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DHI - Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Home Inventory?

A simple home inventory is an itemized list of your personal property.

A better home inventory would include photographs and video in addition to the itemized list.

Why do I need a Home Inventory?

A Home Inventory complements your insurance coverage in terms of Risk Protection.

If all you had was gone in an instant, could you remember what you had? Could you prove it?

A Home Inventory documents your assets. It proves ownership of your assets and when you had them. This information is VERY valuable for insurance claims and police reports.

Additional reasons may include:
  • Verification of adequate insurance coverage
  • Estate Planning purposes
  • Financial Planning
  • Net Worth substantiation
  • Documentation for tax deductions claimed on items not covered by insurance

Why do I need a Home Inventory service?
  • Are you FRUSTRATED with how to start documenting what you own?
  • Are you DISCOURAGED about finding the time to perform the inventory?
  • Are you WORRIED about potential disasters or crimes to your property?
  • Do you view the inventory task as OVERWHELMING?
  • Does the inventory task feel DAUNTING, like a dark looming cloud?

If one of these statements describes you, then you might want to consider a home inventory service.

What does DHI charge for its products and services?

DHI offers a variety of products and services designed to meet the budget of each individual client.

The DHI Inventory Program is proprietary and a powerful means to document and store digital data (including audio recordings, videos, photographs, receipts and much more). The program cross-references these digital data to individual inventory items. The DHI Inventory Program provides an intuitive and easy-to-use interface and is PC and Mac compatible. The DHI Inventory Program is available for a nominal fee.

DHI Packaged Inventory Services start at $150. All DHI Packaged Inventory Services include the DHI Inventory Program.

A La Carte Services are also available.

Please call with any questions or requests.

What are the minimum computer system requirements for the DHI Inventory Program?

Windows
  • Pentium 300 MHz or higher
  • 64 MB of RAM for Windows 2000
  • 128 MB of RAM for Windows XP
  • CD-ROM, DVD-ROM drive and hard disk drive with 5 GB free*
  • Windows 2000 (Service Pack 4), Windows XP (Service Pack 1)

Macintosh
  • Apple G3 or higher (no G3 upgrade cards)
  • 128 MB of RAM
  • CD-ROM, DVD-ROM drive and hard disk drive with 5 GB free*
  • Mac OS X v10.2.8 or later

Later versions of each operating system may also work, please contact DHI with any questions at (303) 810-7368.

*Please note that the hard disk space requirement is highly dependent on the amount of video data involved with your home inventory. A typical inventory may have 2 GB (or more) of video. It is recommended that your system hard disk have 5 GB of free space. The DHI Inventory Program (without data) is about 90 MB.

Will DHI guarantee client confidentiality?

Yes. DHI provides a written Guarantee of Confidentiality.

DHI is licensed and insured.

What does DHI do about security?

During processing and until client acceptance, all client data is computer password protected and kept in a secure location.

Upon acceptance, the client data is destroyed or moved to a secure off-site location if the DHI Maintenance Agreement is purchased.

I have just had a tragedy! Does DHI have a copy of my Home Inventory?

DHI does NOT keep client data without the purchase of the DHI Maintenance Agreement.

Please keep a backup copy of your DHI Inventory in an off-site secure location. Examples of secure off-site locations could include a trusted relative or friend or a safe deposit box.

I have just had a tragedy! What do I do?

Use this checklist:

1. Report any burglary, theft or other crime to law enforcement authorities.
  • Obtain and file the Case Number assigned by the authorities.
  • Start a Journal in a spiral notebook or 3 ring binder.
  • Be sure to log in your Journal all contacts (name and phone number) and communications with these authorities.
2. In the event of property damage or loss, contact and report your information to your insurance company IMMEDIATELY. Most policies have a time limit for filing claims.
  • Be sure to log in your Journal all contacts (name and phone number) and communications with your insurance company.
3. Make a list of stolen or damaged articles (in your journal).
  • View your DHI Home Inventory video at this point as a visual reminder/reference of where things are/were supposed to be.
  • Your insurance company may request proof of ownership and value of your reported losses. Your DHI Inventory Program provides this proof in the form of:
    • Video AND
    • Photographs AND
    • Receipts AND
    • Serial numbers AND
    • Appraisals
4. Make temporary repairs to protect your property from further damage.
  • Keep all receipts from those repairs.
  • Log these repairs in your journal.
5. If you must move out of your home temporarily:
  • Log and save receipts in your journal for food, lodging, new clothing, and other expenses.
6. Questions to ask your insurance representative (journal your questions and their responses):
  • Am I covered?
  • Does this claim exceed my deductible?
  • How long will it take to process the claim?
  • Will I need to provide estimates for repairs?

Will DHI help me at the time of a claim?

