| If you are ever a victim of a burglary or house | | | | grills, juicers, and so on |
| fire, the one thing that insurance companies need | | | | - Cameras, VHS video cameras, digital video |
| to know is what things were taken or destroyed | | | | cameras, binoculars, Ipods, MP3 players, and so |
| in order for them to cover your losses. | | | | on. |
| This article will highlight some of the important | | | | - Firearms including pistols, revolvers, shotguns, |
| things you need to document for the insurance | | | | and rifles |
| companies. | | | | - Computer equipment such as desktops, laptops, |
| It is a good idea to document any high ticket item | | | | monitors, scanners, etc. |
| that is difficult to replace or irreplaceable. Any high | | | | The following is a list of items that you should |
| ticket or irreplaceable item makes a good | | | | definitely photograph for your home inventory: |
| candidate for engraving or photographing. | | | | - Jewelry and expensive wristwatches |
| If you are too lazy to do this yourself, you can | | | | - Fur coats and expensive clothing such a Ralph |
| hire home inventory services anywhere. They | | | | Lauren shoes |
| come to your house, take pictures of your | | | | - Antique items such as your grandmother's old |
| expensive belongings, and document them for | | | | flour sifter whose manufacturer went out of |
| you for a fee. | | | | business 30 years go |
| Otherwise you should etch or photograph | | | | - Expensive artwork |
| anything you think somebody could use to pawn | | | | - Oriental rugs that have unique designs |
| off at a pawn shop. Marking your belongings | | | | - Any gold or silver |
| makes them a lesser target for theft and a lot | | | | One of the best things you can do to document |
| more difficult to pawn or sell in the black market. | | | | your belongings is to write down the make, |
| Here is a general list of items I think you need to | | | | model, model number, serial number, and |
| document in your home inventory. The following | | | | identification number of any appliance or electronic |
| items should be etched, marked, labeled, and/or | | | | item you buy. Those registration cards that |
| photographed: | | | | normally come with your newly bought item were |
| - TV's | | | | not meant for simply verifying your warranty, but |
| - Stereos | | | | rather identifying the ownership of that item. |
| - Sporting goods such as bicycles, fishing poles, | | | | Keeping record of an expensive electronic item |
| hockey equipment, and so on. | | | | such as a laptop can help authorities trace your |
| - Tools | | | | property in the event of theft. |
| - Power tools such as chain saws, lawn mowers, | | | | Now that many manufacturers are hooked up to |
| etc. | | | | the web, the consumer can now register their |
| - Expensive clocks, watches, or time pieces | | | | item on the manufacturer's website whether he |
| - Musical instruments such as pianos, saxophones, | | | | has a Canon camera or a Cannondale racing bike. |
| drums, guitars, and so on | | | | Many computer manufacturers are following suit |
| - Radios | | | | by providing the consumer with online registration |
| - Household appliances such as rice cookers, gas | | | | of their electronic items. |