Page 7 - AAA Schuylkill County – AAA Now! – March/April 2018

INSURANCE SERVICES
One List Can Help Avoid a Headache
AAA Says Grab Your Camera, Tour Your Home,
Record Your Belongings.
When it comes to preparing for a disaster,
most people have forgotten one very important thing. Research shows that more than half of American consumers don’t have an inventory of the possessions they would want their insurance company to replace in case of a fire, theft or other disaster.
“In the aftermath of a fire or other damage
to our property, it’s likely many of us would be emotionally drained. The last thing we would want to do is make a list of everything we lost,” said Sue Smyrl, Manager, AAA Schuylkill County. “Preparing in advance for an unexpected disaster could mean a faster return to normal life, and a little less stress along the way, including a more speedy claims process.”
Home Inventory Creation – 5 Easy Steps
1. Grab your camera or smartphone and take a tour of your home.
2. Record everything you would want your insurance company to replace. Don’t forget all the stuff in your closets and garage.
3. Pull together copies of sales receipts and any
other documentation. Also note model and serial numbers.
4. Store your home inventory and related documents in a safe and easily accessible place, including online, with friends or family, or in a safe deposit box. Don’t rely solely on your home computer, which should always be backed up, in case of fire or a hard drive crash.
5. Add up the replacement costs for all of those items to make sure you have enough insurance. Double check, because not all policies cover the actual replacement costs. Also, in some cases, an additional endorsement may be needed for valuables like jewelry, cameras, furs, firearms, trading cards and comics, or other items. The availability of endorsements varies from state to state, however, so find out which endorsements are offered in your area.
Creating a simple home inventory helps you
track what you own and what it’s worth. It can be invaluable in deciding how much insurance coverage you need, to say nothing of ensuring you are adequately protected if you ever need to file a claim.
To find out more about homeowners, condo or renters insurance, call your AAA agent at 570-622-4991 to see what discounts you may be eligible for and what type of coverage you might need.
Finding Storage for Too Much Stuff
The average home size has increased, but people still don’t have enough room to store all their stuff.
Instead of getting rid of things, more and more of us are renting space at self-storage facilities. In fact, nearly 9 percent of all U.S. households currently rent a self-storage unit, according to the Self Storage Association.
While self-storage facilities seem to be nearly everywhere these days, how do you decide which one to choose?
Here are a few things to consider:
• Begin by checking out several self-storage facilities in your area to find one that best meets your needs.
• Make sure the facility has adequate security
measures, including a fence around the property,
highly controlled access, and around-the-clock
video surveillance, ideally.
• Inspect the storage units to make sure they are clean and well-maintained.
• Decide whether the units are the right size for your current and future needs.
• Ask the manager what type of pest control measures are in place to protect against rodents and bugs.
• If you’re storing large items, determine whether the units are easily accessible for drop-off and pick-up.
• Make sure there’s climate control if you have upholstered furniture, clothing, appliances or books.
• You may want to check with the local police department about any incidents of theft from a facility you’re considering.
• Read the fine print on the contract before signing to make sure you understand all the conditions.
• Check with your insurance carrier to make sure
your homeowners policy covers personal possessions kept in self-storage facilities. Most facilities also sell supplemental insurance.
For more information on auto, homeowners and other personal lines of insurance, please contact AAA Schuylkill County.
CALL YOUR TRAVEL AGENT AT AAA SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
MARCH APRIL 2018
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