Hartman Inventory, LLC

As we drove down the quiet street in a clean, well-kept neighborhood, the GPS said, “You have arrived.” However, we didn’t need her telling us this; it was obvious!

It was a cool, crisp morning. Even though our windows were up, we could smell the sickening odor of burnt wood. And if that wasn’t enough, the house was completely boarded up. Every single window was covered with plywood. The only openings were the front and back doors. What total devastation!

(The homeowners had called us to help them create a home inventory. Though normally our service is provided before the fact, we do assist after-fire victims.)

We entered the blackened house through the front door; the only light was from our flashlights. Even so, we could see there was little – if nothing – left to salvage. Every single item was completely covered with a layer of black soot. As we walked room to room, we could hear water squishing in the carpet. We also walked over water-soaked clothes, bed linens, towels and stuffed animals. We’re told more than 40,000 gallons of water were needed to put out the fire.

Exiting through the back door, we found the back yard covered with clothing, toys, furniture and some items that could not be identified. These had been thrown out the window in the hopes of saving items and also to give the firemen room to work. Shattered glass covered the back patio and was throughout the yard. The hot tub was full of household items as well. What a disaster!

Can you imagine what you would feel if this was your house? We wanted to cry, and it wasn’t even our house. A sense of loss overwhelmed us, and it wasn’t even our house. Complete sadness engulfed us, and it wasn’t even our house.

Consider the emotion you’d be going through. And now you’re told by your insurance agent that you need to list everything that was in your house so you can file your claim. Everything! Everything that you lost and want your homeowners policy to replace!  The insurance company needs a list!