WASHINGTON — If you were lucky enough to get valuable gifts over the holidays, you might want to add them to your home inventory for insurance purposes.
“January is the number-one month for theft claims,” said State Farm Insurance spokeswoman Anna Bryant. “The average claim in [January] 2014, which is the latest figure we have, was $2,789.”
Bryant said there are lots of good reasons to have a current inventory of everything in your home.
“If you’re in a situation where somebody breaks into your house or you have a fire in your house — to have to sit there and think of every item that you have, room by room,” can be exhausting, Bryant said.
Depending on what you add to your inventory, you might consider more or different insurance.
A Personal Articles Policy covers items such as:
- Fine art including oriental rugs and paintings
- Sports and golf equipment
- Computer equipment
- Collectibles
- Jewelry
- Furs
The Insurance Information Institute has free inventory software to help homeowners organize their list of household items.
Bryant also recommends installing a home alarm system, and says it may result in an insurance policy discount.
“Each person is different, and that’s why it’s important that you have those conversations with your agent.”