Grim Anniversary, Very OT

[dougd]

Back in 2014 on this very day at 1 pm my house caught on fire. Although it didn't burn to the ground we lost 99% of everything. Due to insurance purposes I had to spend the night in my shed wrapped up in two sleeping bags that managed to survive and then the nightmare began. In the following nine months or so of the rebuild the biggest headache became insurance and inventory of everything we owned. Don't get me wrong, the insurance co. was great but inventory wasn't. Here's an example, how many hangers do you have in your closets? They count towards being reimbursed. The biggest mistake we made was not making a list and taking pictures of what we owned and having it in a secure spot before the fire. We now do.

I know this is way OT but it really is something to think about. Although it is a major project to walk around your abode and document everything it is well worth the effort in the event of a major event. You will be amazed at how much money is involved with replacing stuff, you probably don't think about it but 50+ years, for me, of accumulating items adds up. I would encourage all to spend some time for some personal insurance down the road just in case. Just food for thought on this anniversary day for me.

Here's a link to pics of what a one hour fire can do:

http://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipOKmtW2gNgwwK5yFgHDI7J_rqhW53uq_bmWnhTx

 

[Guest]

Back in 2014 on this very day at 1 pm my house caught on fire. Although it didn't burn to the ground we lost 99% of everything.

I remember that morning as well, mostly for a strangely calm phone call from Doug:

“Hello”
“Hey Mike, I’m standing in my driveway. Guess what I’m looking at”
“Another used canoe from Craigslist?”
“No, my house is on fire and flames are shooting out the windows”

Don't get me wrong, the insurance co. was great but inventory wasn't. Here's an example, how many hangers do you have in your closets? They count towards being reimbursed. The biggest mistake we made was not making a list and taking pictures of what we owned and having it in a secure spot before the fire. We now do.

I know this is way OT but it really is something to think about. Although it is a major project to walk around your abode and document everything it is well worth the effort in the event of a major event. You will be amazed at how much money is involved with replacing stuff, you probably don't think about it but 50+ years, for me, of accumulating items adds up. I would encourage all to spend some time for some personal insurance down the road just in case. Just food for thought on this anniversary day for me.

I am sorely behind schedule on doing just that after Doug’s experience. I got as far a buying a new card for the digital camera, planning to photo document everything in the house along with an accompanying written description, keep the card and inventory list in the fire safe with the passports, birth certificates and car titles and put another copy of the photos/inventory somewhere in the cloud.

The new camera card is still in the packaging, tacked to my office bulletin board. Taking a day (two, three?) to photograph everything and write “Shirt, tan, XL, long sleeve, UV protectant, Patagonia” seems daunting. The photo part seems easy enough, but actually writing down each item on an inventory not much fun. Maybe combine the two into a hour long video?

The most expensive things in the house that insurance might replace are paddling related. The paddles, PFDs, spray covers, tents, tarps and sleeping bags alone would be thousands of dollars. The costliest clothing any of us own are synthetic techwear stuff, which would be an unidentifiable puddle of melted plastic on the closet floor.

I have no idea how insurance would cover our boats, few of which are still in production. I couldn’t find most of those boats today used if I tried, and I’m always looking. I bet I’d need to buy a rider; guess I should inquire.

Of course the most valuable possessions in the house are not replaceable. Oil paintings done by my father and grandfather. Stout, solid wood furniture I built with my dad when I was in my 20’s. Photo albums and trip journals going back 40 years. Elaborate wooden toy trucks and trains my dad made for his grandsons. Hundreds of out-of-print or first edition field guides and paddling guides, some signed by the author.

Yeah, I can buy a new Golden Press Birds of North America; maybe even find one used on Amazon from 1966 that isn’t dog eared and held together by duct tape. It won’t have Chandler Robbins signature and it won’t have accompanied me around the country a dozen times.

At least all of the fire extinguishers in the house and shop have been checked recently, and the smoke detector batteries replaced. We have fire extinguishers on every level including the basement, and the smoke detector system is elaborate, hard wired with battery backup (bought the house from a county firefighter).

 

[riverstrider]

A grim anniversary indeed, Doug, but a good message and a good reminder of what a fire means for insurance. Inventory, and having certain documents and records kept safe from fire are so important.

For those of us with old houses, it is also good to confirm with your insurance companies as to exactly what is covered and what assumptions have been made. Two huge assumptions most insurance companies make is that foundations and septic systems can still be used after a fire, so they don't cover the cost of a new foundation or a new septic system. My house is on a combination fieldstone/concrete block foundation that would never meet current code, and just 5 years ago I was still on a cesspool...also not code. We adjusted our policy to be sure those were covered in a fire. But not until another friends house had also burned to the ground, and he ran into the same issues.

It is sad that we sometimes have to learn from other's misfortunes, but that is the way it is a lot of the times.

-rs

 

[Alan Gage]

Thanks for the reminder, Doug. Now that I'm accumulating more valuable junk I should have another talk with my insurance agent. I remember putting insurance on my home just after I built it (5 years ago?) and at that time their minimum coverage for "personal items" was well above the value of what I actually owned. At the time I was assured that no matter the actual value of my items I'd be paid that lump sum in case of loss. I need to double check that that's really how it is and pin down for sure how much coverage there is on my two buildings which are full of canoes and some nice woodworking equipment.

When I return from a trip after a long absence and am nearly within sight of my house I sometimes hope that it burned down in my absence. It's probably not as much fun as I imagine in real life though.

Alan

 

[Guest]

I need to double check that that's really how it is and pin down for sure how much coverage there is on my two buildings which are full of canoes and some nice woodworking equipment.

How much is a home built canoe worth in insurance reimbursement? Materials and parts, but not DIY time and labor? Or what it would cost to have someone build you that boat?

How about a ’96 Monarch, or a couple of custom retrofitted (via a hundred hours labor) 1970’s decked canoes? Can I claim the nearest replacement is a new Clipper Sea-1? That is truth be told.

Shop tools and equipment is another area where I ought to check with my home insurance agent. Hell, what about the shelves upon shelves of shop materials and supplies? How the hell do you inventory 40 years worth of nails, screws, nuts, bolts, brackets and miscellaneous fittings and hardware? I’m not counting out every dang screw and bolt. Weight it?

I seriously need to get cracking with photo documentation and a written* inventory.

*Writing down descriptions of everything seems like a time consuming PITA. Anyone have an easier way to do that? Video tour of the house, or voice recognition software and digital photos?

There’s gotta be an easier way.

 

[Odyssey]

Good advice Doug, thanks. I have no idea what it feels like to have a house full of contents and memories go up in flames. We ourselves have had 2 break-ins. The first was a tool shed; all my power tools gone. The second a couple years later was our home. Easily carried valuables (in stolen backpacks) gone. Our shock and frustration was probably only a fraction of what you've endured. Having to deal with insurance agents was a rude education. The first was snarky and confrontational. The second (after changing insurance companies) was helpful and professional. No complaints there. Except you'd think I'd have learned from the first incident, not having all receipts and warranties and records. Nope. It was one of those things I just put off again.
Your post is another reminder to get this done. Thanks Doug.

 

[Mihun09]

Out here we have a limit of $3000 for sports equipment, which wouldn't even replace the Mattawa. No coverage for anything else including all the camping equipment in the basement but especially the vintage canoes in the boathouse.