Home Inventory

Julie Akin • May 25, 2021

Creating A Home Inventory

What is a home inventory and why do I need it? Learn more here.

A home inventory is a valuable thing to have. Here's why you need it and how to create one:

If you are a homeowner or a renter (essentially everyone is one or the other), you probably have personal belongings that you care about. What would happen if your place burned to the ground? Well, if you have homeowners insurance, your policy will automatically cover you for a blanket amount that is usually about half of what your house would cost to rebuild. For example, if you have a $400,000 house, your insurance will cover your personal belongings for about $200,000.

What do we mean by personal belongings? This would be the stuff you take with you if you moved. This is what you load into your moving truck. That is your bedroom cabinet, and the clothes you keep in it. Your TV and the old DVDs on the shelf collecting dust.

If your house burns down, or a thief cleans you out when you go on vacation, you are going to turn in a claim and your adjustor will ask you to provide them with a list of what you lost. Are you going to remember everything? Probably not.

What you should do is set aside some time to go around your house and take pictures or video of everything. For those things that you really want to replace with exactly what you had, you should take a picture of the serial and model number. You will want to save those pictures online in a cloud storage space, as opposed to putting them on a memory card, so you do not lose them. A written inventory is a good secondary option. If you prefer to have a written inventory, check out this printable home inventory checklist. We still recommend that you keep it on the cloud or in a fireproof safe.

Even though your policy usually has a high limit to the amount they will cover for your stuff, you also need to be aware of the lower limits for certain items like guns and jewelry. This practice of doing an inventory will also help you realize how much you have in these limited categories. If your insurance only covers $5,000 worth of jewelry or $1,000 per piece, you will want to speak with your agent about getting a “rider” to cover you properly if you have more than that.

Hopefully nothing ever happens to you and that you will never be faced with a situation where you lose those things that you need and cherish, but if you do, you will want to be prepared properly to help put the pieces back together. Do an inventory and update it once a year or so. Hopefully you will never need it but if you do, you'll be glad you have it.

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FMM Permit for Rocky Point / Puerto Penasco

May 9, 2025

To update you on what is happening at the Lukeville/Sonoyta border crossing for our insureds traveling to Rocky Point: Depending on the officer, Mexican authorities (Guardia Nacional) are enforcing the FMM and passport requirements, but not consistently. Some travelers have reported crossing as usual without passports, and officers simply waived them through. Others have reported obtaining FMMs at the border, with all travelers carrying passports. If travelers are transparent and declare any alcohol they’re bringing into Mexico, they are being charged a 114% tax. However, some people reported having alcohol but were waived through by officers and did not pay the tax. It appears enforcement depends on the officer, and tourists are currently taking their chances. It comes down to each traveler’s level of confidence and risk tolerance, as enforcement is not yet consistent. Our company’s recommendation is to follow the law: Process the FMM online Print the form Stop at the INM (Immigration) office at the border to get it stamped Reminder: The FMM tourist permit is only for foreign citizens, not for individuals with dual citizenship. Here is the link to obtain the FMM online (in case travelers ask where to process it before crossing the border): https://www.inm.gob.mx/fmme/publico/en/solicitud.html The INM Immigration Office is located in the Aduana building. For your reference, the Gastrak/Sanborn’s location in Lukeville and the Aduana building (just to the left after crossing the border) are highlighted. Additional reminders for this border crossing: All vehicles must have a current, original, valid registration OR the original title/notarized copy. Digital copies or images are not accepted. If the vehicle is not owned by the driver (e.g., a company vehicle, borrowed from family or friends), a notarized letter of permission from the owner is required to take the vehicle into Mexico. Border Hours: U.S. and Mexican authorities have agreed that the Lukeville–Sonoyta border crossing to Rocky Point (Puerto Peñasco) is open daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., with extended hours on Fridays (6 a.m. to 10 p.m.) from March 7 to October 10, 2025.

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