Ivan the Butcher
Member
In February 1985 my house caught on fire, wiped out the kitchen and did smoke damage to the rest of the house. I had then and still have State Farm Insurance and had very minor issues with getting everything restored or replaced. The exceptions of replacement wasn't an insurance issue the games the kids and I love to play together were discontinued and couldn't be found anywhere!
Since then I have put a great deal of thought into documenting out processions. This falls into two categories. 1) recording what you have & 2) storage of those records.
The easy discussion is how to store records. My opinion is to use two types of document storage and in two locations.
Modern electronic cameras make this easy. Print pictures and store one place and have an SD card in a secure location elsewhere, and possibly on "The Cloud"
The taking of still images verses digital movies is a personal choice. First allow me to offer some experience about photos. 35mm film was fantastic the cameras were affordable, and the photo developer would produce all the multiple prints in any of several sizes. The downside was the cost! Digital cameras (including phones) and home printing take this into the realm of very affordable to DOWNRIGHT CHEAP!
I have played with how to photo your possessions for almost 40 years now. There is no wrong way (except to not do it.) I played with this in the film era. 1) take a 4x6 index card and write an item & SN on it in bold print 2) place the card on or beside the item and photo them together. I would put 3 rifles/shotguns or 4 hand guns in one photo. Same for anything special: like paintings, jewelry, even good dishes and family heirlooms.
Now days, I single photo all guns without the card, but card other special items. (the gun info is already recorded with SN, purchase price, and estimated value at a specific time.) When I make a print of the photos, I usually do two 4x6 photos to a page then in good archive ink write special notations on the photo margins.
For rooms I use to take two shots from different angles. I have a CSI team member in the family, and she insists the best and proper way is to take one shot from each corner, be sure to include stairs and hallways & Bathrooms. You can but probably don't need to photo inside closets or inside dressers and cabinets.
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If you ever have a home fire. I will feel for you! If you loose a family member it will be the most traumatic thing in your families' lives. But the future will go on and dealing with Insurance in accordance with their procedures will be frustrating. Trying to remember is very hard. Having detailed photos or videos and some inventory lists of collectables makes it so much easier. View each room with the 4 corner shots and any special shots. You will be able to list every rug, painting, special nick-nack, and seeing the closet door you will remember what in inside. Same for cabinets.
On the forms, they want to know what you paid for each item and when you bought it.. That only matters if you don't replace it. They will devalue and depreciate every last thing you can't document a current real world value for. Example: I have a family heirloom dresser. It was made in 1865. In today's world of Ikea, brown wood furniture is super cheap! So maybe $200, however I have an offer to buy from a museum on their letterhead offering to buy it for $8000 in 1982! Special stuff needs to be proven "Special!"
Be sure your policy has replacement costs and be sure your home value is the current value! In my neighborhood, I paid $120 K 9 years ago, it just recently went to $290K! The cost of the policy will increase as you keep the value updated. (If you don't, it will be your fault when you get hosed!)
Guns and collectables: Many companies have a basic coverage. Mine is $1000 per item/$2500 total to that type of collection! If yours are worth more you will need a special coverage. State Farm considers guns "Straight Risk", and charges 5% of insured value per year! There are much better deals! (Collectables on a standard policy are also subject to deductibles and depreciation!)
__________________________________________________________
I know this has been long! But I don't want the second worst day of your live to be worse than it has to be.
Ivan
I'm sure others have some very good advice to pass along!
Since then I have put a great deal of thought into documenting out processions. This falls into two categories. 1) recording what you have & 2) storage of those records.
The easy discussion is how to store records. My opinion is to use two types of document storage and in two locations.
Modern electronic cameras make this easy. Print pictures and store one place and have an SD card in a secure location elsewhere, and possibly on "The Cloud"
The taking of still images verses digital movies is a personal choice. First allow me to offer some experience about photos. 35mm film was fantastic the cameras were affordable, and the photo developer would produce all the multiple prints in any of several sizes. The downside was the cost! Digital cameras (including phones) and home printing take this into the realm of very affordable to DOWNRIGHT CHEAP!
I have played with how to photo your possessions for almost 40 years now. There is no wrong way (except to not do it.) I played with this in the film era. 1) take a 4x6 index card and write an item & SN on it in bold print 2) place the card on or beside the item and photo them together. I would put 3 rifles/shotguns or 4 hand guns in one photo. Same for anything special: like paintings, jewelry, even good dishes and family heirlooms.
Now days, I single photo all guns without the card, but card other special items. (the gun info is already recorded with SN, purchase price, and estimated value at a specific time.) When I make a print of the photos, I usually do two 4x6 photos to a page then in good archive ink write special notations on the photo margins.
For rooms I use to take two shots from different angles. I have a CSI team member in the family, and she insists the best and proper way is to take one shot from each corner, be sure to include stairs and hallways & Bathrooms. You can but probably don't need to photo inside closets or inside dressers and cabinets.
___________________________________________________________
If you ever have a home fire. I will feel for you! If you loose a family member it will be the most traumatic thing in your families' lives. But the future will go on and dealing with Insurance in accordance with their procedures will be frustrating. Trying to remember is very hard. Having detailed photos or videos and some inventory lists of collectables makes it so much easier. View each room with the 4 corner shots and any special shots. You will be able to list every rug, painting, special nick-nack, and seeing the closet door you will remember what in inside. Same for cabinets.
On the forms, they want to know what you paid for each item and when you bought it.. That only matters if you don't replace it. They will devalue and depreciate every last thing you can't document a current real world value for. Example: I have a family heirloom dresser. It was made in 1865. In today's world of Ikea, brown wood furniture is super cheap! So maybe $200, however I have an offer to buy from a museum on their letterhead offering to buy it for $8000 in 1982! Special stuff needs to be proven "Special!"
Be sure your policy has replacement costs and be sure your home value is the current value! In my neighborhood, I paid $120 K 9 years ago, it just recently went to $290K! The cost of the policy will increase as you keep the value updated. (If you don't, it will be your fault when you get hosed!)
Guns and collectables: Many companies have a basic coverage. Mine is $1000 per item/$2500 total to that type of collection! If yours are worth more you will need a special coverage. State Farm considers guns "Straight Risk", and charges 5% of insured value per year! There are much better deals! (Collectables on a standard policy are also subject to deductibles and depreciation!)
__________________________________________________________
I know this has been long! But I don't want the second worst day of your live to be worse than it has to be.
Ivan
I'm sure others have some very good advice to pass along!
