Wildfire Ready

Before a catastrophe strikes and you’re faced with a loss, make a home inventory – lists, pictures or a videotape of the contents of your home. After all, would you be able to remember all the possessions you’ve accumulated over the years if they were destroyed by a fire? Having an up-to-date home inventory will help you get your insurance claim settled faster, verify losses for your income tax return and help you purchase the correct amount of insurance.

Storing the list, photos and videos: Regardless of how you do it (written list, CD, photos, video), keep your inventory along with receipts OFF premises. That way you’ll be sure to have something to give your insurance representative if your home is damaged. When you make a significant purchase, add the information to your inventory while the details are fresh in your mind. More … rmiia.org

Creating Your Inventory

You can list your items by category, or by room. For many items like books, CDs, bed sheets or pots and pans, you can make a general estimate of how many you have. For expensive items, note the make and model, the store where the item was purchased and the approximate date.

Resources for making a Home Inventory here:

Download free home inventory software.

Download a sample home inventory form.

National Association of Insurance Commissioners

CO Division of Insurance

Insurance Company Resource List

Protect your Home, Property and Forest from Wildfire

Homeowners can take a number of steps to protect their property and help alleviate the spread of wildland fires. Preventive measures include clearing excess fuel, creating defensible space around their homes and using FireWise practices. More … csfs.colostate.edu

Are You FireWise?

Many people don’t realize that they face serious wildfire danger. But if you live in the foothills, grasslands or mountains of Colorado, you are at risk!

To be FireWise, you must carry out certain fire-protection measures before a fire even starts. By following the fire-safety guidelines listed here, your home will have a chance to survive while firefighters work to bring the wildfire under control. Remember, a fire department’s effectiveness in battling a wildfire starts with YOU!

The Colorado State Forest Service, in partnership with Larimer County and Poudre Fire Authority, developed Colorado’s Are You FireWise? Guidelines. Both sets of guidelines can be downloaded in their entirety.

Insurance is something most people don’t even want to think about until they need it the most. But, understanding what is and isn’t covered in your homeowners insurance policy can mean the difference of being able to rebuild your home and replace your personal belongings. Homeowners need to do annual insurance policy “check ups” to make sure they keep up with local building costs, home remodeling and inventories of their personal belongings.

The typical homeowners insurance policy covers damage resulting from fire, windstorm, hail, water damage (excluding flooding), riots and explosion as well as other causes of loss, such as theft and the extra cost of living elsewhere which the structure is being repaired or rebuilt.

Tips for Insuring Your Home to Value

You should insure your home for the total amount it would cost to rebuild your home if it were destroyed. That’s not the market value, but the cost to rebuild. If you don’t have sufficient insurance, your company may only pay a portion of the cost of replacing or repairing damaged items. Tips to help make sure you have enough insurance:

Wildfire Ready Video