Take Stock of Your Belongings with a Print or Online Home Inventory
For most of us, home is more than a house. It’s a cherished source of memories and a treasure chest for our keepsakes. And on a practical level, it’s filled with things we use every day.
That’s why when a fire destroys a home, it cuts deeply into our lives. Having an up-to-date home inventory can help you get back on your feet after a disaster. There are a number of reasons why a home inventory is important:
- It can help you determine how much insurance you may need.
- It speeds up the claims process, reducing hassle in already trying times.
- Most importantly, it enables you to rebuild your life as completely as possible after a loss.
Erie Insurance offers a detailed guide on erieinsurance.com to help you know what to include in your inventory. Just print out the PDF, then go through your house, room by room. Mark down each item, including its current replacement cost. When you’re done, give us a call to help you review your contents and ensure that your insurance coverage is sufficient. Also, make sure to store your inventory in a fireproof box or outside your home altogether.
Other Tools
The Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) also makes it easy for homeowners to keep a record of belongings. The organization offers free home inventory software you—and family members—can easily download to a home computer.
With the software, each birthday gift and new purchase can be quickly added to the ever-changing list. That list can be regularly backed up on a CD or in paper form and stored somewhere outside of the home for extra protection. To learn about the software and to download it, visit knowyourstuff.org.
ERIE® insurance services are provided by one or more of the following insurers: Erie
Insurance Exchange, Erie Insurance Company, Erie Insurance Property & Casualty
Company, Flagship City Insurance Company and Erie Family Life Insurance
Company (home offices: Erie, Pennsylvania) or Erie Insurance Company of New
York (home office: Rochester, New York). Not all companies are licensed or operate
in all states. Not all products are offered in all states. Go to erieinsurance.com for
company licensure and territory information.