Tool Inventory

[sancho57]

I started inventorying my tools. I used a spreadsheet using nomenclature, p/n and s/n. Then I took photos.
So how do you inventory the bits the accessories. I thought about it and thought maybe go to the Festool site and get the p/n for ID purposes. but Dood, I have a lot of bits.
Especially router bits. I just took a photo and noted router bits in a systainer and called it good...

Kind of a pain but if anything were to happen I'd least have a leg to stand on with the ins company.

 

[MrGinCT]

I work for an insurance company and we tell our insureds that photo's or video of their stuff, especially close ups as needed, is a great way to keep a record.  Paper documentation of date of purchase and serial numbers is always good.

 

[Kev]

I started off being diligent, but you get lazy. Receipts and serial numbers are your best fall back.

Rather than just take photos, take video as you move through all of your stuff, maybe adding a bit of commentary as you go.

There's a possibility you need a consulting firm to come in and do a stock take [wink] [big grin]

[member=10147]jobsworth[/member]

 

[sancho57]

I don't really have the receipts anymore some of these are a few years old. I would go for replacement anyway.
A consultant......

Never really thought about that.

My biggest concern is shipping them back to the US.

Having something to show if they come up missing.

 

[Kev]

I don't really have the receipts anymore some of these are a few years old. I would go for replacement anyway.
A consultant......

Never really thought about that.

My biggest concern is shipping them back to the US.

Having something to show if they come up missing.

My advice would be to ship all of your accessories and any non 110V gear through Sydney ... I have a friend that'll keep a good eye out for it for me on it for you [wink]

 

[sancho57]

That's my mate alway got my back.....

[crying]

 

[six-point socket]

I use numbers (Apple's Excel) spreadsheets for tool inventory and especially insurance purposes. And I try to break it down to single pieces, including their order#, description, prices and serial# wherever applicable. Additionally I keep high-res pictures with it on a thumb drive and a back-up. Invoices, Manuals i.e. are filed. Im currently thinking of the next step: digitalizing those files, of course except the manuals as most of them can be downloaded anyway.

Here's what it looks like:

[attachimg=1]

Of course in the beginning this was a ton of work, but with copy & paste from the website it was doable.

I see it this way: I'm insured for, or maybe better against, the worst possible case = total loss due to *whatever*. So I think it's important to know everything to the last bit in an easy to read and comprehensible (to third parties) way. Especially because if you suffer a total loss, no matter how/why, you will have a lot of other stuff to worry about, so keeping stuff like this updated, easy to find and backed-up (so providing your insurance company with it is literally a matter of minutes) is key.

After reading a few of your posts I guess your current priority is inventory and insurance for your move, I would definitely break down your list as far as you reasonable can.

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[elfick]

I use Delicious Library but it's focused more for books and movies so unless you are inventorying more than just tools, I'm not sure I could recommend it. It has Amazon integration, so if you scan a bar code, it goes out to Amazon and gets a bunch of info, including the default picture. Adding serial numbers should be easier than it is though... another artifact of its books/movies focus. Oh, and it's mac only so that may be a deal breaker.  [cool]

 

[flair woodworks]

I record all my shop purchases (tools, accessories, supplies) in a numbers spreadsheet.  I record prices, part numbers, suppliers, and serial numbers of tools.

By the way, you can't upload a spreadsheet into your signature.  Thankfully.  [scared]

 

[johnleve]

For what it is worth this is what my insurance agent told me, it could certainly be different for someone else.

If you have not had any major claims, which I have not, then the first one is pretty painless and they do not fight you.  You might not even need much documentation, your word counts at this point.  He however suggested that I take pictures of my possessions two or more times each year to make it even easier and to make sure that I remember everything.  So that is what I do, I go around and take a quick photo of everything I own.  It takes some time but you don't need to take all that detailed of a photo or of only one thing at a time.  The improvement in cameras is great, now I can take a photo of a group of shelves or of a drawer and once it is on the computer I can zoom in and see every item easily.  I would suggest to anyone doing this that they keep the photos on the cloud, most phones have the ability to do this automatically and in the event of a true catastrophe you might not be able to get them from the device.

Once you make that initial claim, which hopefully no one ever has to do, then you need to start keeping more detailed records.  It is a second of third claim where their spidey senses start to tingle and the concern of fraud or opportunistic ownership comes into play.  We did not really discuss this much as it is not a concern for me now and hopefully never will be.

 

[Cheese]

You've got to be very very careful here. Every insurance company is different and every adjuster is also different in their views and actions/opinions.

Over 30 years ago I lost all of my mechanics tools and all of my machinists tools. The insurance policy stated that tools for a hobbyist would be covered but the tools for a professional would need a rider added to the policy. I had taken many photos over the years of my tools and had photos of around 90% of them. I had also kept many receipts so I thought I was pretty well covered.

Long story short...the adjuster acknowledged after seeing the photos and receipts, that I probably did own all of the tools I claimed were stolen, however, it was his assertion that because of the large volume of tools I had and because most of them were Snap-on and Starrett, I was a professional and therefore I should have added a rider to my policy. He offered me 35% of my claim and I could take it or file a lawsuit if I didn't like it.

Lesson learned...have a long conversation with your agent and ask probing questions up front. Take pictures, keep receipts, record serial numbers and if in doubt, consider an insurance rider with full replacement value.

Remember, your focus is that you just want your tools returned, however the adjuster's focus is damage control. 

 

[johnleve]

You've got to be very very careful here. Every insurance company is different and every adjuster is also different in their views and actions/opinions.

This is so very true and I mentioned that in my post but I should have said more about it.  If you have many many thousands of dollars worth of tools you owe it to yourself to do what Chesse suggested and make darn sure that you are covered.  The suggestions others online have are meaningless if your insurance carrier sees things differently.

 

[whitesys]

One additional thing to think about...
Use a cloud based file storage/backup to save a copy of your documentation/photos separate from your home.
A fire could destroy both your tools and your documentation.

 

[six-point socket]

...have a long conversation with your agent and ask probing questions up front. Take pictures, keep receipts, record serial numbers and if in doubt, consider an insurance rider with full replacement value.

Remember, your focus is that you just want your tools returned, however the adjuster's focus is damage control.

Exactly!!!! And if still in doubt, it's not uncommon, at least in Germany, to have the insurance company issue a letter to you that states that A, B, C, D ... is insured under your policy.

Kind regards,
Oliver