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Business provides proof for needy homeowners
By YVETTE OROZCO
With Hurricane Ike projected to head toward the area and hurricane season lasting until November, one business is urging a different kind of preparedness.
Bluebonnet Home Inventory provides residents the opportunity to document their belongings in the event of a disaster. Whether it’s a hurricane, tornado, flood, fire or theft, physical property can be at permanent risk without any preparation.
Personal welfare takes precedence over personal belongings during last-minute preparations during hurricane threats, and fires, thefts and other occurrences come without warning.
“The first thing we tell people is to close their eyes and remember one room in your home — they can’t remember everything in it, ” said Lonnel Britain. “They need to get home inventory.”
Britain, her husband, Jerry and son Mark have been doing just that for a little over a year with Bluebonnet Home Inventory. In just three hours, the three will visit a home or business and with a digital camera, video equipment and written documentation, make a physical record of personal property.
They provide a “confidential, reliable, affordable and professional inventory” of a home or office in order to provide verification of ownership for insurance or police reports
The catalyst for Bluebonnet Home Inventory came close to home for the Britain family, longtime Pasadena residents.
Britain’s mother lost much of her own property due to a disastrous flood in Liberty.
“We had to rely on memory and you cannot remember everything unless you have it written down and verified it,” said Britain.
The family had to rebuild and began to take inventory of property so that one year later, when another flood came to Liberty, they were protected.
“Our dealing with the insurance people was very minimal because we had all the records,” said Britain’s husband. “It just made everything a lot easier.”
Bluebonnet Home Inventory was formed and bonded when Jerry Britain retired and the business has so far met positive response although the primary challenge, they say, is convincing customers to take the initiative to protect their belongings.
“People will say that they will do their own inventory, but most never do,” said Lonnel Britain. “It takes us three hours, room by room, where it would take them a long time to do it.”
Bluebonnet does not appraise items and property or become involved with the insurance process, they simply provide proof of existence of personal property.
“It’s hard work and they did a thorough job,” said Melvin Cowart, one of Bluebonnet Home Inventory’s first customers. “It’s hard work.”
It only takes three hours to record and customers are left with a DVR, CD and up to 25 papers of written documentation they can keep in a safe place, with relatives or in a safety deposit box. Customers can request as many copies of each format they want and for a fee, Bluebonnet will retain their own copy as an extra safety net.
“We live in an area that is prone to hurricanes and tornadoes and this will give you peace of mind knowing that you are prepared in the event of a loss,” said Britain.
Melvin Cowart is grateful for his personal records courtesy of Bluebonnet Home Inventory.
“You’re never thinking that anything is going to happen,” he said.
For more information, call Jerry and Lonnel Britain at 713-910-5959 or 713-946-4982.
Bluebonnet Home Inventory provides residents the opportunity to document their belongings in the event of a disaster. Whether it’s a hurricane, tornado, flood, fire or theft, physical property can be at permanent risk without any preparation.
Personal welfare takes precedence over personal belongings during last-minute preparations during hurricane threats, and fires, thefts and other occurrences come without warning.
“The first thing we tell people is to close their eyes and remember one room in your home — they can’t remember everything in it, ” said Lonnel Britain. “They need to get home inventory.”
Britain, her husband, Jerry and son Mark have been doing just that for a little over a year with Bluebonnet Home Inventory. In just three hours, the three will visit a home or business and with a digital camera, video equipment and written documentation, make a physical record of personal property.
They provide a “confidential, reliable, affordable and professional inventory” of a home or office in order to provide verification of ownership for insurance or police reports
The catalyst for Bluebonnet Home Inventory came close to home for the Britain family, longtime Pasadena residents.
Britain’s mother lost much of her own property due to a disastrous flood in Liberty.
“We had to rely on memory and you cannot remember everything unless you have it written down and verified it,” said Britain.
The family had to rebuild and began to take inventory of property so that one year later, when another flood came to Liberty, they were protected.
“Our dealing with the insurance people was very minimal because we had all the records,” said Britain’s husband. “It just made everything a lot easier.”
Bluebonnet Home Inventory was formed and bonded when Jerry Britain retired and the business has so far met positive response although the primary challenge, they say, is convincing customers to take the initiative to protect their belongings.
“People will say that they will do their own inventory, but most never do,” said Lonnel Britain. “It takes us three hours, room by room, where it would take them a long time to do it.”
Bluebonnet does not appraise items and property or become involved with the insurance process, they simply provide proof of existence of personal property.
“It’s hard work and they did a thorough job,” said Melvin Cowart, one of Bluebonnet Home Inventory’s first customers. “It’s hard work.”
It only takes three hours to record and customers are left with a DVR, CD and up to 25 papers of written documentation they can keep in a safe place, with relatives or in a safety deposit box. Customers can request as many copies of each format they want and for a fee, Bluebonnet will retain their own copy as an extra safety net.
“We live in an area that is prone to hurricanes and tornadoes and this will give you peace of mind knowing that you are prepared in the event of a loss,” said Britain.
Melvin Cowart is grateful for his personal records courtesy of Bluebonnet Home Inventory.
“You’re never thinking that anything is going to happen,” he said.
For more information, call Jerry and Lonnel Britain at 713-910-5959 or 713-946-4982.
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