A.  A home inventory from SCHI is detailed, collected information (documented in writing, by digital photography, and on video) about the items in your home. You should store this information away from your residence so it won't be lost in the event of a disaster or theft. The information in your inventory can be used to file a claim with your insurance company, or as proof of ownership in the event of theft.

A.  Our service helps to ensure that you receive the proper settlement from your insurance company at the time of a claim. The digital photos will help to identify your property to the police department, in the event of theft or natural disaster. In addition, it is of great value for estate purposes, secondary or vacation homes, or if you plan to move or place your property in storage.

A.  We're a professional, objective, third party company, and our process is designed to maximize and expedite your insurance claim.

A.  With your signed authorization, we'll provide the written and photographic record of the property we documented to your insurance company and/or police department via e-mail, fax, and/or by phone.

A.  In addition to the contents of your home, we suggest special documentation of all non-standard and/or appraised items, including fine furniture, antiques, jewelry, collectibles, art, extensive wine collections, musical instruments, imported carpets or wall coverings, power tools, etc.

A.  We'll complete an itemized spreadsheet including description, make, model, serial numbers, and/or other pertinent information to better identify your property. In addition, we'll make a video of the contents of your entire home and take digital photos of all non-standard items as needed for proper documentation.

A.  It would be helpful to have your homeowner's policy available so we can properly document any item that is appraised and listed. We can also determine if any unlisted items should be added to your policy or if additional coverage would be beneficial. Also, any pertinent receipts you may have will be helpful in the documentation process.

A.  An average inventory takes approximately three hours to complete, provided there are no special collections.

A.  We download the information onto our secured database using a numbering system to ensure your privacy. We then transfer the data onto two non-rewriteable CDs (80-year shelf life). One of the CDs is supplied to you, the other maintained by us in an off-site safety deposit box for one year from the date of your original home inventory. It can be maintained for extended periods of time for a low fee with our annual renewal option. Having the two identical CDs in different locations will provide a secure system to prevent the loss of pertinent information required to process and maximize a claim or identify your property in the event of theft.

A.  There are no additional charges on written inventory updates for one year from the date of your initial home inventory. Updates can be sent to us via e-mail, fax, or by phone. If you would like us to make additional visits to your home to update your file, a separate fee will be charged.