Protection

· Document

Begin by grabbing your camera and taking photos of everything -- not eBay-for-sale quality -- but as a means of documenting your furnishings and belongings. Photograph the walls, the shelves, the cupboards, the floors, the closets, the furniture, the appliances -- everything. Then, print a set of pictures, and store them anywhere but your home. The time to figure out what you own is not while you are filing a claim. Once a year, repeat this process and give a copy to your insurance agent. Then, should you ever need to file a claim, you will both start from the same page.

Documentation:

Items > $100
· Take a picture of each item.
· Keep original dated receipts, and record make & model/serial number of item where available.
· Put both the receipt and the photo in a small zippered plastic bag.
· Store in a fire-rated file or safe. I suggest you file these in folders, by location in your home.
· Repeat steps 1-4 after every new purchase.
· Periodically review these files to weed out items you have discarded.

Prevention

Safety

Protection

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"This near tragedy will help prevent others in the future. The lessons that Candace Quinn has laid out here are intended to save others the grief she has suffered, and will save lives if people heed her well documented advice. Sprinkler! Sprinkler! Sprinkler! "
-- Chief John Norman,
Operations Division, FDNY