DHI will help as much as possible. However,
  • DHI does NOT keep client data without the purchase of the DHI Maintenance Agreement. Please note that client data subject to the DHI Maintenance Agreement is kept off-site in a secure location. Moreover, DHI will not disclose any client information without explicit written permission by the client.
  • Inventories become out-of-date quickly. Because of this, all clients purchasing a DHI Packaged Inventory Service receive a copy of the proprietary DHI Inventory Program. The program is designed for ease-of-use and clients are encouraged to periodically update their inventory and keep a backup copy of their data in a secure off-site location.


What items should I have documented?

Most homeowner’s insurance policies are based upon replacement value of insured items. Additionally, the maximum payout for qualified items is usually a percentage of the value of the house (say 70%).

With that being said, insurance companies know that you have “standard stuff” and “non-standard stuff”.

“Standard Stuff” – includes bath towels, toiletries, everyday dinnerware and flatware, etc. It is not necessary to document each and every item. A general description citing quantity and quality typically suffices. Photos and video help to validate claims.

“Non-Standard Stuff” – includes stereo equipment, TVs, furniture, rugs, etc. In these cases, it is best to document each item in depth with receipts, photos and video.

Do I really need to keep receipts?

Yes. It is a very good idea.

And with the DHI Inventory Program, receipts can be digitized, entered into the program, and cross-referenced with any item.

The objective of the DHI Inventory Program is to have your entire relevant inventory data stored on one digital optical disc.

Do insurance companies classify any particular items as High Risk?

Yes. In order to minimize their exposure on high risk items, insurance companies typically limit the amount they will pay on a claim for certain items or item categories on a standard homeowners policy. Insurance companies offer floaters or riders that cover these items to increased levels at an additional premium.

According to State Farm Insurance, the following items are classified as High Risk:
  • Antiques
  • Art Objects
  • Calculators
  • Clock Radios
  • Clocks
  • Collections
  • Computers
  • Electrical Appliances
  • Electronic Equipment
  • Figurines
  • Furs
  • Guns
  • Jewelry
  • Lawn Mowers
  • Musical Instruments
  • Paintings
  • Photography Equipment
  • Power Tools
  • Silver
  • Sports Equipment
  • Stereos
  • Tape Recorders
  • Televisions
  • Typewriters
  • Vacuum Cleaners
Not all of these items require a floater policy. It is best to review your policy with your insurance agent after your home inventory is completed to assure that you are adequately insured to your level of comfort.

How does DHI document my personal property?

A Standard DHI Home Inventory professionally and confidentially documents client assets through the use of digital technology.

Descriptive Item Data (Make, Model, Serial Number, etc.) together with Digital Video and Digital Photographs are gathered, compiled and cross-referenced to individual household items using DHI’s proprietary, multi-platform computer software. In addition, a Digital Audio Recording is made of every inventory service and included in the DHI Inventory Program.

A Final Data Package on optical disc is produced and presented to the client for easy, safe, and compact storage.

Does DHI provide personal property appraisals?

No. Property values are based on client estimates. This is another reason to keep your receipts.

For special items, we suggest you contact a professional appraiser.

What does DHI need from me for the inventory service?
  • Your homeowner’s insurance policy for review
  • Any item appraisals
  • Any item receipts
  • Your time
It is best if you walk through with us during all phases of the inventory. You are the owner of the items and you can expedite the process of describing items for recording.

How long will it take to perform the inventory?

It is our experience that clients tend to get distracted after a certain amount of time has elapsed. We want to be thorough, but we want to respect your privacy and time also.

With that stated, DHI allots a certain amount of time per square foot of inventoried space for client visits based on the package and service requested.

Please contact us for a time estimate.

What if DHI’s time allotted to perform the inventory is exceeded?

If the time allotted for the inventory is exceeded, the client has 2 choices:
  1. The client can ask DHI to finish the inventory subject to DHI’s current consulting rates.
  2. The client can finish the inventory himself once he receives the Final Data Package from DHI.
Option 2 may sound crass, but in reality it is not. In most cases, the inventory is very close to being completed. Additionally, the whole concept behind DHI is to involve the client because inventories become out-of-date quickly. Because of this, all clients purchasing DHI Packaged Inventory Services receive a copy of the proprietary DHI Inventory Program. The program is designed for ease-of-use and clients are encouraged to periodically update their inventory and keep a backup copy of their data in a secure off-site location.

What does DHI do with clients’ inventory data?

All inventory data is presented to the client. Upon acceptance, all of the client inventory data at DHI is destroyed.

The one exception is if the client purchases the DHI Maintenance Agreement.

What is the DHI Maintenance Agreement?

The DHI Maintenance Agreement is an annual agreement that allows DHI to store one copy of the client data disc at an off-site location. Additionally, upon an explicit written request from a client with the DHI Maintenance Agreement DHI will act as a liaison between the client and insurance representatives regarding inventory issues. Another feature of the Agreement is that DHI will notify clients every six months to send any updates to DHI. DHI will then update the data and store the new information. If DHI is requested to visit the client, current consulting rates will apply.