April is National Home Inventory Month: Find out more
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Tag: <span>insurance</span>

24 Apr 2019

The Goal: A Professional Insurance Discussion

Since this is National Home Inventory Month, we thought a recap of the course Insurance Knowledge for the Inventory Professional would be timely and prove of great value.

The ultimate goal of an inventory professional is to provide and deliver asset documentation for your clients. Knowledge of insurance is important so you can have a basic discussion of the areas of insurance that relate to home and business inventories. Essential information includes claim scenarios and statistics surrounding recent wildfires, floods, and hurricanes in the United States. You will also be able to help your client locate the area of their homeowner policy requiring them to provide an inventory in the event of a filed claim.

The course is delivered in 3 modules:

Module 1: Insurance Coverages and Terms

  • Disclaimer
  • Choosing An Insurance Agent
  • Homeowner’s Insurance Policy Coverages
  • Special Policy Limits
  • Insurance Terms and Definitions

Module 2: Insurance Claims

  • Statistics
  • Scenarios
  • The Process
  • The Inventory Requirement

Module 3: How to Market to the Insurance Industry

  • When Is The Best Time?
  • Relevant Marketing Strategies

In addition to becoming more informed about basic property insurance concepts and understanding the claims process, this course provides tips to effectively market your inventory services to the insurance industry.

01 Nov 2018

Loss Inventory Course Now Available

personal developmentThe most requested course in our December 2017 survey has now been developed and recently made available. All NICA members and also any other professional seeking this valuable information can now log in and take this online, self-directed course.  Members will receive 3 CEUs toward their certification renewal.

When someone faces a loss due to fire or natural disaster, they are overwhelmed with emotion. There are insurance standards that state what a policyholder is required to do after a loss. Add that to the many emotions one deals with and the time required to complete the recovery process, and most have a need for professional assistance.

Documenting their losses, one piece of personal property at a time, is a time-consuming and difficult process. For the home inventory professional, having the knowledge and a plan to document the contents of a client’s home or business is essential to assist them in achieving an equitable settlement. When conducting a loss inventory, it is important to know what is salvageable vs. unsalvageable. Sorting items that can be considered for “allowances” and also those that might need appraisals is a large responsibility that many homeowners and business owners don’t know how to do or have the desire to tackle this difficult task.

There are challenges an inventory professional will likely face during a loss inventory that aren’t encountered in other types of inventory services. These challenges can include standing water, no power or lights, contaminants, and personal safety issues. Information is provided regarding how to deal with these hazards.

Additionally, this course includes information about marketing loss inventory services, the importance of developing business affiliations, and options regarding how to price this extremely important service.

Module 1 – Introduction to Loss Inventory Services

  • What is a Loss Inventory?
  • Insurance
  • Your Role as an Inventory Professional
  • Challenges You Might Face

Module 2 – Preparing for and Completing the Inventory

  • Preparations Prior to the Visit
  • The Inventory Process
  • Inventory Equipment
  • Personal Protective Equipment

Module 3 – Marketing Your Loss Inventory Services

  • Marketing Your Service
  • Business Affiliations
  • Pricing Options
19 Dec 2017

New Course: Insurance Knowledge for the Inventory Professional

Donna CourtneyIt’s here! We are very excited to have this often-requested course now available – Insurance Knowledge for the Inventory Professional. It includes basic education and knowledge about the insurance industry. This information will enable you to have a professional insurance discussion with your clients as an inventory specialist – not as an insurance agent.

We thank Donna Courtney for sharing her expertise with our association through writing this course. She comes with superb credentials. Donna is a NICA member, retired insurance agent, and now is the owner of Courtney Inventory in Little River, South Carolina. Having both the experience in P&C insurance and as an inventory professional, she understands what inventory specialists need to know to present the benefits of your service to prospects as well as to promote your business to insurance agents with confidence.

The course, written exclusively for the National Inventory Certification Association, will also help you establish the many reasons why a personal contents inventory is needed and includes claim scenarios and statistics surrounding recent wildfires, floods, and hurricanes in the United States. You will also be able to help your clients locate the area of their homeowner policy requiring them to provide an inventory in the event of a filed claim. In addition to becoming more informed about basic property insurance concepts and understanding the claims process, you learn how to effectively market your inventory services to insurance agents and restoration companies.

The course is presented in 3 modules:

Module 1: Insurance Coverages and Terms introduces you to insurance coverages, terms, and definitions and will help you to have a knowledgeable discussion with your clients about the need for a personal property inventory.  You will discover the importance of a spoken disclaimer whenever you have insurance conversations with your client.

Module 2: Insurance Claims gives statistical information on insurance claims and the recovery process, actual claim scenarios, the process required by most insurance companies to file a property loss, and where to find the personal property inventory requirement in most homeowner policies.

Module 3: How To Market to the Insurance Industry helps you in your marketing efforts by suggesting the how, when, why, and where to introduce your inventory business to property insurance agents. In addition, there are additional job sectors you may want to add to your marketing mix.

This course provides 3 CEUs, and a great way to help achieve your 5 CEUs required to retain your certification for 2017. If you already have achieved this requirement, you can take it in 2018 to help you achieve your 5 CEUs for next year.

Visit the link learn more about Insurance Knowledge for the Inventory Professional, as well as the variety of other courses provided by NICA.

