Having a home inventory helps after a fire

3/29/2021 (Permalink)

Making sure you have all your possessions accounted for can be difficult after a fire.

Let's start with a question: Can you name everything that is on your nightstand in your bedroom?  You see that nightstand every day, probably several times a day.  If you had to write down everything that is on there, could you remember it all?

Now, imagine trying doing this after something as traumatic as a fire in your home.

Chances are, you'd probably forget something.  We all would.  

I use the example of a nightstand to highlight how easy it is to miss something.  What you may forget may be something insignificant, or it could be something very important of value to you.

The best thing you can do right now is to do a complete home inventory.  It doesn't take too long, and it could be very helpful if something as unthinkable as a fire happens to you.

Taking pictures is fine, but video works best.  Going room by room, scan the room from a corner from left to right, then move to the opposite corner and repeat the process.  Add commentary as you video, such as: "I bought this signed baseball jersey in 2021 for $600 at that charity auction."

When all the rooms are completed, email the video file and pictures to yourself.  This way, you'll have the date you performed the inventory (if it's several years old, you may want to update it), and you'll have access to it no matter where you are.

SERVPRO Bedford Park/Burbank has performed many fire/smoke mitigations.  We know the proper ways to clean structure and deodorize rooms.  A simple call to 708-430-3600 will start the process.