Lessons from down under

The time to be prepared is NOW. That's the message Andrew Goodfellow of Aussie Home Inventory recently posted on his blog. He stated, "When it comes to preparing our properties for loss, it is often human nature to assume it will not happen, or there is a very small chance it may. What do we do, we simply take the gamble! On one hand we assume a disaster may occur, as we insure our property against loss. But on the other, what do we do to lessen the events interaction, with our lives and property? Often little! We need to change that pattern of no action. The time for change and action, is NOW!"

I can't agree with him more. Andrew and I have had many Twitter and email discussions about the need for personal property inventories and the sadness we hear from those who don't have one and wish they had. Following is additional information from Andrew's perspective from "down under":

Preparing for loss before an event is so much easier, than after one. Ask anyone whom has suffered a loss, what it is like preparing for another disaster! They will state something similar to:

• We wish we had prepared beforehand, but for some reason we were always to busy, and never got around to it!
• It may sound silly, but we thought it would not happen to us!
• Preparing for loss after a loss, brings back so many of those emotional memories, it is not easy! The cost of preparing after a loss, just costs so much more! Emotionally & financially!
• It just makes sense to be prepared before the loss, we wish we had got around to it!
• We would do anything to turn the clock back, and be prepared for that same loss!
• We learned the hard way, we would have to be stupid now, not to be prepared.
• It's not worth the risk, being unprepared.
• It only takes a little time and money to increase preparation tenfold. Why would we now, not prepare our family and home!
• If I had one last breath left, I would say to all those people whom are not prepared - GET PREPARED TODAY! AS YOU DON"T KNOW WHAT TOMORROW HOLDS!

Andrew's statements are sobering, but obviously comments heard 'round the world.