Keep track of my things

A few tips for starting a collection and how to maintain it

2010-08-27T13:37:00.001-07:00

It is always advisable to research an item to find what price range it is in before you start a collection. There is no need to collect as an investment, unless you are extremely sure that your investment won’t depreciate. It is best though to rather collect something that is close to you emotionally, like collecting perfume bottles that you find beautiful or crested spoons from cities you’ve visited or as a musician, collecting vintage guitars. It does not matter what you choose to collect, as long as you have a passion for it. If there is no passion for your collection you are just wasting your time.

You should find someone in your area that sells or has their own collection that you are interested in. That way you can see firsthand what the items look like before you start buying them. Familiarise yourself with the different characteristics and flaws, or potential problems that these items have so that you can recognize a better quality product when purchasing, especially online. It is extremely important that you learn about the local prices of the items you wish to purchase as this will help you to find the real bargains when buying from online traders and need to add shipping and/or import costs.

Make sure the item you are buying is the genuine article. Do some research and check with collecting clubs to see if the item is commonly reproduced and find out how to tell the reproduction from the real item before you find yourself wasting money on fakes.

Once you start your collection make sure you are looking after it correctly. Find out how the items react to changing temperature or direct sunlight. Some items might need to be stored in an acid-free paper of some sort or carefully packed or stored to prevent delicate collectables from chipping or breaking. Some collectables might need periodic maintenance or cleaning, make sure you know the correct way to do this and what products to use when cleaning.

Try and find a reference book for your particular collection. This should help you immensely with instructions on how to recognize a good quality product and should help you with how to look after your collection. One of the most important issues that collectors have is keeping an up-to-date catalog of all their collectables. Make sure you start cataloguing every item as you purchase it. This will help you to keep track of what is in your collection, what is missing from your collection and will make sure you always have an updated list when buying new items for your collection. Eliminating the chance of mistakenly buying an item you already have. If you wait till you have a decent sized collection before you start you catalog you will only be discouraged by the amount of information you need to capture. That is not to say that if you have a collection you shouldn’t start a catalog of your collection, the sooner you start your catalog the more organized you will be.

Mostly, just have fun. Your collection is there for your enjoyment.

Making money organizing collections for the collectors

2010-08-16T11:31:00.000-07:00

Many collectors search for ways to catalog their collections, either with bought software or with a web application. Many of those with large collections or those with many different types of collections don’t have the time to correctly catalog every item. If you have the time to catalog their collections for them, they will gladly pay for your services.

Some collectors might not even be aware of what they exactly own or what parts of their collections are missing. It is even less likely that they will be aware of the individual information for each item. A collector of cars might know what vehicles are in his garage, but he most likely won’t know the registration for each car or when the licences need renewing. Of course all this information is easily accessible if the collector can walk into his garage and check each vehicle, but he probably doesn’t have the time to do so.

If the collector has all his information on paper or on his computer this information is vulnerable to loss. Most collectors keep their collections and all the relevant information in a safe place, but the information is still only accessible if they are actually there. If a collector is travelling and finds an item for their collection, it is very difficult to have to remember if you already have the item or not. Having their information available to them wherever they are will become an invaluable tool for the collector.

It might also be efficient for the collector to have a secure place where other collectors or appraisers can view the collections without having to move the collection around or without having to have someone travel in order to see the collection. Having a collection on a website that is secure and accessible anywhere in the world like Keeptrackofmythings.com will help the collector to manage every collection from the comfort of their laptop.

Homeowners moving checklist

2010-07-14T07:41:00.000-07:00

At some stage we find ourselves having to move our possessions from one house to another. Whether you are moving everything in your home or just want to rearrange items from one property to another it is always a task to catalog your possessions for the move. Knowing what you have in each room of your house before you move will dramatically help you when the time comes to relocate.

There are usually so many other things that need your attention, so most items just get moved without knowing exactly what is arriving at the new property. Moving large appliances usually means that the user manuals won’t be attached to them just left in a drawer somewhere waiting to be thrown out. This way when your appliances arrive at their new home, there are no instructions on how they should be installed or cleaned. Bedding and curtains are usually moved without assigning them to any specific room and are put into the “I’ll sort that out later” pile, until they arrive at the new property and end up being in the way instead of being taken to the rooms where they are needed.

Cataloguing your entire home at once when you’re already decided to move is an extremely daunting process. Starting slowly and taking the time to catalog all your possessions before you find yourself ‘needing it and not having it’, is the smart thing to do. Having a complete list of every item that is already in every room of your home will help you see the bigger picture and will help you to have peace of mind instead of adding more stress to an already stressful situation, so when you need to move you now only need to print out an existing list for each room.

