New Year, New Peace of Mind: Use Your Phone to Protect Your Home (In 10 Minutes)
The New Year is the perfect time to refresh routines that make life easier — and protect what matters most.
One of the most overlooked ways homeowners can safeguard themselves financially is incredibly simple:
✅ Use your phone to record a quick home inventory video.
You don’t need special apps, spreadsheets, or hours of work. In fact, in 10–15 minutes once a year, you can create powerful documentation that may save you thousands in the event of a fire, flood, theft, or other major loss.
At Disaster Pro, we’ve seen firsthand how much smoother a claim can go when homeowners have strong documentation — and how stressful it becomes when they don’t.
Let’s walk through exactly how to do it.
Why this matters (and why people regret skipping it)
After a disaster, most homeowners assume insurance will “just cover everything.”
But here’s the reality:
Insurance companies often require you to provide proof of what you owned. That means details like:
Brand / model
Quantity
Condition
Age of items
Replacement cost
And after your home has been damaged, it’s extremely hard to remember everything — especially under stress.
A simple annual home video:
✅ strengthens your claim
✅ speeds up the process
✅ helps prevent underpayment
✅ protects your household financially
The 10-minute New Year Home Inventory Video (Step-by-step)
All you need is your phone camera. That’s it.
Step 1: Start outside (1 minute)
Record:
Front of the home
Backyard/patio
Outdoor furniture, BBQ, storage sheds
Any visible upgrades (new roof, windows, landscaping, patio cover)
Tip: Narrate as you go:
“This is our patio set, purchased in 2024…”
Step 2: Walk room-by-room (5–8 minutes)
Go through your home in a logical order:
✅ Living room
✅ Kitchen
✅ Dining area
✅ Bedrooms
✅ Bathrooms
✅ Garage
✅ Laundry room
✅ Closets
While recording, open drawers and closets briefly. This is often where high-value items are stored.
Step 3: Zoom in on big-ticket items (2–3 minutes)
Focus on:
TVs and electronics
Computers / tablets
Furniture sets
Art, rugs, décor
Appliances
Tools and garage equipment
Jewelry (don’t record hiding spots — just items)
Musical instruments
Specialty equipment (camera gear, gym equipment, etc.)
Pro Tip: Film serial numbers when possible (back of TV, electronics, tools).
What to say while you record (this is the secret sauce)
The best claim documentation includes context. Talk out loud while recording:
“This is a Restoration Hardware couch”
“We purchased this dining set in 2023”
“This is a custom rug from Turkey”
“This MacBook is used for work”
Even if you don’t know the exact details, your narration helps establish value and ownership.
Don’t forget the “hidden value” zones
People always forget:
Closets
shoes
handbags
jackets and coats
formalwear
Bathrooms
skincare products
hair tools
perfumes
Kitchen
small appliances
cookware
dishes and glassware
Garage
tools
sporting equipment
storage bins
These categories add up FAST — and often represent thousands of dollars.
Save it the right way (very important)
After you record your video:
✅ Upload it to:
Google Drive
iCloud
Dropbox
Email it to yourself
Or store it in a folder labeled: “Home Inventory – 2026”
Important: Don’t only keep it on your phone.
If something happens to your home, your phone may get lost or damaged too.
Bonus: Quick “Proof Folder” for ultimate protection
If you want to go one step further, create a simple folder in your phone called:
📁 Home Proof
Add photos of:
receipts for high-value purchases
renovation invoices
warranties
appraisal paperwork (jewelry/art)
contractor estimates
Make it a New Year tradition
Think of this like changing batteries in the smoke detector — small habit, huge payoff.
If you update your inventory once a year, you’re giving yourself:
✅ clarity
✅ security
✅ confidence
✅ stronger claim support if disaster strikes
We’re here if you ever need us
If you ever experience damage to your home and feel overwhelmed by the insurance process, Disaster Pro is here to guide you from confusion to clarity.
We specialize in:
homeowners insurance claim support
personal property / contents inventory help
documentation and claim strategy
advocacy to ensure you’re treated fairly
The best time to prepare is before a loss.
But if you’re already dealing with one, we can help.
