Creating and maintaining a home inventory is not easy, but it is far easier than creating one from scratch after a fire or significant loss. The key to creating a home inventory is to create a plan that breaks the process into manageable chunks and then execute the plan step by step. If you need home insurance that suits your needs, contact the Worthington Carroll Agency, serving Port Jervis, NY.

Creating Your Home Inventory

A home inventory following a significant loss allows for a faster, more accurate insurance settlement. You have detailed documentation of the lost items, eliminating guesswork and the impact of poor memory, allowing you to recover from the loss financially. You can create a home inventory using a spreadsheet or app in combination with photos, videos, and saved receipts. Whatever tools you use, you must store your inventory or back it up at a location other than your home.

Here are some critical steps for creating and managing your inventory.

• Create a plan. Many people organize their inventory by room to facilitate video recording of their possessions. Organize your images, receipts, and appraisals using the same method.
• Big-ticket items. Document big-ticket items first, including serial numbers, and less valuable items in groups, such as "5 pairs of shoes."
• Regular updates. Inventory significant new purchases immediately and update your video and documents annually. Some people update it several rooms per quarter.

The Worthington Carroll Agency Difference

Creating a home inventory takes work and discipline, but it will be tremendously valuable if you suffer a loss. Our team at the Worthington Carroll Agency, serving Port Jervis, NY, will work with you to structure a home insurance plan that fits your situation. Call us at (845) 856-5125 or stop by today.

At Worthington Carroll Agency in Port Jervis, NY, we understand the benefits of additional living expense coverage on your homeowner’s insurance policy and believe you should know them, too.

Additional living expense (ALE) coverage, a unique feature of our homeowner’s insurance policy, is designed to cover the cost of being displaced after a covered loss. This benefit is particularly valuable in situations such as a fire or natural disaster, where you may incur excess living costs. ALE may also provide additional coverage if your home is uninhabitable due to loss of utilities, such as heat during the winter. Typical coverage includes hotel expenses for a month while displaced but not regular monthly expenses like utility bills or mortgage payments.

Our ALE coverage is designed to be flexible, paying out up to 30% of your dwelling coverage. However, if you feel this amount wouldn’t be adequate in the event of a covered loss, you have the option to purchase additional ALE coverage. This flexibility ensures you can tailor your coverage to your needs and circumstances.

Things covered by ALE include:

• Laundry costs
• Food costs exceeding what you usually pay.
• Hotel stays.
• Temporary rental housing
• Storage Fees
• Pet Boarding
• Excess travel expenses / additional fuel costs
• Moving cost

Things not covered by ALE coverage:

• Childcare
• Mortgage
• Insurance premiums
• Utilities
• Anything you routinely pay for.

It’s important to note that additional living expense coverages vary depending on your insurance carrier. ALE policies have a set payout limit and a set amount of time for which they will pay for your added cost. So, it is essential to read your homeowners policy or check with your insurance agent to know what is covered and for how long when suffering loss.

Bring us your questions or concerns.

We at Worthington Carroll Agency in Port Jervis, NY, value your questions and concerns. Call us today at (845) 856-5125 to discuss the benefits of additional living expense coverage and give you peace of mind that you and your family can be protected as you recover from an unfortunate loss.