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Brought to you by the National Association of Realtors

Our Mission.

You care about your home. The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® cares about homeownership. To help you become the best, most responsible homeowner you aspire to be, we want to provide you with free information and tools you can use to make smart and timely decisions about your home.

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Author Profiles

Gwen Moran

Gwen Moran has been writing about business, finance, and real estate for more than a decade. Her work has been published by Entrepreneur, Newsweek.com, Financial Planning, and The Residential Specialist. A Jersey Shore resident, she has weathered hurricanes, Nor'easters, and even one small earthquake.

Articles by this author

Woman sorting photos to find images of damaged house

Home Inventory: Value Your Possessions After a Loss

Use these tactics to create a home inventory after a casualty loss to support an insurance claim. Read More

Progress K
Effort Low 1-2 days (document losses)
Investment Low $250-$500 (appraiser fee)
Added to Binder
Couple making a home inventory list

Create a Home Inventory for Insurance

Create a home inventory before disaster strikes to make filing an insurance claim a smoother process. Read More

Progress K
Effort Low 1 day (home inventory)
Investment Low $150 (digital camcorder)
Added to Binder
Man using a camcorder to record home inventory

Compile a Home Inventory with the Right Tools

A home inventory of your belongings for insurance purposes is a relatively inexpensive way to make any future claims go smoother. Read More

Progress K
Effort Low 1 day (home inventory)
Investment Low $150-$300 (fireproof safe)
Added to Binder
House destroyed by storm

Tax Deductions for Disaster-Related Losses

Special tax deductions for disaster-related losses can benefit homeowners hit by federally declared disasters. Read More

Progress $ K
Save Money Med $363 (on $100,000 AGI)
Effort Med 1 wk (paperwork)
Investment Med $500-$3,000 (tax-prep fees)
Added to Binder
Boarding up broken windows after flood

What to Do in the First 24 Hours After a Flood

After flood waters subside, document, work with your insurer, and clean up safely. Read More

Progress K
Effort High 1 wk-6 mos
Investment Low $300-$650+ (tools, supplies)
Added to Binder
Flood waters surrounding blue house

Protect Yourself and Your Home from Flooding

Few places in the country are considered free from flooding, so protect your home and family. Read More

Progress K
Effort Low 1 day-1 wknd
Investment Low $380-$785
Added to Binder
Roof heating cables to prevent ice dams

Protect Your Home from Cold-weather Threats

The right tools and pre-winter maintenance will ensure that your home and your family are safe and from cold-weather threats. Read More

Progress $ K
Save Money Med $350/yr (seal leaks)
Effort Low 3 hrs-1 wknd (winterize)
Investment Low $157-$467 (winterizing supplies)
Added to Binder
Palm tree waving in hurricane

The Right Disaster Insurance for Your Region

The region in which you live dictates what kind of disaster insurance you might need to protect your home from Mother Nature’s wrath. Read More

Progress K
Effort Low 1-2 days
Investment Low $540/yr (avg flood premium)
Added to Binder
Fallen tree in front of yellow Colonial-style house

Insuring Against Natural Disasters

Your homeowners insurance covers many of life’s disasters, just not some natural disasters like earthquakes and floods, so consider supplemental policies. Read More

Progress K
Effort Low 4-5 hrs
Investment Low $540/yr (avg flood premium)
Added to Binder
Home destroyed by natural disaster

Understand Disaster Insurance Claims

The secret to filing a successful disaster insurance claim is getting prepared long before catastrophe actually strikes your home. Read More

Progress K
Effort Low 1 day (home inventory)
Investment Low $50/mo (data storage)
Added to Binder