You want a formal, detailed inventory with careful descriptions of your belongings, brand names, receipts, dates of purchase, professional appraisals and photo or video records. Don't forget to update your inventory periodically to cover new purchases. State Farm Insurance has a sample form with the pertinent categories you need to fill in. It's well worth the time to shop around for home insurance because it might cut your premium by as much as 50 percent. Compare coverage and prices with an independent agent, someone who sells the policies of several different insurance companies, with 'captive sellers,' people who work for a single insurance company, and with 'direct writers,' firms that can give you a quote on the phone.
Independent agents represent a number of companies.
They can help you get the best deal among the insurers they handle, but their commission structure is the highest. Still, there are often benefits to working locally with someone you know and can contact quickly in an emergency. Your best bet is going to be to ask friends and relatives for recommendations of professionals they've worked with and liked. To get some perspective or maybe even a good deal, check with some of the independents who offer online quote services. Their commissions are typically lower than those of the independent agents, so you may expect to pay a bit less for your policy.