Insurance Tips from NAIC + Giveaway

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Most of us have possessions, but how many of us take the time to do what’s necessary to protect those possessions? The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) encourages families at various life stages to catalog their possessions through a home inventory.  This is particularly important as people are getting ready to spring clean and shuffle things around.  I had no idea that about half of all Americans don’t have a home inventory in place, which can leave them in trouble in the event of theft or a natural disaster.  It’s important to document the “stuff” in your home to ensure that all your favorite things are covered by your home insurance policy in case of a fire or other emergency. If you’re looking to switch insurance providers, you may consider looking into bear river insurance.

While this can be done by hand and with a digital camera, a new option is an iPhone app called MyHOME Scr.APP.book.  The free app from NAIC lets you quickly photograph and capture images, descriptions, bar codes and serial numbers, and then stores them electronically for safekeeping.  The app organizes information room by room and creates a back-up file for e-mail sharing.

Since about half of all Americans don’t have a home inventory, here are a handful of tips from NAIC to help people get started:

– To begin your list, think about ‘celebration’ purchases such as jewelry and fine art, or family heirlooms or other collections.  Also consider items related to everyday leisure time, from flat-screen televisions to custom guitars.

– Don’t forget items you use rarely such as holiday decorations, sports equipment, tools, etc.

– Pull together copies of original sales receipts and/or appraisal documents.  Also note model and serial numbers.

– Group your possessions into logical categories, i.e., by hobby, by room in your home, etc.

– Carefully photograph or videotape each item, and document a brief description including age, purchase price and estimated current value.  Download a home inventory checklist (PDF).

– Store your home inventory and related documents in a safe, easily accessible place online, on your computer or in a fire-proof box or safe deposit box.  Consider sharing a copy with friends, relatives and your insurance provider.

There are also more tips for young families located here: http://www.insureuonline.org/course_yng_family.htm.

GIVEAWAY

To help get you started with the home inventory process, one lucky reader on The Mommy-Files will win a Kodak Easyshare C122 Digital Camera!!!

WIN IT!!! (MANDATORY ENTRY)

– Tell me in a comment which favorite thing you would have as the #1 item on your inventory list!

EXTRA ENTRIES:

– Follow The Mommy-Files on Twitter – 1 ENTRY
– Tweet about the giveaway – 1 ENTRY DAILY
– Become a Fan of The Mommy-Files on Facebook– 1 ENTRY
– Follow me through Google Connect (new on the right side of the blog) – 1 ENTRY
– Subscribe to my blog – 1 ENTRY
– Add my Mommy-Files button to your blog and include the URL – 1 ENTRY
– Comment on any Non-Giveaway post on The Mommy-Files – 1 ENTRY per post comment (no limit)
– Blog about this giveaway and include the URL – 5 ENTRIES

RULES:

– Contest will close at 11:59 p.m. PST on Thursday, May 25th, 2011! Any entries after this time will be deleted!
– Contest open to U.S. residents only.

I received a camera from The NAIC as part of this campaign.  The giveaway was sponsored by the NAIC.  All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine.

 

409 thoughts on “Insurance Tips from NAIC + Giveaway”

  3. Sharon

    Wow, that’s a good question to think about! I would have to put my heirloom jewelry at the top of my inventory list, but there are so many items that need to be inventoried …..thanks for the reminder, and this good post!

    Reply
  7. Owen's Mom

    I would list our flat screen first on the list …and then move onto my kitchen appliances like the Blendtec & Kitchen Aid
    andrea.kruse at gmail dot com

    Reply
  13. Jackie

    The #1 item would be our computer. We not only use it for personal use, but it has all my husbands info on his business (he’s self employed).
    Thanks!
    jackievillano at gmail dot com

    Reply
  27. Angela Kinder

    The #1 thing would have to be the laptop. We just got it in March and it already has so many irreplaceable information and pictures on there. I don’t know what we’d do if we ever lost it!

    Reply
  34. Becca

    Since I can’t inventory my family member, my number one replaceble item would be my custom made saddle.

    Reply
  37. Maria

    The 1st thing on my inventory list would have to be my laptop. I have three yrs of pics from my son’s football games.

    Reply
  39. Margaret Smith

    My Mom had passed away and I received her wedding ring, which is very special to me.
    Thanks so much
    rickpeggysmith(at)aol(dot)com

    Reply
  87. Kristine M

    The #1 item on my list would be my hard drive. I have years worth of pictures stored on my computer….I would hate to loose those valuable memories.

    Reply
  98. Lynda E.

    All the musical instruments, and I do mean ALL – the sax, trombone, baritone, trumpet, keyboard, 3 drum sets and I’ve lost track of the number of guitars!

    Reply
  99. Kristen

    It would have to be my photo albums, even tho there’s no monetary value to them. Second would definitely be my computer though!
    aeris321 at gmail dot com

    Reply
  105. heidi b

    Number 1 item would be our flat screen tv. I think it costs the most in our home and I seen to go through TV’s too much! Thanks.

    Reply
  109. Sharon Harmon

    I recently started a small business and I would love to organize my paperwork showing each sale I make!

    Reply
  115. Amanda

    Wow… good question. I’ve never though about it, but I’d have to choose a ring I received from a friend.

    Reply
  172. Jennifer H.

    The top item on my inventory list would be my husbands 1864 Grand Piano
    jenhedger at hotmail dot com

    Reply
  178. Tracy Ellingson

    The first item on my checklist would be photographs but since they have no monetary value probably my piano.

    Reply
  179. Denice P

    the number thing i have on my inventory list is my blue recliner. i would be so lost with out my nice comfy and relaxing recliner,.

    Reply
  183. Patricia

    The #1 item on my list would be our lawn tractor. We have too much to mow to just use a push mower.

    Reply
  205. Ellie W

    My parent’s wedding rings. They’re my most precious possessions.
    Thanks for the giveaway!
    eswright18 at gmail dot com

    Reply
  225. ferriz

    oh good question. probably my favorite silver serenity necklace or my laptop. no, totally my necklace.

    ferriza2(at)yahoo(dot)com

    Reply
  229. katklaw777

    My Mom has passed on to me some wonderful heirloom jewelry that I have yet to insure.
    Some pieces are 3 generations old and very, very unique. Thanks for the great giveaway!

    Reply
  238. Lisa Davis

    we have an external harddrive with all of our twins baby pictures on it, that would probably be my first pick!

    Reply
  250. sarah

    It would probably be our flat screen. The stuff of real value to me cannot be replaced (photos, kids school projects, etc).

    Reply
  264. Debbie C

    Our family photos have to be priority on the list. After that, some of our antiques.

    dchrisg3 @ gmail . com

    Reply
  301. Lucy Schwartz

    A necklace i had made with the Black pearl I found at Sea World. It was a vacation with our grandson and daughter and it was so precious.

    Reply
  359. susan smoaks

    the number one thing on my list is the external hard drive that contains original music that my husband made

    Reply
  364. derrick may

    i would have a hand full of old coins that were left to me from my father on my inventory thank u.

    Reply
  372. brian e.

    Thanks for the giveaway…the #1 item on my list would be some framed 19th century posters from Ireland hanging in our home that have great sentimental value to me !

    senorpiero [at] yahoo [dot] com

    Reply
  402. Marcy Strahan

    My favorite thing you would have as the #1 item on my inventory list IS my computer!
    Follow by other electronics & household gadgets.

    During hurricanes I pack up & bring my clothing & personal memento…& CPU..it’s the things that won’t fit in my car I worry about leaving behind.

    Reply

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