Inventory

Forget any urging from this space about resolutions for the new year. Just consider a project for yourself, one that can provide some peace of mind if not larger benefits.

Our suggestion, and many others have made it before, is to do a detailed inventory of your possessions, particularly those in your house.

Law officers and insurance people will tell you of the importance of detailed information in the case of theft or of fire. It's not enough to report the loss of "a television set." What kind was it? You think it was an Emerson or was it Samsung? What is the serial number of that television that is gone or destroyed?

Your standing in case of a loss is greatly improved by a written and a photographic documentation of the property.

People in the security business tell us that a basic plan should involve a video of every room in your house, of all four sides of every room. It should include close-up footage of special items like jewelry and guns. Still photography is OK, but video is better, they tell us. Our thinking is whatever the photo form, it needs to be clear and distinct and not blurred and shaky. Forget cell phone cameras for this purpose.

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You may have a video camera and can do the job yourself. Fine. If not, consider hiring a professional who does this kind of work. It will cost you, but the investment could well be worth its weight in reimbursement gold.

Once you have this record, it can be preserved effectively on a compact disc (CD) or on a digital video disc (DVD). A suggestion is to make two copies and keep them in two difference places, with a bank safety deposit box ideal for one of those places. If a professional does the work, that company may keep a copy on file as well.

Security people tell us that in doing a household inventory particular attention needs to be paid to items that are out of the ordinary.

Every house has a kitchen range, a refrigerator, a television. Most have microwave ovens, dishwashers and freezers. Insurance adjusters are not likely to quibble about these. But your house may include your collection of Beanie Baby dolls or your collection of Arkansas duck stamp prints. Coin collectors, get it recorded. Stamp collectors also.

Along with the photographic inventory, written records are needed of serial numbers.

These are on appliances of all sorts, on computers, on firearms and on many other items. Look for them, and it may take some moving around and searching. Write down the serial numbers and model numbers carefully and double check. Reporting "a Browning shotgun" lost doesn't help much, not even when you add, "It once belonged to my granddaddy." But when you pull out a paper that describes a Browning Citori Grade VII Lightning 12-gauge over-under, serial number XWY123456, then chances of it being recovered are greatly improved.

This written list of serial numbers and item details can be kept in at least two places along with the photo inventory. Our suggestion is for one of the two storage places to be somewhere outside of your home if not the bank box then at a relative's home or another secure spot.

Some security people also suggest putting a distinctive mark in a hidden spot on appliances and other items.

Finally, any inventory list needs to be kept current, updated as changes such as purchases or replacements are made.

Once you have done this inventory of your belongings, you'll relax a bit. It doesn't lessen the need for protecting your belongings, but it will greatly improve the chance of recovery in case of a theft or reasonable replacement in an insurance adjustment.