But what about the new home? Starting to catalog you new home before you move in will also help you immensely in the long run. Start recording all the details like the type of paint or tiles used their serial numbers and where they were purchased. Having this information stored, you can then forget about it knowing that the information will never be lost and you will be able to access it at any time from any computer from anywhere in the world. Once this is done you can start moving the items in your catalog from one property to the other, with ease.

“Where is it exactly that a catalog like this can be started”? Only at Keeptrackofmythings.com, the only website that offers you the largest platform available to catalog most anything you could want to. User friendly with online support, Keeptrackofmythings.com helps your store your information in a secure “online vault” where you can access all your information from any computer anywhere in the world.

Natural disasters eliminates home contents

2010-07-11T05:05:00.000-07:00

At every time of the year there is a natural disasters happening somewhere on the planet. Some more noteworthy than other, but potentially everyone as problematic as the next. If you are cautious when it comes to storms you might take preventative measures like purchasing a NOAA Radio to keep you informed of impending storms in your ares. But what if a storm does hit your area, how do you ensure that the home contents that are destroyed are not completely eliminated from your life? Using a site like Keeptrackofmythings.com could ensure that you have a properly recorded list of you possessions and all their relevant information.

Remembering the little things

2010-07-10T10:16:00.000-07:00

Most households these days are complex entities, with a large amount of things that need to be kept in check. I’m not just talking about the people that live in the house but the house itself and all it consists of, in the house and outside. Of course one home is already quite a challenge to keep in tune, but there are many people out there with more than one house. Some have three or four, with some of those perhaps in a different country. Even a vacation home that you might get to visit once or twice a year, how do you remember what needs to be done or even remember what is on that property of yours?

Let’s go through just a few items in the house that you will possibly need to keep in check. There is the fridge, it needs to have its filter replaced every few months and it needs to have its gas refilled a few years after it was purchased. If it’s a vacation home, you will have to change the water filter in the fridge every time you visit. If you have an extractor fan in any of your kitchens you will need to replace these filters also on a regular basis or have someone come in to clean them (depending on which type you have). Then you might have water filters in your kitchen or bathrooms, how could you possibly remember when each one expires?

Let us quickly look at the outside of the house. If you have a pool or a Jacuzzi, they also have filters that require cleaning and sometimes replacing. But there are many things that need attention, not just changing filters. If you have wood fencing, they will need to be sealed on a regular basis. And if your house has been painted with a waterproof paint, this will have a limited lifespan and will need to be redone every few years. If you have multiple homes, could you remember exactly when last each of your houses was painted? Do you know when last each of the roofs was painted, or when last the outdoor tiles had been sealed? What if you have a boat jetty, can you remember when that was last varnished?

There are many little maintenance issues that constantly need to be addressed and it is impossible for someone to remember all the details of every part of every house they own. These few items that I have mentioned here are just the largest of items that need to be constantly maintained and there are many different things in many other houses that I could not even imagine would need some kind of attention from the owner at some or other time. As we all know, the more houses you have the more time you spend on work that pays for it all and this means that you have even less time to remember all there finer details.

Having all this information stored online, you can have access to every households contents and their relevant information. With Keeptrackofmythings.com all this information and more can be safely stored for you look at and alter from any computer from anywhere in the world and you can have email reminders sent to you for each item that needs your attention, when you need it. Once your information is in Keeptrackofmythings.com, you will never need to worry about forgetting anything ever again.

Home inventory lists for insurance claims.

2010-07-08T04:05:00.000-07:00

Searching on the Internet I found quite a few sites that offer “home inventory lists” for insurance claims that I could print and use as a template to record all the possessions I wanted for each room. These lists come with some common items like televisions and lounge suites already printed on the page with areas for the other information about the item you would want to put down. These lists also leave open a few lines for the objects you might have that they have not accounted for. Usually there is enough space to record the most basic of items, but mostly just the most important items will be recorded and the smaller items will be left off the list or dismissed as “not as important” as items like your television.

Once you’ve gone through the trouble of finding the correct pages you need and have downloaded and printed them, now starts the daunting task of cataloguing all you have. This is a tedious task, especially if you have been living in a house for a few years and are only starting to catalog your possessions. If you are moving into a new home this will be the best time to record all you have and save yourself from information overload at a later stage. Updating a list of your possessions is very easy if you load the information as you get it instead of leaving it for a later stage. The longer you put this task off for, the longer and more tedious it will become.

The most time consuming task must be to have to write down everything. Combing through all your past receipts and files to find what things cost and what their serial numbers were is something that should be done, at least for your most expensive possessions, but it should essentially be done for every item that you care to prove the cost of or wish to keep detailed information of. Once you’ve made a list of all your things and written down all the serial numbers and other information, you then need to ensure you have copies of all your receipts and that you’ve attached then to the forms that you used to catalog them on.

