Last year, my house was partially burnt and declared uninhabitable during the wildfires in southern California. I relocated to Houston and suffered a tremendous amount of water damage in my new home after Hurricane Ike. From fire to water, I thought I’d share a few thoughts about what I learned. First: Document everything long before a disaster! Take a video camera and walk around your house, recording everything and I mean everything. Open the cabinets. Open drawers. Go up into your attic. Tape what’s stored under your bed --- everything! You’d be surprised how your mind goes blank and you WILL forget. For example, I keep discovering things that I forgot to claim. I claimed my regular vacuum cleaner but completely forgot about my expensive carpet cleaning machine. I forgot to claim three sets of Egyptian sheets that were in my linen closet. I didn’t remember them until I moved to Houston and started furnishing my new home. I bought a queen sized bed and then remembered about the sheets. Of course they were long gone, but I could have claimed them on my insurance and then I would have had more money to furnish my new house.

Next, make SURE you store your video somewhere safe. I thought I was smart and made a video of my Houston home and all of its contents. But I was not nearly as smart as I thought. The video tape was on my desk next to my computer in my office. Unfortunately, the window in the office broke and water came inside in droves. You guessed it. My tape was ruined.

So, now, I have a better idea. I made a new tape and transferred it to my computer. Next, I uploaded the digital movie online. Now, if this happens again (disasters come in threes, right?) I can get the video from anywhere. I can even call my insurance agent and tell him where to download it.

Another thing that I learned is that “stuff” is just “stuff.” As long as my kids and family members are safe, life is good.

Hey Phoenix, that’s an awesome idea. You could even upload your videos to a site like YouTube (make it private of course so that only those you allow can view it like your insurance adjuster). Another idea is to upload digital photos to one of the photo sharing sites (again, make it private). Once you do the first inventory, you should remember to add to it as you buy more “stuff.” I’m thinking of using my cellphone camera and emailing the photos to myself or to a photosharing site. Hmmn, lots of good ideas. Thanks for the spark, hehe.

Hi

Thanks for sharing

TIC TOCK PHOENIX,

You have two years but only two years to claim all that was lost in your claim and until that time has expired you (that's right I said you Phoenix) have the power to reopen your claim as many times as you would like till you have met or exceeded all policy limits.

SALTSTORM

Hi Phoenix,I also think like paulscott.I also think that You could even upload your videos to a site like YouTube & also upload digital photos to one of the photo sharing sites.That’s really an awesome idea.

Thanks for sharing it.

About me I have seen the lot of insurance posts here. And I can say that they are informative regarding insurance.

What I have learned till now is that Insurance companies are running on Interests and It is prohibited in Islam.

I would like to say any Muslim here in this forum. Is insurance is prohibited in Islam. If yes what is the reason for that?

Since the basic purpose of the internet is to share the knowledge and to communicate with each other, I can say that blogs are playing an important role in sharing the knowledge and to communicate with each other.

Nice information i have ever read, thanks for sharing.