To Video or Not to Video, That is the Question

Should you videotape (or digitally record) an inventory? It depends. A videotape or DVD record can be part of your service offerings (for an additional fee), but most traditional, professional home inventories are paper-based -- for the simple reason that most insurance agents will not want to search through a DVD to get the information they need to process a claim. A DVD or videotape, however, can be useful for supplemental purposes, or to establish ownership.

Some home inventory service professionals use video cameras and/or tape records to collect the information necessary to compile the written inventory record. Even if you videograph everything, you'll still need handwritten records to detail key items (but the videotape can be used for things like light covers -- which, unless they're solid gold, probably don't need to be individually documented).

Don't rely on a tape recorder too much either -- one, it's possible to spend twice the time transcribing it that it took to record it in the first place and second... they're not infallible either (I've had mine jam before, batteries die halfway through without me noticing it, and run out of tape and not "click off" to warn me ....)

I'll never forget the time (back in the pre-digital camera days) that I took a whole roll of "film" and then went to load in the second roll and discovered that there was no film in it to begin with! Aughh! Talk about embarrassing -- and time wasting! Be sure that you're truly "rolling" (recording) as you progress through the videotaping/digitally recording procedure.

I personally feel that the amount of time it takes to transcribe the record is disproportionate to the time saved at the client's job-site, but offering a video (or DVD) to supplement the written record can be an additional profit center. You can also offer a video or DVD for estate-planning purposes (have the owner narrate *who* each item is to be given to.) Charge extra for this service too.