Evaluate the general condition of your property. Could some repairs be made now that might prevent future losses? For instance, are your sidewalks deteriorating, crumbling and covered with debris? Does your roof need new shingles? Are your porch steps uneven and in need of repair? These are just a few examples of prevention measures that could be taken now to avoid potentially costly losses in the future.

Make an itemized list of your household's personal property. Include the date, cost and where the items were purchased (receipts are a good source for this information), brand name, model and serial numbers. Although this may seem like a tedious exercise now, this list will save you many hours of difficult work after a personal property loss.

Many policyholders obtain a video camera and visually document the house and its belongings while walking through each room, narrating items of importance as they go (remember to open and videotape all closets and drawers). This serves as a visual reminder of the items contained in a room, at least at that specific date, should you need to review the footage after the loss. Be sure to keep a copy of the tape off site, perhaps in a safe deposit box. If video equipment isn't available, just take some pictures with a camera to assist with the documentation.

Keep your agent or company notified of any developments associated with the claim. For instance, if someone is injured on your property and you receive legal documents from the other party, provide these to your insurance company immediately. Keep in mind that your homeowners insurance policy provides coverage for the insurance company to defend if you are sued as a result of such a claim.

Try to protect the property from further loss by making temporary repairs to the damaged property. For example, if a tree has fallen and damaged your wall, try to cover the damaged area with wood or plastic to prevent any further damage to the property or items inside the building.

If the loss has forced you to obtain a temporary residence, be sure to inform the insurance company. Most homeowners insurance policies provide for additional living expenses, as well as paying for repairs and damage to personal possessions.

Don't throw any damaged property away unless instructed to do so by the adjuster. And to save time, you may want to start getting written repair bids from licensed contractors, but don't begin the repair process unless instructed to do so by the adjuster.