Let’ face it, procrastination is a part of life.  Sometimes we put things on the back burner because they aren’t high on our priority list at the time.  Other times we put things off because we know the “To-Do” on our list is a time-consuming activity.  Whatever the reason, everyone procrastinates at one time or another and that probably isn’t going to change.There are some tasks, however that shouldn’t be put aside.  One of those includes creating a home inventory. 

Is it an easy thing to do?  With the help of iTaggit, the answer is yes.  Is it a lengthy process?  I’m not going to sugarcoat it for you - It probably will take some time but it will be time well spent.  I would never wish any harm on any of my readers, but if something disastrous were to happen to your home –and it can happen – having a home inventory can help you rebuild your life. I wouldn’t want to imagine what it would feel like to lose everything to a fire or flood and then have to list out everything possession that was destroyed that I could remember for my insurance company.  Chances are, you aren’t going to get fully reimbursed without being able to prove the value of your things, either.

Here are some other reasons it is important to keep an inventory of your possessions:

·     When your things have been damaged or stolen

·     When you are creating your will

·     When you are deciding what insurance policies to purchase and for how much

·     Purchasing Insurance Riders

·     Filing a police report

·     Filing an insurance claim for any reason

·     Filing a federal disaster claim

·     Filing your taxes

So, let’s dive right in!  Today is the day to start protecting your things and give yourself one less thing to worry about.

Here are some helpful hints for beginning your home inventory list:

·     Although it can be done at anytime, during a move or a fall/spring cleaning are both excellent opportunities to create your home inventory

·     Digitize your home inventory using iTaggit.com. iTaggit makes it simple to print reports of your home inventory. (I will show you how at the end of this post)

o   Digitizing your collection is the safest, easiest way to protect your home inventory should a disaster strike.  It is ok to keep a hard copy of your home inventory but without a digitized backup, your files could be destroyed along with your home

·     Take pictures of each item, scan receipts,appraisals, and other documents and add them to your account on iTaggit

·     When adding items to your iTaggit account, describe each item, its brand name, make, model, serial numbers, and the price

o   Include any other information you think might be helpful

·     Do one room at a time.  This makes it easier to break up the task

o   Don't forget garages, sheds, attics, basements, porches, hallway closets, and outdoor areas like pools and decks

·     Click HERE to download checklists (courtesy of whathappensnow.com) for every room in your home.  This will make it easier when you begin your home inventory and will ensure that nothing is forgotten

·     You can group your items by cost or category –whichever is best for you

·     Begin with your most valuable items.  You can value your items in one click on  iTaggit.com using the ValueRange It tool

·     If you have a second home, keep a separate home inventory for each home

o   Sorry,guys!  It may seem like a lot of work but it is well worth the trouble!

·     Remember to update your home inventory each year 

o   Pick a special date to help you remember!

Once you have completed your home inventory and have digitized your items using your itaggit account, you can create a neat, organized report of your items in a snap!

Here’s How:

Log onto iTaggit.com and click “My Items” on the left navigation bar. Once you are in “My Items,” click “List Actions” and then “Generate a Report”

From here, you can choose from 5 different formats:

·     List

·     Thumb List

·     Thumbnails

·     Include the Default Image and all fields

·     Input Form Report

You can also choose to view your report in HTML format through your internet browser or in PDF format.  Creating a PDF report is helpful when you need to save your report to your computer, a disk, or a flash drive and if you need to email it to someone.

The “List” format is the simplest format. It lists your item, category, and value without thumbnail  pictures

The “Thumb List” format is identical to the List format, but with Thumbnail pictures of your items

The “Thumbnails” format displays only thumbnail pictures of your items

The “Include the default image and all fields” format lists photos of your items and also includes details about your items

The “Input Form Report” lists photos of your items as well as space for you to make notes and add more detailed information about your items by hand

Also, you can click “Create a Report” from your user homepage for instructions on how to generate a .CSV report if you would prefer to have your items listed in an excel document.

Start your home inventory today by signing up with iTaggit!