News of wildfires and hurricanes point out the value of proper home inventories. The American Society of Appraisers offers several tips to make sure you and your insurers know what you had before its lost.

- Take an inventory of the items in your house; open cabinets and closets and document contents with video or photos.

- Store photos, appraisals, insurance policies and other documents in a safe place.

- Inventory your possessions. Make lists of what you own, who made the item, etc.

- Keep sales receipts. You can use them as a backup of your inventory.

- Get valuables appraised and keep the documentation in a safe place.

Source: American Society of Appraisers