This is where offering a digital recording is of value. A complete sweep of an entire room or of a cabinet full of nick nacks is quick for you to do and then the client can use that recording to identify and list everything for their insurance agent. It sure saves you from taking all those pictures.
Taking the pictures is not the time concuming issue it is cataloging everything.
I was told by several adjusters that the problem with video taping an inventory is most adjusters will NOT sit there and watch a video as they do not have the time. They will however look at photos.
Another problem with videos is, you may stay on an item too long, or not long enough. If you are panning, you may be going too fast which means the items will not be seen clearly.
I don't do videos unless the owner wants it and since I started doing home and business inventories in 2003, I've only been asked to do one video.
I agree that taking the photos isn't as time consuming as inputting everything into the software.
-- Edited by JD on Monday 6th of July 2009 02:14:07 AM
This is where offering a digital recording is of value. A complete sweep of an entire room or of a cabinet full of nick nacks is quick for you to do and then the client can use that recording to identify and list everything for their insurance agent. It sure saves you from taking all those pictures.
Taking the pictures is not the time concuming issue it is cataloging everything.
This is where offering a digital recording is of value. A complete sweep of an entire room or of a cabinet full of nick nacks is quick for you to do and then the client can use that recording to identify and list everything for their insurance agent. It sure saves you from taking all those pictures.
I would photograph as much of the small stuff as you can in groups (knick knacks, pictures, DVD'S, CD'S etc.). If it happens to be on a piece of furniture take a wide shot and then zoom in on the smaller items or the dvd's & cd's. If you photographed every single small item in a house it would take you a loooong time to finish. It depends on what the client wants too...and, I always let them know I photograph smaller items in groups...if they want something different they will tell you. Also take a picture from each corner in the room. If you miss something individually at least you can reference the wide shots to jog your memory.
__________________
Robert Shockley
Proprietor
PhotoProof Inventory Services
(603) 809 - 1502
So I just finished inventorying my own home. I had everything set to make it easy for me and it took a little over 3 hours. I have 1200 sq feet. I have only done the leg work I still need to finish the report. I will say I am still a little confused as to how much stuff we actually list. Do we do every little picture frame? Every little small decorative piece? My fience has a lot of cheap nick knacks around the house that I did not list but are in group shots. I did use a voice recorder to list all the DVD & CD titles. I didn't list any of my books. I should probably go back and use the voice recorder for that. Next week I will be doing my sisters house while she away on vacation. That one will be more difficult it is larger almost 1700 sq feet and they have a lot more crap. I tried doing her's last year and I spent 3 hours there and didn't get much accomplished. Of course that was before I found the fourm with some helpful advice. After I assemble the finished product tomorrow I will post again on how it looks.
