How to document possessions effectively

In the second part of our series, we learn more about what’s happened to Wirecutter writers Mike Cohen and Gregory Han in the year since the LA wildfires. And how they both wish they’d better understood their insurance policies before the fires.  

Mike and Gregory both found temporary housing after the fires, but they soon needed to start replacing the things they use daily. And to do that, they had to produce exhaustive lists of their belongings to their insurance companies for reimbursement. For Mike, this was particularly daunting, as everything he owned had burned. 

Both Mike and Gregory wish they had better documented their belongings before the fires, because this would have made it easier to prove what they owned. 

This episode also covers the struggles Gregory faced to convince his insurance company that his home needed professional cleaning (called remediation) to remove toxic ash and other pollutants. 

We recommend listening to part one before this episode. Part three of the series publishes on Monday, January 12. 

Actionable steps you can take from this episode:

• Document your stuff. After a disaster, insurance companies often require an itemized list of lost or damaged possessions. This task will be made much easier if you’ve documented what you own. Take a video as you walk through your home, from room to room. Open every cabinet and drawer, and capture brands and models. Don’t forget the attic, garage, or basement. Do this every few years, or any time you’ve had a major life change when new stuff enters your home.
• Digitize your documents. After a disaster, you’ll likely need official documents to prove who you are and where you lived. Scan or photograph passports, birth certificates, Social Security cards, and other important documents. Find more tips on digitizing documents here.
• Read your insurance policy. Knowing what your policy covers will help you navigate insurance claims in the face of a disaster.
• Assess your home for potential disasters. Research your climate risks and make a list of potential home modifications–such as cutting back trees, installing gutter guards, or even putting on a new roof.
• Make sure you have the right type of insurance. Most home insurance policies include fire coverage, but depending on where you live you may want additional coverage for floods, earthquakes, or other disasters.

You can find out more about Gregory Han on his website and on Instagram @typefiend

Additional reading:

• The True Cost of Recovering From the LA Wildfires, Part 1
• The LA Wildfires Devastated the Homes of Two Wirecutter Writers. Here’s What They Learned While Recovering.
• Build Your Own Disaster-Prep Kit 
• How to Prepare Your Pantry for an Emergency 
• 9 Extreme Weather Survivors Share the Tools That Helped Them Get Through Disaster 

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The Wirecutter Show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel.Engineering support from Maddy Masiello and Nick Pitman. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Efim Shapiro, Rowan Niemisto, Sophia Lanman, and Sonia Herrero. Original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Elisheba Ittoop, and Diane Wong. Wirecutter’s deputy publisher and general manager is Cliff Levy. Ben Frumin is Wirecutter’s editor-in-chief. Hosted by Rosie Guerin, Caira Blackwell and Christine Cyr Clisset.

Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast