Photographing and cataloging your home

[Yammer77]

http://www.knowyourstuff.org/download.html

This software allows you to photograph and document your belongings in case something should ever happen to your home...
It was featured on the tv show The whole picture on the DIY network...

[RacingHistorian]

I actually have this - it's featured every once in awhile in Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine.   It does the job.   

[peachhead]

That is something that everyone needs to do from time to time.  It is also cool to look back on stuff like that!!

I know I always try to remember to take photos of different redecorating projects and it is really a blast to look at the photos from 20, 25, 30 years ago!!  Kids like looking at that sort of thing too----"The blue chair used to have brown upholstery!!"  and "OMG, what was I thinking when I bought those hideous rooster curtains!!!"  It sure is interesting to see how your tastes and style changes over the years, as well as the areas where it stays similar.

Loretta

[RacingHistorian]

It's also good to contact your insurance agent to add a coverage rider for your camera gear.  It's ridiculously cheap!  I think I pay $15.00 a year - yes year - for like $7,500 of coverage on my camera equipment which even covers if it's stolen from my vehicle.   I also have $10,000 coverage on my computer equipment. 

[peachhead]

Great tip, Scott!!!!  Very useful reminder!!  You should bring that up at a Meeting---like when we talk Business/Legal.

Loretta

[Yammer77]

do you need receipts though for a rider?
I sure as heck have em but buried somewhere....

[RacingHistorian]

do you need receipts though for a rider?
I sure as heck have em but buried somewhere....

I imagine if you have documented ownership (photos, receipts, etc.) it will probably be on a replacement cost basis.   On my policy there is a $500 deductible though - which I'm sure I could buy down if I wanted to.

[RacingHistorian]

Anthony - part of my purchasing routine is to fax copies of my receipts to my insurance agent as soon after the purchase as possible. That way, there's another record of all the serial numbers in case I misplace my copy of the receipts. I'm famous for filing stuff away in a good place where it won't be lost!

I've always had receipts but you could ask the insurance agent if there are any alternatives.

I use Quicken.    With Quicken, you can scan all your receipts/invoices/documents, etc and they get attached to the transaction in the Quicken register.   So all I have to do is refer to that transaction and I have images of all my receipts and such.  I do this alot with rebates.  I scan in images of the bar code, UPC code, receipts, etc.    I have Quicken Home & Business Premium so I also scan in my invoices from online sales so I have them for tax purposes.  Quicken prepares my Schedule C for me automatically so when I do my taxes online using Turbo Tax, it takes me no time to go through it all.    The only 'downside' is you'd have to back-up your Quicken file and store off-site to be 100% certain you have access - just like any other digital backup. 

[peachhead]

Alice said:

"....part of my purchasing routine is to fax copies of my receipts to my insurance agent as soon after the purchase as possible. That way, there's another record of all the serial numbers in case I misplace my copy of the receipts."

That is a great tip and can be used with so many other big ticket items!!!

I wish I could discipline myself to use something like Quicken but the few times I have done it, my resolve only lasted about 3 months......