ChurchSafety

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Completing a personal property inventory of your church could be one of the smartest things you'll ever do.

If disaster strikes and you file an insurance claim, you may need to provide an inventory highlighting damaged items. Could you list and value the major items in your sanctuary or office from memory? Could you list the valuables in your nursery or kitchen? What about the personal property of others stored in the church?

Having a detailed inventory not only helps you determine adequate amounts of coverage for personal property before a loss, but it also speeds the claim process if you suffer a loss.

Basically, there are two kinds of inventories: written and pictorial. The ideal inventory is a written one supported with pictures.

Your inventory should contain the following:

• Description of property or item (type, model number, serial number)
• Quantity
• Purchase information (where, when, how much)
• Cost to replace new today

Photographing or videotaping your contents is the second option. With these inventories, strive for quality reproduction. Sharp pictures are better than blurry ones, and close-up shots reveal more than those taken at a distance, particularly when you're trying to identify and assess value.

No matter which method of inventory you choose, attach or store proofs of purchase with it. These include invoices, canceled checks, bills of sale, credit card receipts, or gift records.

Begin by identifying the big-ticket items:

• Sound equipment (microphones, speakers, sound board)
• Office equipment (computer, copier, fax, telephone system)
• Musical equipment (organ, piano, keyboard)
• Kitchen equipment (microwave, stoves, industrial-sized mixer)
• Audio-visual equipment (projector, television, VCR)

Specialty items—those of art or rarity—are also ones you'll want to document. For instance, make note of unusual Communion sets, candleholders, crosses, or artworks that are not part of the building. Art objects with a value greater than the item's functional value may need special fine-arts coverage.

In addition, don't forget smaller items that add up when you have them in quantity. These include:

• Hymnals
• Folding chairs and tables
• Sunday school materials
• Library materials (tapes, videos, books)
• Kitchen items

Continue your inventory of items on a room-by-room basis. Remember to record contents from other facilities, such as a school or maintenance building.

Keep two copies of your completed inventory in separate locations. You may store them in a fireproof vault, lock box at the bank, or member's home. Remember to give your insurance agent a copy.

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