A home inventory video simply documents all your most valuable belongings should you need to file a claim on your homeowners or renters insurance policy. It’s fairly simple thing to do that could help you tremendously but there’s a bit more to it than just shooting a video. In this article, we’ll share some handy tips and resources so you can create your own home inventory video.
Some use a photo collage to which they add a description of each item including its cost, but others make detailed videos filming every detail of the items.
Creating a video documentation of your home can greatly simplify an insurance claims process and reduce stress. When you apply for insurance, an inventory video can help you get the coverage and payout you need to replace your losses.
In cases of theft or robbery, a video of your belongings will be a huge help to the police investigation.
Where Should You Start?
The process of shooting a video inventory must be approached responsibly, so it is important to understand where to start. We have prepared several steps, following which you will be able to create good video documentation that will help you in case of unpleasant situations:
- First of all, it is important to decide how you want to document your property. You can choose a photo, video, or text document. The best option is a combination of video and text recording.
- Once you have chosen the option with which you will document, you need to create a plan for exactly how you will walk around your home and how you can best describe all the items that you are shooting.
- To facilitate the process of thinking about what description should be given to each item, you can use receipts, instructions, or other documents that came with these items.
- Now you can start shooting. During the process of filming the inventory video, you need to make sure that all cabinets are open, the lights are on and all items are in place. It is also important to think over the plan of your route in advance so that there is no bullshit on the video, only a clear plot. When shooting a video, it is important to show every detail about the subject without diverting attention to other things such as opening closet doors, turning on lights, and more.
- To create a good inventory video, try to move the camera closer to small items and announce the quantity of each item. Even if these are cutlery, you must count their number and be sure to indicate it. In case you understand that the shot turned out to be unsuccessful, you can no doubt reshoot until you get what you need, while adding flip video.
- After all the frames are shot, you need to review the photo or video and sign all the items that appear in it. Enter the quantity, cost, and description, including the model, brand, and brand of the item. It is important to keep these records in a very secure location that is not publicly available.
To make sure you don’t lose records of your items, you can use a digital recording format or a removable drive. In addition, you can give copies of these records to your relatives or other trusted persons, so that if you suddenly lose the original, you have something to prove. Keep in mind that if you have new items or old ones disappear, be sure to update the information so that your inventory video contains only up-to-date items.
What Objects Should Be Filmed
When you’re thinking about which items to shoot an inventory video about, it’s important to review the list of those items first to avoid wasting time and effort. Below we have listed the main subjects that are most often documented by people:
- Computers, TVs, cameras
- Jewelry
- Watch
- Elements of art
- Kitchen appliances
- Washing machine
- Furniture
- Carpets
- Curtains
- Lawn mowers
- Snowplows
- Collectibles
- Family heirlooms
- Silver
- Porcelain
- Cars
- Musical instruments
- Bicycles
- Skis
- Tackle for fishing
- Weapon
- Important entries
In addition to these items in the house and yard, you can document items in the garage, basement, attic, and other places where you may have valuables. In any case, it is important to take care that each of these places has a well-set light, so that all the details of each item can be carefully shown and that there is room for everything to be conveniently placed.
Conclusion
When creating a video inventory, it is important to pay attention to many nuances and be sure to have thorough preparation. We’ve listed some things to keep in mind while preparing, including preparing the space, setting up the lighting, and thinking about the subjects you’ll be filming.
After that, moving on to the shooting process, be sure to move the camera closer to small objects to capture every detail. Using our tips, you will surely be able to create a high-quality inventory video that will help you get a refund or prove to the police that a thief broke into your house.
