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[Q] I need to update my home insurance policy and have yet to inventory my contents. Do you have any suggestions that will make this overwhelming task less daunting?

[A] Use a digital camera or video camera to make a photographic inventory of your home's contents. Go from room to room. In every room, make a 360-degree turn while collecting images. Don't forget to take photos of storage areas, like closets and the garage. Once your photo record is complete, write down descriptions of each item you own in our Personal Property Inventory Brochure. Be sure to include where you bought each item or how much you paid. Store your inventory in a secure place outside of your home, like a safe deposit box.

Why do this? If disaster strikes, you'll have a complete list of your belongings, which you'll need as part of an insurance claim. If your life is upended by a disaster, it's difficult to create an accurate and complete inventory from memory.

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