Date: October 10, 2007
For more information contact: Mikaela Reck, Public Information Officer, (608) 267-9336 or mikaela.reck@wisconsin.gov

Personal Property Home Inventory

Madison, WI—If your home was damaged by a fire or a burglar made off with your valuables would you be able to give your insurance company a complete list of all the items that were damaged or destroyed? Having an up-to-date personal property home inventory will help.

In recognition of Money Smart Week^SM Wisconsin, the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) today announced the release of a new personal property home inventory guide to assist homeowners begin the process of taking inventory of their personal property. The guide is available free from OCI.

"Like many people, you may own more than you realize," said Sean Dilweg, Commissioner of Insurance. "Having a personal home inventory file can make an insurance claim settlement faster and easier."

Home inventory tips:

• List every item of value in your house.
• Include the serial numbers of all items that have them.
• Keep all receipts along with a description of items.
• Keep a detailed record of antiques, jewelry, major appliances and collector's items.
• Continuously update your home inventory as you acquire new items.

Money Smart Week^SM Wisconsin was created by the Governor's Council on Financial Literacy which Governor Jim Doyle formed last year to improve financial literacy in Wisconsin. The second-year campaign is modeled after similar promotions run by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago in the cities of Chicago and Detroit. It is envisioned as ongoing from year to year. Wisconsin's initiative has the support of the Federal Reserve Banks of both Chicago and Minneapolis.

A copy of the Personal Property Home Inventory can be ordered free of charge from the agency by visiting OCI's Web site at oci.wi.gov, calling 800-236-8517 or by writing to OCI Publications, P.O. Box 7873, Madison, WI 53707-7873.

Created by the Legislature in 1871, Wisconsin's Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) was vested with broad powers to ensure that the insurance industry responsibly and adequately met the insurance needs of Wisconsin citizens. Today, OCI's mission is to lead the way in informing and protecting the public and responding to its insurance needs.