September 1, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 27 Would you be able to list all the contents of your home if you had to? Most people could not, which is why it’s a good idea to create a written home inventory. The New Jersey Society of CPAs explains why this is a smart step and offers tips on how to proceed. A home inventory can help you determine what needs to be replaced if you are the victim of a burglary, fire, or other disaster. There are three key reasons the inventory will come in handy. First, having a full catalog of your home contents should help you get a speedier reimbursement from your insurance company. It will also make it easier to identify any losses you might want to claim for income tax purposes. In addition, before any problems occur, the inventory will give you a realistic sense of what you have and help you decide how much insurance you need. How to Get Started An inventory is simply a list of what is in your home, including a short description of each item. When you are creating it, collect any information you have on the items in your home, including your purchase receipts, serial numbers, and any appraisals that have been done. Organize the inventory by room, listing everything that is in each location before going on to the next. While a written inventory is important, it’s also a good idea to take photographs of every room to further document the information in your inventory. Take several pictures of each room so all of the items are easy to see. Then attach these pictures to the related list in your written inventory. If possible, make a video of your home, walking slowly through each room and describing what is being shown on camera. Even the smallest or least costly items will add up if you have to replace them after a theft or disaster, so be sure to Protect your assets: Why you need a home inventory catalog everything. For clothing, it may be easiest simply to count all your shirts, pants, dresses, shoes, and other kinds of apparel, rather than listing each item. The same is true of china, silverware, and linen. Pay special attention to the most valuable things, including jewelry, art, antiques, and electronics. Include as much information as you can about them in your inventory, and take pictures of each one. Contact your insurance agent about these items because some of them may need additional coverage depending on their type and value. Store your inventory information in a safe deposit box or ask a trusted family member or friend to hold on to it for you. It might be best to choose someone who does not live in your area, so that person’s home is less likely to be affected by the same local disaster that affects you. Also, e-mail the inventory to yourself and to a friend so you can download the file whenever you need it. Remember to consult your local CPA with any questions about your family’s finances, including whether your insurance coverage is adequate and how best to protect yourself from risk. Your CPA has the expertise to answer your most important financial questions. For more information on various personal financial matters, visit the NJSCPA’s public service website at www. MoneyMattersNJ.com. While visiting, you can subscribe to Your Money Matters, the NJSCPA’s free, monthly e-mail newsletter to receive valuable personal financial planning advice throughout the year. The Money Management columns are a joint effort of the AICPA and the New Jersey Society of CPAs, as part of the profession’s nationwide 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy program. Wyckoff Wanderings (continued from page 16) The Wyckoff Sharks is a competitive team that fosters the development of each individual swimmer in a fun and challenging team environment. Slichot concert and service set Join Temple Beth Rishon and Congregation Beth Haverim-Shir Shalom in Mahwah for their second annual joint Slichot service and program on Saturday, Sept. 4 at Congregation Beth Haverim-Shir Shalom. Slichot is a meditative preparatory service for the High Holy Days. Gather for a meet and greet at 8 p.m. At 8:30 p.m., view and discuss a clip of “Star Trek” in terms of Jewish values and High Holy Day themes. A ceremony to change the Torah covers will begin at 9:30 p.m. followed by a Havdalah and Slichot service at 10 p.m. led by Rabbi Ken Emert, Rabbi Joel Mosbacher, Cantor Ilan Mamber, and Cantor David Perper. They will be joined by guest musicians and the Kol Rishon and Beth Havarim-Shir Shalom Choirs. For more information, call (201) 891-4466 or visit www. bethrishon.org. Annual fireworks fundraiser set Tickets are on sale now for the Wyckoff Volunteer Fire Department’s 53rd Annual Fireworks Display and Band Concert on Saturday, Sept. 4. This event will be held at Memorial Field, behind Wyckoff Town Hall at 340 Franklin Avenue, Wyckoff. All seating will be on the rear baseball field near the band shell. This year, the Shots will provide special musical entertainment before the fireworks display. The concert will begin at 6:45 p.m. and the fireworks are scheduled to begin at 8:30 p.m. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted on the property. Tickets may be purchased in advance for $10 each; children under age 12 will be admitted free. Tickets are available at the following locations: the clerk’s office at Wyckoff Town Hall, 340 Franklin Avenue; Wyckoff YMCA, 695 Wyckoff Avenue; Frankie’s Gourmet Catering, 637 Wyckoff Avenue; Market Basket, 300 Sicomac Avenue; Yudin’s, 378 Main Street; Waldwick Prime Meats, 10 Franklin Turnpike, Waldwick; and Parkwood Deli, 342 Erie Avenue, Midland Park. Villadom TIMES thanks all of our readers who have already filled out the “requester” forms, but many more are still needed. If you have not yet responded, please take a moment to do so now. Why is the Villadom TIMES asking readers to fill out this form if they get the newspaper anyway? “The “requester” forms help us save on postage and assure a higher level of service for our readers as the U.S. Post Office continues to reduce its services,” explained Villadom TIMES Publisher Ester Vierheilig. “Please take the time to fill one out if you haven’t already done so, and ask your friends, co-workers, and fellow organization members to do the same. We need many thousands more to achieve our goal.” The form may be completed online (www.freevilladom.com), mailed in, or dropped off at our office at 333 Keep those responses coming Godwin Avenue in Midland Park. Your information will only be used for this purpose. Each addressee needs to fill out the form only one time, even though the form will appear in several places over the coming weeks. 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