Could you recall all of your home furnishings and personal belongings in the event that everything went up in smoke? Maybe … if you’re an Einstein! Most of us would overlook as much as we’d recall in our post-disaster memories. And that could cost us a fortune when dealing with an insurance company demanding documentation. Here’s a solid tip from Photo Marketing Association International. Buy four or five rolls of 36-exposure film and go room to room, photographing everything, both in and out of sight. That means couches, chairs, bedroom sets, dishes, silverware, bikes, and lawn equipment—the works. Don’t overlook those valuables tucked away for safe keeping in drawers, chests, boxes, and cabinets—items such as fine jewelry, stamp collections, etc. Make sure to overlap your photographs so that you don’t leave anything out. Open cabinets and closet doors. Check out the attic and basement. Look down in the crawl space (use flash, if necessary). For smaller items containing valuable information, such as serial numbers, signatures, etc., use a close-up lens to capture the detail. Then caption the back of each photo, explaining exactly what each item is. When you have the film processed, order double prints (very inexpensive when done initially). Keep one set on hand for quick reference, a second set locked securely in a bank safety security box or some other off-premises location. Even if tragedy never strikes, you’ll still have a valuable list of your family’s belongings. But if it does, you’ll be forever grateful that you took the time and effort to record your goods for replacement. |