Keeping a home inventory is a great way to get the most out of home insurance claims. Simply put, this is an inventory of everything in your home that might be protected by your insurance policy. Without it, your insurance company doesn’t have a concrete record of what you lost, which will make it much harder to get back the full value of your home insurance policy. It’s a big task, though, so it’s best to tackle it over time. Here’s how to get started.

Break It Down by Room

After that, break rooms down by cabinets, closets, and storage spaces. The smaller you go, the better: this way, you’ll be able to budget your time and handle the task efficiently. It’ll also give you a good sense of where things are, which can help a home insurance claim if certain areas of your home are damaged.

Prove Value

To get the most out of home insurance claims, make the job easier for both parties. If you have all of your protected property appraised ahead of time, your claim will be nearly watertight. The insurance company won’t have to do as much research, less negotiation will be involved, and in most cases, you’ll end up making better on your claim.

Review Protection

Look back at your homeowners insurance quote and/or policy. What protection did you buy? Go to each item you had covered, take a picture of it, record its value, store those records in a safe location (example, safety deposit box) and review your insurance policy for any relevant exceptions or caveats. Neither you nor your home insurance company wants you to be surprised when you receive your claim response. Therefore, it is very important to compare your coverage limits to the actual value of your items.  If you feel your items are valued more than your policy covers, be sure to discuss scheduling (listing) those items with your insurance agent.

CIS Insurance has provided Texas Panhandle families and businesses with home, property, vehicle, medical, farm, and crop insurance since 1985. As an independent, local insurance company, CSI Insurance works closely and transparently to find homeowners insurance quotes that work for you. Get protected by calling them at (806) 935-6512 or visiting their website.