07 Dec 2016

Ohio Personal Property Inventory Professional Achieves Certification

The National Inventory Certification Association congratulates member Gina Wagner for achieving the designation of Certified Inventory Specialist.

gina picture 5The National Inventory Certification Association™ (NICA) is pleased to announce that Gina Wagner, owner of Wagner’s Inventory Services LLC in Brooklyn, Ohio, has recently earned the designation of Certified Inventory Specialist (CIS). Achieving this designation confirms her knowledge to provide quality residential and small business contents inventory services.

To earn this certification, Wagner passed specified continuing education courses developed by NICA, agreed to conduct business according to the asset industry Code of Ethics, and accumulated a required number of Continuing Education Units. There is an increasing awareness of the necessity and benefits of having a prepared photographic and written record of one’s personal property. This knowledge and the ever-increasing busy lifestyles of homeowners and business owners alike create a growing demand for a professional inventory service provider.

Achieving certification is not required for the contents inventory professional. By choosing to invest in  continuing education shows Wagner’s desire to learn the industry and let her clients know that she has gone the extra mile to ensure she provides quality inventory services. Wagner explained, “I believe in serving clients with professionalism and excellence. Having achieved my CIS designation helps show my dedication to my clients, my company, and the industry.”

Mike Hartman, Executive Director of NICA, said, “I was impressed the first time I met Gina. You can hear her excitement about this industry in her voice. Having narrowly missed a house fire really drove the need for an inventory home to  her. She now is on a crusade to teach others of the need for this service.” We are pleased to have her as a certified member of our association.”  

Based in Brooklyn, Ohio, Wagner’s Inventory Services offers residential and business asset inventory services to the Cleveland Metro Area and all of Northeast Ohio. 

28 Sep 2016

New Logo for Asset Inventory Industry LinkedIn Group

NICAThe LinkedIn Group, Asset Inventory Industry, was created for members to share information and participate in relevant conversations. Since the National Inventory Certification Association (NICA) has assumed management of this group, we thought it would be appropriate and less confusing to use the NICA logo as the group logo as well.

The Asset Inventory Industry Group is open to all inventory professionals, those who are in complimenting industries (insurance, restoration, home organizing, photo organizing, estate planning, etc.), and anyone who has an interest in learning about this industry. If you aren’t a member, please join us here,

If you are already a member of this LinkedIn Group, please participate so we can all benefit from your expertise.

What type of information?

  • Ask a question
  • Pose a dilemma
  • Seek advice
  • Announce successes
  • Ask for assistance
  • Find a sub-contractor
  • … and any other topic that is relevant to the industry

Who do you know in our industry or other ancillary industries? Please invite them to join. Having a variety of professionals in the group will enhance our shared knowledge and variety of topics.

04 May 2016

South Carolina Inventory Professional Achieves Certification

The National Inventory Certification Association congratulates member Donna Courtney of Courtney Inventory for achieving the designation of Certified Inventory Specialist.

Donna Business photo 001 (2)PRESS RELEASE – The National Inventory Certification Association™ (NICA) is pleased to announce that Donna Courtney, owner of Courtney Inventory in Little River, South Carolina, has recently earned the designation of Certified Inventory Specialist (CIS). Achieving this designation through the NICA confirms her knowledge to provide quality residential and small business contents inventory services.

Explaining why she invested in certification, Courtney said, “As a licensed insurance agent for 30 years, I earned various designations which enabled me to stay engaged and knowledgeable about the insurance industry. Continuing education is extremely important to me, which is what encouraged me to earn the CIS designation. This helps show my clients that I have taken the extra steps to be a leader in my industry.”

There is an increasing awareness of the necessity and benefits of having a prepared photographic and written record of one’s personal property. This knowledge and the ever-increasing busy lifestyles of homeowners and business owners alike create a growing demand for a professional inventory service provider. Choosing to achieve certification shows residential and commercial clients and potential clients that Courtney is a dedicated professional.

Mike Hartman, Executive Director of NICA, shared that “coming from the insurance profession that requires certification and continuing education, Donna is aware of the importance of certification. Her professional background solidifies that education is essential when you want to put the client first.”  

A requirement for certification and membership with NICA is to agree to conduct business according to the established industry Code of Ethics. Based in South Carolina, Courtney Inventory provides residential and commercial asset inventory services in the state of South Carolina and Southeast North Carolina. 

02 Apr 2014

The Rhyme and Reason for a Home Inventory

quillApril is National Poetry Month, so we decided to invite home and business inventory professionals to share their passion for the industry through verse.

The need for an inventory is often a serious discussion. However, we don’t always have to be a serious bunch!

With that in mind, NICA is taking this opportunity to lighten it up a bit while sharing the many reasons for an inventory.

 

The Rhyme and Reason for a Home Inventory

Do you have photos and a list
Of the assets that you own,
Often called personal property
They are the contents of your home.

To recover from a disaster
Insurance won’t pay what you think
You’ll need to list all items
Even glasses from which you drink.

The list will be extremely long
You’ll spend outrageous hours of time
The deadline will cause excessive stress
While noting details, line by line.

You need this list for financial planning
For pre-nups, moving, or divorce
It’s also helpful for estates …
An asset inventory sets the course.

Yes, there are many life events
When you need an inventory
Talk to others who needed and didn’t have one
They’ll be happy to share their story.

Cindy Hartman
Hartman Inventory, Avon, IN