Insurance experts tell us that it’s extremely important that we make an inventory of our household possessions.

When you experience a loss covered by your policy, it is your primary obligation is to notify your insurance company of the loss, prove your loss and make your damaged property available for inspection by the insurance company.

In the most extreme situation, if your home burns to the ground it is easy to prove that you have had a loss. But, the problem arises when you have to prove the dollar amount of your loss in a timely manner

With a detailed inventory in hand, making a claim for replacement of your valuables will be much, much easier.

To make the inventory, go from room to room photographing, or videotaping the contents of each, making sure to open each cabinets, drawers, and closet doors for a close-up shot of the articles. Take individual pictures of particularly valuable items and include pictures of serial numbers on electronics and appliances.

Make sure you document ownership of the larger items in the garage, basement, or outbuildings, all the while writing a description of each item with its serial number and brand name.

Once you have made the inventory, consider using some free home-inventory software such as KnowYourStuff, a service of the Insurance Information Institute, or MakeLifeEasy. Either of these software systems will help you inventory your home by creating separate files for individual rooms and adding descriptions of the items, including the purchase date, replacement cost and serial number.

Finally, one of the more interesting items concerning the obligation to prove your loss is that you have a duty to appraise the dollar value of your damages. If you incur an expense in compiling that appraisal, you are entitled to be reimbursed by the insurance company for that expense. Once again, having a detailed inventory of the items BEFORE the loss will help you make a case for the exact value of the items lost.

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