The start of a new year is a great time to update the inventory of your possessions. You'll need an accurate list if you ever have to make a home insurance claim.
"You probably have received (holiday) presents, and there are new things in the house," says Ron Moore, senior product manager with MetLife Auto & Home. "Some of them could be worth a lot: your TV, your stereo, your computers, your clothes."
If you don't want to take time to write things down, "a very common way is to make a video recording of your home," he adds. "If there is a theft, you can go back and say 'I had this stuff.'"
Consider a special rider to cover expensive items that may exceed the limits of your home policy.
"If you have a big flat-screen TV that costs $1,000, you may want to schedule that separately," Moore notes. "The cost for a rider is usually pretty cheap. You can make sure your TV is covered for everything, including your 6-year-old kid hitting a ball through it."
Finally, make sure your home insurance coverage remains high enough if you ever have to repair or rebuild at today's construction prices.