There are certain things you come to expect as a homeowner, especially if you have children or pets (or both).

You expect that your toddler, who just learned about the magic of markers, is going to test them out on your white walls. You expect that your dog, whose nails always seem to be a millimeter too long, is going to scratch the flooring around your front door. Or, if you have a puppy, you expect to find teeth marks in the most unfortunate of places (e.g., your banister, the corners of your baseboards, random pieces of furniture…).

Fortunately—or unfortunately—two things that homeowners do not anticipate are fire damage or flooding. As a realtor, I’ve witnessed just how often people are unprepared for the aftermath of these events.

If you don’t know, when your home is damaged in a fire or flood, you must provide your insurance company with an itemized list of everything that needs to be replaced. And sadly, it’s not enough to say, “Hi, yes, my refrigerator is totaled. Please cover the cost of a new one.” You need to be able to provide the make, model, year, etc. on every single item.

Depending on the extent of the damage, this task can be incredibly difficult and overwhelming. Not what you need when you’ve just lost your home.

Just imagine trying to recall the brand name on your toaster or the details of every pair of shoes you own… without having them in front of you. Sounds impossible, right?

This is why I recommend making a video walkthrough of your house, highlighting every major appliance and expensive item.

Having all of these details on video is a great way to help you identify what needs to be replaced after a catastrophe, as well as help with proof of ownership. It takes all of 15 minutes to complete, and it can save you countless hours (and thousands of dollars) should something happen.

Items you should film include all kitchen appliances (even small ones), your washing machine and dryer, power tools, lawn maintenance tools, TVs and gaming consoles, expensive bathroom appliances, vacuum cleaners, computers and printers, collector’s items, watches and jewelry, and any expensive clothing and shoes.

Of course, this isn’t a one-time project. It’s a good idea to make a new video annually as you upgrade and purchase new appliances.

And let me be super clear: this post isn’t to scare you. Rather, as a homeowner in the Deep Creek Lake area, I want to safeguard my property—and I’m sure you do, too. Creating a video walkthrough is one of the simplest ways to accomplish that goal.

So, don’t wait. Take 15 minutes to film your video walkthrough this evening, and then rest easy, knowing your bases are covered.