POLICY MATTERS: ONE PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND DOLLAR$

July 1, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)--Yes, I know a picture is worth a thousand words, but it could also be worth a thousand (or THOUSANDS OF) dollars!



I can't tell you the number of times in my 30+ year career in the insurance business that I've listened to a distraught policyholder after a loss struggle to remember everything that was stolen or lost in a fire. Many times I'll get a call many months after the loss because the client just discovered that, "They got my Grandma's silver too. We didn't realize it until we were setting the table for Thanksgiving dinner."



This is why a picture fest at your home is a great idea. The whole process wouldn't probably take you more than an hour. Start by just walking around your house and take pictures of everything you own. Well, you don't need to document your underwear drawer, but take pictures of almost everything else.

Please remember that the purpose of the pictures is twofold:

a. To help you remember every thing you have.

b. To document (i.e. prove) to the insurance company) that you really did own all this stuff.

Here's a short list to get you started...


1. Take a panoramic shot of every room in the house. Some rooms may need pictures from several different angles to get it all in.
2. Then open your cabinets in your kitchen and get pictures of all your dishes, cookware, etc.
3. Take a look in all the drawers and take pictures of any unique items you may have.
4. Get a black cloth or dark towel and spread it out on your floor or bed. Lay out any special or expensive items such as Jewelry, Silver, furs, CD collections, collectibles, baseball cards, plates, dolls, etc for better close ups.
5. While you're at it, take pictures in the garage: Tools, cars, contents of your cars, file cabinets, lawn mowers, etc.
6. Take a picture of your back yard patio furniture, tool shed, etc.
7. Open your closets and take pictures of your clothing. Reminds you of the amount and some of the pieces.
8. Take close-ups of all the pictures, art and decorative items hanging on your walls.
9. Take pictures of your cars: Inside and Out. All the way around.

Now.... here's the important part..... ! ! ! !



If these are digital pictures, put them onto your computer and make a couple copies onto some CD's. Take one to your office or give one to a friend or mail one to your Uncle in Toledo, but GET IT OUT OF YOUR HOUSE. Last thing you want is to remember that all your "pictures" burned up in the fire or got stolen with your computer.



Make a reminder to at least consider updating the pictures once a year AND whenever you make a major purchase like stove, refrigerator, art pieces, jewelry, etc.



This will make your life SO MUCH EASIER if you ever have a loss.

Till next time...

Dennis Volz is an insurance agent for a large national insurance company and the author of The San Diego Insurance Blog. He has served the East County area since 1978. Dennis and his team have built their business around their mission statement:

We enable our policyholders to manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected and to realize their dreams. We strive to build personal, long-term relationships with our customers by offering quality service, a friendly atmosphere, mutual trust and integrity. 
Contact Dennis and his team at 619-670-1000 (24 hours a day), email at Dennis@DennisVolzInsurance.com or on the web at www.DennisVolzInsurance.com.