How to Keep Your Valuables Safe from a Fire

2/13/2023 (Permalink)

If you have suffered a fire, SERVPRO of Northwest Vegas is here to help. SERVPRO is a trusted leader in the fire and water restoration industry.

It's a sad fact that some people will try to rip you off after a fire. But don't let them! Keep your valuables safe with these tips.

Take an inventory of your valuables

If you have important items that are irreplaceable, take photos of them and write down the value of each piece. It's also helpful to keep a record of the serial numbers for all expensive items. Storing these records in a fireproof safe will give you peace of mind in case anything happens to your home or possessions.

Additionally, if there is any chance that an item might be stolen during a fire (e.g., jewelry), it can help to keep this list in another safe area outside the house—just as long as it's accessible by firefighters once they arrive on the scene!

If you have valuable items that are irreplaceable, take photos of them and write down the value of each piece. It's also helpful to keep a record of the serial numbers for all expensive items. Storing these records in a fireproof safe will give you peace of mind in case anything happens to your home or possessions.

Assess their value

The first step in protecting your valuables is to assess their value. Start by thinking about what you keep under lock and key (or behind padlocks, for those with a more rustic approach). List the items, then estimate the market value of each one. If you have an item that is worth a lot more than its purchase price, it’s important to know this so you can make sure it’s covered under your homeowner's insurance policy. 

For example, you have a collection of antique pottery that has been passed down through generations of your family. The pieces are valuable but may not be insured because they are considered art, not property. On the other hand, if someone broke into your home and stole these pots while they were in storage at an offsite location—that would be covered by insurance because they're considered personal property within your home even though they're not being kept there at present time.

Store your valuables in a secure place

Storing your valuables in a safe is the most secure way to protect them from fire. If you don’t have a safe in your Las Vegas home already, it’s worth looking into getting one.

You can also keep an inventory of all of your valuables with photographs and descriptions of each item. This will help you know what you lost in case there is any damage done by smoke or water that isn’t covered by insurance.

Photographs & Documents

These items are often easy to overlook when you're preparing for a fire. The photos and documents in your home aren't just sentimental items; they're also irreplaceable. You can always buy new jewelry, but you'll never get back the family heirlooms that were lost when your house burned down. 

Take care to keep these items safe, but don't forget about them either! Don't store them in the same place as your valuables—or any other important document or photo. These things deserve their own space and should be given special attention while planning your evacuation strategy. If there's room in the safe deposit box at your bank, consider keeping backups of these items there as well (though this is only an option if it's not too close to home). 

Artwork

Use a fire-resistant frame. The matting that is placed behind your artwork is another important factor in protecting it from smoke and fire damage. A variety of materials are used in matting, all of which can catch fire and cause smoke damage to the art. For example, wood frames are highly flammable; canvas and linen mats may also be combustible. If you have original works that require framing, consider using non-combustible materials such as acrylic instead of wood or fabric frames and mats made with polyester rather than cotton or wool fabric. 

Keep artwork away from heat sources. Artwork should not be too close to heat sources such as radiators or radiators near windows because any papers contained within the artwork may become warped due to excessive heat exposure over time; this could cause permanent damage if the paper becomes curled or buckled during its lifespan as a finished piece (and therefore unable to be sold).

Take steps to protect the valuable items that you can't replace.

You should always ensure that the items you have stored in your home are properly insured. This way, if something happens to them, they will be replaced with money from your policy. It may also make sense to consider storing some of your valuables in a safe deposit box at a bank or credit union. This is especially true if you have any extremely valuable items like jewelry or art pieces that are irreplaceable and worth more than $100,000.

If you can’t store the item in a safe place or keep it with you at all times, there is still one last option for protecting it from fire damage: buy an appropriate container for it that can withstand the heat! Putting these types of items into fireproof boxes will help protect them from being destroyed by flames during a house fire.

Your belongings are valuable to you. Keep them safe with these tips.

It's important to understand that while insurance can help you recover from the financial impact of a disaster, it's not a perfect solution. It's best to have insurance, but also be prepared for what might happen if you're not insured. Make sure to keep an inventory of your valuables and consider insuring them.

It can be overwhelming to think about what to do with your valuables after a fire. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at SERVPRO of Northwest Vegas. We’re here to help!