Organizing Your Business and Home Inventory
As we bid goodbye to Hurricane Irene, I hope and pray that you stayed safe and dry. A major event makes you think about what would happen if your belongings were destroyed. One thing that we don’t really think about is having an inventory of our business and homes. What would happen should a disaster come and take away all of our belongings? Sure, things can be replaced but how long would it take, how much frustration will it be and more than anything else…how would you document it all to your insurance company?
Here are some suggestions to make sure that you can avoid frustration, overwhelm and anxiety when a natural disaster strikes and changes your life forever.
Document all of your supplies: computers, office equipment, inventory lists, parts – everything that has monetary value in your office or home. Documentation of your items will allow your insurance company to easily process your claim. This can be done quickly and easily by simply pulling your Warranty information.
There are several options to document items to keep your valuables safe and secure.
1. They can be stored in an offsite facility
2. Store valuables in a container that would not be as easily damaged should you have a storm or leak
3. OR, and this is the best option, they can be scanned and stored in a safe, off-site location. Scanning is the best option, even though it may seem as if it is a daunting task. It will be well worth the effort. And, once the system is in place, it can easily be maintained on a weekly, monthly or quarterly basis – depending on the amount of data you process in your office or home.
One of the worst feelings in the world is to have your life-long memories damaged by water, fire or mold. I’ve been with clients at the moment that they realized that they have lost their last memory of their great-grandparents and it is not a pleasant experience. I’ve also been with businesses who have realized that their tax documents are now destroyed and their only prayer is that they aren’t audited – ever.
Also, make sure that your irreplaceable items are also insured properly. Check with your insurance company to determine what documentation is needed for insurance purposes.
Think ahead. Be proactive. Don’t wait for a disaster to dictate your action. Be a forward thinker and take action now. We can’t predict when the next hurricane, earthquake or tornado will hit and procrastination will not save your business or home valuables from having to be replaced at full cost. Can you really afford not to have your life documented?
Being prepared will save you time and energy along with major frustration. When a disaster occurs you are, more than likely, going to be among a multitude of businesses and/or homeowners who are also filing a claim and the easier that you can make it for your insurance company to file your claim the quicker your claim will be able to be processed. Data management, document management and inventory management is essential for every business and homeowner. Set a goal to begin your documentation process now.
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