Could you visualize what you have in your dining room, kitchen, or basement if a fire destroyed your home? A photo inventory is the easiest and best way to document your possessions for insurance purposes. These pictures can help you get the maximum reimbursement and save you bundles!

Make a checklist of items to photograph Make a list to be sure you photograph everything. This includes all the property you own—house, barn, garage, swimming pool; inside every room, including the basement, attic, and garage; inside kitchen cupboards, cabinets, and closets. Don't forget electronic items and tools, and close-ups of expensive items that might increase in value, like jewelry, antiques, paintings, and fine china.

Develop a photographic inventory Room-by-room, develop a photographic inventory to document your possessions. On the back of the prints, record the cost and purchase dates of the items. Save a set of prints or a CD of them outside your house, such as at a bank or a relative's house that isn't near yours.

Use a simple background An uncluttered background focuses attention on the subject, resulting in a stronger picture. Place your subject against a plain, non-distracting background. Alternatively, sometimes just moving yourself (and the camera) a few feet one way or the other can eliminate distractions from view.

Fill the frame For a close-up view of small objects or details, shoot at your camera's closest focusing distance. Some cameras have a close-up (or "macro") setting or accept accessory close-up lenses. Check the camera manual. If the subject still isn't big enough, you can crop and enlarge it on a Kodak picture maker. With a digital camera, shoot at the highest resolution and then crop the picture in the computer.

Get close Fill the camera's viewfinder or LCD display with your subject to create pictures with greater impact. Step in close or use your camera's zoom to emphasize what is important and exclude the rest. Check the manual for your camera's closest focusing distance.

Take lots of pictures It's difficult to take a picture of an entire room and not leave anything out. So, stand in different corners of the room and snap away. Take individual pictures of each valuable item, like a dresser, jewelry, or a painting, to capture more detail.

In today's real estate market, sellers need additional advice on how to cost effectively prepare their homes to sell quickly. With an abundance of homes on the market, waiting several months to sell a home many sellers in financial distress. Here are some quick and inexpensive tip to prepare a home to show and sell: Focus on outdoor aesthetics: Cut back overgrown shrubs and plants. Hose down a dusty, dirty house. Sweep the driveway, sidewalks, and stairs. COST: $0.00 Eliminate odors: Before showing the house, open windows to let in fresh air; use air fresheners or baking soda to rid odors; sprinkle baking soda on the carpet and leave for at least ten minutes to make carpets smell clean. COST: about $15.00 Wash Windows: Purchase a window cleaning product to avoid professional costs. Clean windows make a home look well kept and outdoor views more crisp. COST: about $25.00 In addition to the above, consider a pre-listing inspection; an inspection conducted prior to putting the home on the market. These early inspections aid homeowners in identifying problems that easily be fixed. For example, existing electrical, heating or plumbing systems may need to be upgraded, or mold growth in the basement may require professional attention. The home inspector can also suggest additional work to be done and what can be postponed. Remember, a home inspector is an objective, third party consultant who does not stand to profit from work suggested. A good assessment of the current state of the home and its systems will allows for more accurate planning and estimating homeowners prepare to sell.