Moving to a new apartment? You’ve happened upon the perfect occasion to take an inventory of your stuff.
You might ask: Why would I want to do that? Well, the answer is simple. If your apartment burned down tomorrow, would you be able to replace everything you owned? Would you even know what you owned?
And how about renters insurance? In order to receive an estimate for a low-cost renters insurance policy, which would cover replacing all of your possessions in the event that your apartment was damaged in a fire or other emergency, you will need to document what you currently own.
The best way to inventory your stuff is to go room by room while you are in the moving process. Keep a list of furnishings, electronics, appliances, and other possessions (you won’t need to catalog every book, CD or item of clothing you have, but make a general note of their collective volume.) Save the list in a secure location, like a cloud or hard drive outside of your apartment, and keep a copy in your safe deposit box.
It’s also a good idea to take photographs of your things so you could show an insurance adjustor what brands/type of items you own. This can also be especially useful if anything is ever stolen from your apartment and you need make a police report (as well as file an insurance claim.)
Some apartment complexes require you to have renters insurance, so find out before you move. And even if a policy is not mandated, it’s an important thing to have to protect yourself. The only renters who regret renters insurance are those who don’t have it!
