Why Property Records Are Imporatant

It’s good idea to keep complete property records of valuable items in your home. This way in the event they are stolen during a home burglary, you will have the necessary paperwork to file a claim with your insurance company and provide the police with helpful information for their investigation.

Here’s what you should do:

1. Create an Excel spreadsheet with columns for the date, description of the item, item serial number or personal identification number (PIN), and the items estimated value. Click here to download a form that I created for you.
2. Place small stickers with a serial number on the back of the items that do not have serial numbers. Since many items do not have serials numbers, you should create a PIN to distinguish the item. You can purchase these stickers at most office supply stores.
3. Photograph each item with a digital camera.
4. Copy the spreadsheet and photos onto a CD or thumb drive.
5. Keep the CDs or thumb drive in a safe place. Do not keep the storage device in your home. You should choose a safer place like a safety deposit box at your bank or send it back to a friend or family member in your home country.

Taking this precaution will save you a lot of time and money in the event that your home is burglarized. I remember responding to many home break-ins as a police officer and being frustrated because most victims had no records of their personal property. The investigation usually resulted in a dead-end, with none of the victim’s belongings located or returned.

So, don’t let this happen to you. I encourage you to take these simple steps to protect your property while living abroad.

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