This is a by the way post, but I believe it is an important by the way post. After the recent wildfire in Tahoe which I have written about http://www.sacramentohomeshopper.com/blog/2007/06/26/tahoe-fire-and-this-realtors-realization/ I realized most people are not prepared for the worst if it happens. Most people have home insurance, but what about replacing all the things we have in our houses? Here are some tips:

1. Do check your home insurance regularly to see if you’re fully protected. Do not assume you are.
2. Do not let your home insurance lapse. If your mortgage company is paying the bill through an impound account, make sure they have paid it each year.
3. Real estate is one of the best investments precisely because you can insure it. Can you imagine insuring the value of your stock portfolio? If you do move from your primary residence and turn it into a rental property, do not forget to change your insurance to “tenant-occupied investment property.” Your homeowner’s insurance will not protect you in this case.
4. Take a home inventory. Most home insurance will cover articles in your home, but it helps to have a list of everything in your house. There are quite a few internet sites that will let you do just that – upload pics for every room and list inventory. I use A Safe Spot at www.asafespot.com but there are others. Google “home inventory” and pick the one you like.
5. Lastly, do not use your home insurance unless you really need it. If you do, be sure to save receipts of what you fixed. When it comes time to sell your home, the buyers might run into trouble getting home insurance if there’s been a claim in the last three years on the property unless you can prove that there has been work performed. After a 45 day escrow, you don’t want something like this to hold you back from the sale!

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