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The door to your abode is ajar when it should be firmly locked and the place has been ransacked. You experience a raft of emotions, anger, fear, shock, even regret and foolishness that you didn't get around to beefing up your home security as you had often promised yourself that you would do.
Crime reported, craftsman called in to repair the door and fit a more secure lock. Place straightened up. What now? You have insurance, that lightens the burden a little. You will need to make a claim.
So what exactly was stolen?
Well there was the television, the empty space that it used to occupy before the low life burglar carried it away was one of the first things that you noticed when you arrived home to discover the burglary. What brand was it and which model? What was the serial number?
You can remember the brand, that's a start, but you don't have a clue as to the model or the serial number.
How much did you pay for it and how long did you have it? Can't remember the exact cost, only a very vague figure comes to mind but you are quite sure that you purchased the television two years ago, wait a second, time flies it could have been three years ago.
And that is just one item. What about all the rest of your stuff that was stolen? Can you name the make and model of the CD player that you had rigged up in the den, its age and cost?
How about those family heirlooms that you kept in a box in a draw, all gone now. Do you know their value? How about grandfather's pocket watch, can you describe it accurately? Did it have Roman or Arabic numerals on the dial?
A burglary is a bad enough thing to suffer, but a house fire is likely to take all of your possessions away from you. How do you make your claim to the insurance company then? How can you possibly remember, in the aftermath of such a trauma, every single thing that you have lost that was of any value?
The answer is to take action before the event. Make an inventory of all your possessions, listing the date of purchase, the cost and where applicable any serial numbers.
Having an inventory of all the valuables in your home could prove to be just what you need should you suffer a burglary, fire or other disaster. The list would help you to assess exactly what has been stolen or damaged - a very difficult thing to do if you rely on memory alone. And the information about the age and value of your belongings is exactly what your insurance company will need to know when you make a claim.
Your insurance company will want you to justify the amount that you are claiming and your home inventory list can make all the difference. If you keep your inventory up to date by recording new items you buy, and by keeping photographic records of your possessions you can greatly improve your chances of success if it comes to making a claim on your insurance.
If you are compiling your home inventory list yourself you will find the task much easier if you use downloadable inventory software, many examples of which are available online. The other option is to use a home inventory service.
Most homeowners find using a home inventory specialist brings many advantages.
The service will either help you with explicit advice on how to prepare your inventory or, better still, organize and carry out the job for you. Should you experience a loss through burglary, fire or flood the home inventory service will present your claim to your insurance company in a preferred format. This will often mean that your claim is settled sooner and fuller. In the event of making a large claim you will appreciate a settlement as soon as possible.