How to Video Your Property for Insurance Protection: A Step-by-Step Guide

Unexpected disasters like fires, floods, or theft can leave homeowners scrambling to prove what they’ve lost. Documenting your belongings through a simple video on your phone is a smart step that may help make the home insurance claims process easier. Securityplus Federal Credit Union is here to explain how to create a thorough home inventory video that can support efforts to protect your financial assets in case of an insurance event.

Why Video Your Property?

A video inventory provides a clear, visual record of your possessions, making it easier for insurance adjusters to assess damages and replacements during a property insurance claim. It offers multiple benefits, such as:

• Proof of Ownership: Helps confirm that you owned specific valuable items.
• Accurate Valuation: Supports claim accuracy by showing the condition and brand of your belongings.
• May Make the Claims Process Easier: Can help reduce disputes and guesswork when working with your insurer.
• Peace of Mind: Knowing your assets are documented can relieve stress in times of crisis.

Steps to Create a Property Video Inventory

1. Prepare Your Space Before filming, clean and organize your rooms so items are clearly visible. Open drawers, cabinets, and closets to highlight stored valuables for your home inventory documentation.
2. Use Your Smartphone Most modern smartphones provide high-quality video recordings. Check that your device has adequate storage and battery life before starting, and consider backing up your phone to the cloud or a secure digital storage platform.
3. Record Room by Room Begin at the entrance of each room and move systematically. Be sure to do the same outside your home and in your garage too. Capture:
   • Electronics: TVs, computers, gaming systems and appliances
   • Furniture: Sofas, tables, beds, and shelves
   • Jewelry & Collectibles: Valuable watches, antiques and artwork
   • Clothing & Shoes: Designer brands or specialty items
   • Documents & Important Papers: Passports, deeds, and certificates
4. Highlight Brand Names and Serial Numbers Zoom in on model numbers, labels, and receipts when available. This information is crucial for verifying high-value items during an insurance claim review.
5. Provide Verbal Descriptions As you record, describe the items, their condition, and any relevant purchase details. Example: “This is a Sony Bravia 55-inch Smart TV, purchased in 2023 for $1,200.”
6. Store Your Video Securely Saving your video in multiple locations may help make it accessible when needed:
   • Cloud storage services (Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud)
   • External hard drives or USBs
7. Update Your Video Regularly Review and update your inventory annually or after major purchases to keep your home inventory for insurance current.

Submitting Your Inventory to Your Insurance Provider

Once your video is complete, consider sharing a copy with your insurance provider for safekeeping. Some insurers offer digital storage options or apps for easy home inventory submission.

Additional Tips for Insurance Protection

• Maintain a Written Inventory: Supplement your video with a spreadsheet listing item names, values, and purchase dates. This supports a more accurate insurance claim process.
• Keep Receipts & Appraisals: Scan and store digital copies of your receipts, especially for high-value items.
• Review Your Insurance Policy: Review whether your coverage may be adequate for expensive belongings. This may include adding a rider for high-value personal property.

What to Do After an Insurance Event

If you experience property loss or damage:

1. Contact Your Insurance Provider: File a claim immediately and provide your video documentation.
2. Document Additional Evidence: Take photos of damage and gather repair estimates.
3. Work with an Adjuster: Your insurer may send a representative to assess damages.
4. Monitor Your Claim: Follow up regularly until your claim is processed.

A home inventory video is a simple tool that can support your financial preparedness. Taking the time to record and store your property documentation properly may make the home insurance claims process easier and provide greater peace of mind. If you’re looking for more information or have questions regarding your financial safety, you can contact Securityplus FCU or explore our financial blog for more resources. You can also check out our insurance services if you’re looking to get started with a new policy.