records ). Some popular
software companies also offer their version of household inventory forms.
Even a blank spiral-bound notebook or a database computer spreadsheet
program can be used.
The inventory should include the room, a list of articles in the room with the place and date of purchase of each item. Include the model and serial number (where possible) and the cost. Copies of receipts can establish both the age a value of major items in your home.
Some people photograph or videotape each room to create a
record of their possessions. Photograph each room, wall-by-wall, floor to
ceiling. Take several shots of a
single room with overlapping sections. Open
the doors and drawers and take pictures to show what is inside. Remember you
need to include a purchase price or estimated price of each possession.
Don't forget to inventory contents of tool sheds, toolboxes, garage, lawn
furniture or other storage buildings.
If you have special objects such as an art collection, jewelry, or antiques, you
may need a qualified appraiser to establish value. Take
extra care to document these items. It
may also be a good idea to review and update your homeowner's insurance policy
to ensure that your property is adequately covered. It
is possible to purchase a floater policy for added coverage. Check with your
insurance company for more information on special collections or items.
Preparing your first household inventory is a major task. You will want to break
it into manageable steps and inventory one room at a time. Make it a family
project with everyone contributing to the project.
Keep your inventory in a safe place. Photos, videos, and computer files can be copied on to CDs or
DVDs and will take up little room. Place
a copy of your inventory with photographs and/or videotape in a safe-deposit box
and have another copy at your home. Consider sending a copy to a trusted friend
or relative that lives far away from this area. This will make it possible to update your home copy of the
inventory once a year and to add new items that are purchased.
The deposited copy or the one away from the home will be your backup copy
in event of a disaster.
Being prepared with a properly prepared household inventory can speed up the
process of filing and collecting a claim as well as provide documentation for
all the items you own. Pray that a
hurricane does not visit us this summer, but be prepared just in case.
If you need additional information on hurricane preparations, visit our webpage at http://okeechobee.ifas.ufl.edu or stop by our office at 458 Hwy 98 North in Okeechobee. Our phone number is 863-763-6469, and you can email us at okeechobee@ifas.ufl.edu
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Trade names, where used, are given for the
purpose of providing specific information.
They do not constitute an endorsement or guarantee of products named, nor
does it imply criticism of products not named. The Florida Cooperative Extension Service - Institute
of Food and Agricultural Sciences is an equal opportunity/affirmative action
employer authorized to provide research, educational information, and other
services to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race,
color, sex, age, handicap, or national origin. Last
update:
06/10/2004
. This page is maintained by Dan
Culbert