Although violent crimes are the ones to make the news, property crimes actually make up the majority of all crimes, often by a large margin. Homes and businesses are equally susceptible to the attention of thieves. Most residential burglaries happen during daylight hours, when most people are away at work. Most busineses are hit by burglars at night, when no one is around to catch them. Among many people's greatest fears is the possibility of being at home while a burglar is breaking in, but an overwhelming number of them happen while you're away.
There are few things more profoundly violating than arriving at your home or business and discovering that a window has been smashed and the thieves have made off with your belongings. The victims of such crimes feel overwhelming anger and outrage, not to mention loss of perceived safety. In this frame of mind, victims often discover that they can't list everything that is missing, leaving them unable to receive full compensation from their insurance claim and compounding their sense of loss.
Although you're probably most worried about expensive belongings, jewelry, and other high-value possessions, there are cases in which the entire contents of the house or business have been taken. There are horror stories of people who leave on vacation, returning to a completely empty home. Can you imagine walking in to see that everything you own is gone?
Even if you don't think that you have anything worth stealing, chances are that thieves feel differently. No matter how many expensive things you own, make a list of your belongings. This inventory is invaluable when it comes to recovery after a fire, theft, or other loss. Trying to figure out what's gone is a daunting task, and one you probably won't want to deal with after someone has burglarized your home or office.
Having all of your information in an inventory will alleviate the stress you'll surely feel after a break-in. You won't be reliving the experience over and over while you're trying to remember what the thieves stole. It also makes it much easier to replace your belongings quickly by allowing you to file the insurance claim faster.
Many people overlook this important step, thinking that they know all of their belongings well enough to make a list easily. Can you think of everything currently in your purse or wallet? No? Then how easy do you think it would actually be to list everything that's in your house right now? Do you know the brand name of your TV, or the date you bought your stereo? When writing out your inventory, photos help. Model names and serial numbers are even better.
An inventory won't ease the outrage you feel after being burglarized, but it can ease the stress of the process. Having a detailed inventory can help you prove your losses to get what you deserve from the insurance company. It takes just a few hours to compile a list of your possessions, and this step can save you a lot of heartache later on.
- Prev:Does HCG Really Work For Weight Loss?
- Next:Great Way To Save On Medifast Meals With Medifast Coupon Code In 2010