by Heather Hanson / Jody Dickson
When is a good time to inventory your home’s contents? Not after a disaster. No-one really wants to think about what they could lose. The prospect of such an undertaking can sound tedious, and likely it can feel overwhelming. Ultimately though, you will get your maximum payout, in minimal time, from your insurance company. If you document your property before an event, you will spend less time gathering information when time is scarce.
250 hours. That’s how long Linda Masterson indicates, in her book “Surviving Wildfire”, she pent compiling a claim after a wildfire took her home in 2011. That’s a large chunk of time. There are many approaches you can take to make this task seem less insurmountable.
The Masterson’s documented 130% of the maximum payout for their Contents Coverage. You will never get more than this. Knowing this, you can prioritize larger ticket items, and items that appreciate, to reduce the volume of items on your exhaustive list. You probably want to split inventory accounting into several sessions. Maybe one room, or one category at a time. Perhaps just all the items on your desktop, or drawers in your bathroom. Small items can quickly add up to a lot of money spent.
Photos are a quick and dirty way to document entire rooms and areas of your space. Although your insurance company may have a specific way they want information presented using a form, there are apps like Memento, Sortly, and MyStuff you can use to make the job easier. Lastly, get that information off-site. Put it in the cloud or send it to a trusted other. Then celebrate! You are more prepared!
Safety Tip of the Month: Always wear your PPE
I cannot emphasize enough how important Personal Protection Equipment or PPE are to your safety when operating a chainsaw, but it is also important to use PPE with other forestry work. When hauling slash through the forest, eye protection, proper shoes, and long-sleeves can prevent injuries. Sure the risk isn’t as great as when operating a chainsaw, but an eye injury or a twisted ankle can be a hassle to deal with and prevent you from other activities that you enjoy. PPE for operating a chainsaw includes: helmet, ear and eye protection, gloves, chaps and work boots. In my book, those are mandatory. Chaps and helmets literally save lives! Think of it just the same as wearing your seat belt in your vehicle. Using PPE requires little effort, but makes a HUGE difference in the event of an accident. Even when just doing a small task, take the time to wear your PPE.
February Events
2019 Season Applications Now Open
Saws and Slaws is now taking applications for neighborhood events for 2019. Now is the time to talk to your neighbors about getting on the schedule for next Spring and Summer. Get out, connect with those in your proximity, and vow to get your properties safer and healthier. Got questions? Call Us! (303) 642-0273. http://sawsandslaws.org .
Saws and Slaws is a 501(c)3 organization committed to Building Stronger Communities Through A Healthier Forest. Find out more at http://sawsandslaws.org and Join Us!
