Home Management

Things have been pretty crazy around the Dekker house lately.

To make a VERY long story very short — we’re moving! I’ll share more about the old, OLD farmhouse we’re buying later!

I’ve never really moved before…this is totally new territory for me.

I lived in the same house my entire life. Sure, I “shuffled” a few of my belongings to and from college each semester, but I never moved. Even when I got married, we hardly had anything to move. However, over the last 4 years, we’ve managed to accumulate a nice little stock pile of stuff! Can you relate?

I’ve already started purging and as I was going through some of our stuff I remembered a recent conversation I had with our insurance agent.

She asked me if we had an up-to-date home inventory — I answered “No”. She went on to explain how important it is to have an accurate home inventory to protect our assets in the event of theft, fire, flood, or other natural disaster.

So I started thinking; since I will be going through all our stuff anyway, now might be the perfect time to create a home inventory. I’m not going to get all crazy and document every single thing {our stuff isn’t THAT valuable!} But I did create an Excel spreadsheet and I’m planning to take a bunch of pictures.

Apparently a home inventory can make a huge difference on an insurance claim — and like knowing that we are protected…just in case.

Here are a few helpful tips from our insurance agent:

• Conduct a complete home inventory every year or two
• Document everything in writing, with photos, and/or with video
• Organize your assets by category (clothes, electronics, kitchen, tools, vehicles, etc)
• Include serial numbers and other important phone numbers or certificates of authentication
• Take pictures of every closet, cabinet, and any valuable collections
• Pay special attention to antiques, jewelry and other highly valuable items
• Keep all information, pictures, etc. on a USB drive and store it in a fire-proof safe
• Make another copy of your information and store it outside your home (a relatives home or in a safety deposit box)

Here are a few helpful resources from the web:

• What is a Home Inventory?
• Getting Started — How to Create a Home Inventory
• How to Make a Video Home Inventory
• More Tips for Making a Home Inventory — some great tips!
• Make a Home Inventory and Declutter Your Home
• Home Maintenance Organizer
• Quicken Home Inventory Software ($29.99)

If you don’t have a home inventory,  take some time this weekend to create one. Hopefully you will never need to use it…but it’s always better to be safe than sorry!

Photo Credit

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It is still SO hot and muggy in West Michigan…however Fall is almost here. I can feel it,  I can smell it — I can’t wait!

I’m ready for cooler temperatures, more rain, and the structure provided by my Fall routines. I’m ready to get out my Fall decorations, roast a bunch of meat, make big batches of soups and stews, bake lots of fresh bread, and start preparing for the upcoming holiday season.

If you’re craving change, too, here are some ideas to get you started.

• Change your closet: Donate items that you don’t love and create more space for something new.
• Change a room or two in your home: Currently, I have no furniture in my living room or office! We sold it all on Craig’s List last weekend… I know, I’m crazy but they needed a change! {Here are some of my design ideas}
• Change your decor: Pull out a few pieces of your fall decor and pack away some of your summer stuff.
• Change your routine: Carve out space in your schedule for something new. Sign up for a yoga class or an educational workshop that’s been on your “someday” list. {My goal is to get up early and exercise 3 times per week…we’ll see if I stick to it or not!}

If you are ready for a few changes in your life, NOW is a great time to state. Take advantage of the changing seasons and implement a few positive changes in your life as well!

Photo: Blissfully Domestic

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Insurance is one of life’s necessary evils. We pay the premiums every year even if we don’t use all of the benefits; it’s something we do “just in case”. I often think of how much money we could save by not having health insurance, but then I quickly remind myself that there are very few things that can blow a budget like unexpected medical bills. Even if you save and invest, your finances can be torn apart by unforeseen health problems.

Although medical insurance can be expensive, there are a few things you can (and should) do to make sure you’re not paying more than you have to:

1. Keep your Information Organized: Of course, I would suggest this! But in all honesty, you can save a lot of time, money, and stress by organizing your insurance and medical information in one, easily accessible area.
2. Understand your Insurance Policy: Insurance policies can be are confusing. Take the time to read, and re-read, your policy to be sure you understand what is covered and what you are responsible for. Know what your deductibles are and what doctors are included in your network. Know how your plan works in the case of emergencies and don’t be afraid to call your insurance provider with any questions.
3. Pay Attention to your Bills: Don’t assume your medical bills are accurate. In the last year, I have personally been overcharge 3 times! Take the time to carefully read all your medical bills and make sure to ask questions if something seems wrong. Believe me; you care more about your money than your insurance company or your doctors, so take charge of the situation.
4. Always Look for a Deal: You’ll never know unless you ask. Some places will offer you a deal and some won’t… so pack up your pride and just ask! Even if you have insurance, you may still be able to save big bucks by negotiating with your provider’s financial office. I recently had a cavity filled at the dentist and negotiated a lesser fee base on the amount my insurance covered. I saved about $20.00 on just one filling!
5. Be Smart About your Prescriptions: Don’t necessarily assume that brand name drugs are “better” than generic. You could save as much as 75% just by asking your doctor or pharmacist if your prescription comes in a generic form. Also, make sure you shop around for the best price and always look for coupons. Even if you do get the generic, prices can still vary. Call around to different pharmacies and see what their prices are and if they have any coupon offers for transferring a prescription to their store. Also, places like RiteAid and Walgreens have prescription savings plans for people with and without insurance.
6. Stay Healthy: This may seem obvious, but one of the best ways to save on insurance is to stay healthy. Regular exercise and a proper diet reduce the risk of many diseases and improve self-esteem, both of which will help with your pocketbook.

As with most things in life, spending a bit of time upfront can save you lots of time and money in the long run. Take a few moments today to get your insurance and medical papers in order and see how much money you can save.

**As I typed this post, I received an e-mail saying that our insurance benefits were changing. Looks like I’ll need to do a little reading and more research!

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My husband and I recently switched our home owner’s insurance to go through a special (and less expensive) program offered through his work. As we were meeting with the company and going over our coverage, one of the things they really stressed was preparing for emergency situations such as theft, fire, etc.

They explained how important it is to have an accurate inventory of everything in our home, in order to protect us and our valuables. They told us that it could make a huge difference on our insurance claim. They also mentioned that it would be a good idea to document everything in our home in writing, with photos and even by video.

I am a pretty organized person, so I thought I was already doing a good job by simply documenting our belonging on paper but I never really thought about the need to take pictures, videos, or do anything more detailed than that.

Well, now I know differently! Here are some of the tips I learned from our new insurance company!

• Conduct a complete home inventory every year or so
• Document everything in categories (clothes, electronics, kitchen, tools, vehicles, etc)
• Include serial numbers and other important phone numbers or certificates of authentication information along with your inventory.
• Take pictures of every closet, kitchen cabinet, and any collections you have
• Pay special attention to antiques, jewelry and other highly valuable items.
• Keep all this information, pictures, etc in a fire-proof box or in a location outside of your home.
• It might also be wise to have a few copies of your information stored in separate locations.

Now that you know how to conduct a home inventory, take some time this week to update yours or create a new one. Hopefully you will never need to use it…but it’s always better to be safe than sorry! We know enough people who have had to use their home inventory lists and it has definitely helped them to simplify an otherwise complicated situation.

Do you have a home inventory? Do you use a formal program or did you create your own forms? I’d love to know what you all are doing!

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