Once you make a decision to
move or store some of your belongings or even remodel your home, it is
important to evaluate whether any of your personal valuables could be at risk
for damage or theft.
If you are one of the thousands
of people who will move next year and have not yet considered how to
organize or protect your valuables, the following suggestions may help you
secure important papers, small valuables, coins, jewelry, passports, high end collectibles
and small electronics .
Use of Locks and Safes
Rare treasures, gold, expensive
jewels are best kept in a bank safety deposit box, yet some items that you
access regularly may be kept in a small, personal fireproof safe in your home. Remember,
most standard jewelry boxes do not have secure locking mechanisms and locks may
easily be broken or damaged during a move. If you have a safe-deposit box and
are moving long distance, you may choose to close it ahead of time and have the
contents moved.
High Value Inventory
Taking a complete home
inventory may seem a daunting task, yet there are very good reasons for doing
so. Well documented inventories, especially of high value items, can help you
determine proper levels of insurance, ensure a fair settlement in the event of
a loss, can help expedite any claims process and can help you keep track of
belongings that are moved or stored. You may choose to start by putting
together a basic list of your most valuable items and eventually move on to
inventory the rest or hire a third party to help with the full inventory.
Securing Personal Information
In this era of “identity
theft,” it is also important you secure all of your personal information. Most
legal advisors recommend you keep original wills, trust
instruments, or powers of attorney with your attorney or in a safety deposit
box. Keep in mind, when legal questions arise, access to safety deposit boxes
may be subject to waiting periods. You may also keep copies of
these important documents in a fireproof safe at home, wrapped in waterproof
packaging to protect them from possible damage.
Securing Storage Units
If you are placing items in
storage units, it is recommended that you look for a facility that has
good security features such as alarms and video surveillance. If you are
securing your unit with locks, it is recommended to use a high security,
“shrouded” type that cannot be easily picked, shimmed or cut. Although
hardware and home improvement stores generally charge more for these locks,
thieves will usually first target units with weaker, more inexpensive
locks.
Police recommend you take photographs of expensive items and where they are
stored within the unit. This can help detectives determine a thief's modes of
entry and exit and may assist in the recovery of the stolen goods. In addition,
renters should record the serial numbers of electronics or other products that
are left in storage units. Some retailers may use this information to track
certain devices.
Humidity, mold and insects may
destroy valuable art and furnishings, so be absolutely certain your unit is
temperature controlled and schedule quarterly fumigation. High end rugs should
be wrapped and check regularly for insect activity to prevent
damage.
No matter where you may be headed, it is important to set aside a little extra
time or take a few extra steps to protect your valuable possessions.