There is one BIG flaw with cataloguing your information on some insurance form you’ve downloaded or even some kind of software that you might have bought and installed on your home computer. If by some chance your house is destroyed by a natural disaster, what happens to all the files and receipts you’ve put together or the home computer with the software on? All that information could be lost just as easy as the possessions they catalog. Of course you could have made copies of all your papers or loaded the software onto another computer and logged everything onto that one too. But I doubt that most people would want to go through this process twice, even if it is “just for in-case”.

Capturing all this information is crucial for an insurance claim, and the more information you have on an item the more you can prove its value. The question still remains of where do you store all this information? Keeptrackofmythings.com helps your store your information in a secure “online vault” where you can access all your information from any computer anywhere in the world. Losing your possessions and not being able to prove what you had and what each item cost can only be your own fault. Start now, and get it done sooner.

Homeowners taking inventory.

2010-07-02T07:35:00.000-07:00

If you have just moved into a new household, starting a new inventory list can be a painless process. However, if you want to start creating a list of your possessions when you have been living in the same house for many years, the process can seem a little overwhelming. It is still recommended to have an incomplete or partial inventory list than not having one at all. Start with your contacts, names and numbers of the builders, plumbers, interior decorator, the store where you purchased your lounge suite ect, this will help you to assign contacts to your possessions when you load them.

Before a natural disaster strikes and you're faced with losing all your possessions, make a home inventory list, scan in documents and take pictures of the contents of each room in your home. Could you remember all your possessions and would you be able to make a list of each item in each room of every house you own? Yes it can be a daunting task to start a list, but each item you add is another item you don’t have to worry about. Loading documents, certificates or any other relevant information with each item gives you a better chance of capturing the value of the item. Adding side notes can also help you in the future when extra information is needed.

Once you’ve activated then channels you require, you can create your houses and the rooms in all of them. You can either start with the contents of the house, or with the building itself. If you are starting with the building, you could start adding in the type of paint used on the outside walls, or what type of gutters were installed who installed it and when. Almost all the information loaded is supported with a dropdown menu to make cataloguing quicker and easier. You get to choose how much information is loaded, the more you put in the more you get out. If you are starting with the interior you could start with the light fittings or the furniture. Any books, toys, televisions or DVD’s can be loaded into a single room with information on each item.

I personally took digital pictures of each item in each room first. Then I was able to sit with my laptop and add just the basic information for each item and a picture. When that was done I realised that most of the house was done already. I was then able to “fill in the blanks” for each room and on some occasions elaborate on some items I had loaded earlier. Within a week I could see my house take form as I loaded more information in each day and I found that I had possessions I had totally forgotten about and had real value. Of course it’s an ongoing process, but at least now I only need to update now and again. I am also able to get email reminders sent to me whenever a pool filter needs to be changed or a firearm needs to be relicensed.

Capturing all this information is crucial for an insurance claim, and the more information you have on an item the more you can prove its value. The question still remains of where do you store all this information? If you store it on your home computer and your home gets destroyed, all your information is lost. If you were able to retrieve your information from the internet through the software package you bought and installed on your home computer, then when your home is destroyed you still can’t access your information. Keeptrackofmythings.com helps your store your information in a secure “online vault” where you can access all your information from any computer anywhere in the world.

How does cataloguing my possessions and personal information help me?

2010-07-01T05:49:00.000-07:00

A common question asked. Yet we all find ourselves in an increasingly over-cluttered life when it comes to our relevant information for our homes, pets, collections. Who can remember what medication they were taking two years ago and at what dosage? It has become near impossible to remember when the pets next need to see the vet, or when the filters in the pool or fridge need replacing. Updating this kind of information on a daily basis allow a person to be assured that no detail will be forgotten.

If we could go through the items in just one household you would be astonished as to how much information is being lost that could be vital in the future. When you had your home built, did you file away all the receipts for every item installed? Could you easily find the make, model and colour for every tile in your home? Could you find the part number that will help you replace a broken tap? The glass covering of you designer lights, if one broke, would you be able to get a replacement without at least a serial number?

If we look at the maintenance that needs to be done to a normal home, it astonishes me how much needs to be done, and remembered to be done. What happens when you replace the pool filter? Do you throw away the packaging after reading it saying; “oh I’ll remember to change it in 3 months”? Then there are the annual licences that need to be renewed on a certain date. Do you remember every date for every licence, or do you find yourself scrambling to pay things on time or after the time with penalties? Could you name exactly what colour paint was used in each room of your home, could you get a colour match if you needed to repaint?

So far we have only been taking about one house. What if own two or three? Could you really remember all the information to maintain three houses? If you have art hanging in all your homes, and you needed to find a certain piece or even just locate the last appraisal for it, could you? How long would that take you? Would you need to go to each house and check if it is there and then search for the paperwork? What if you have a storeroom at one or two, perhaps all three, of your homes? Do you have a list of everything in each of them? What if you were searching for something in one of them, would it not be better to know exactly where all your possessions are?

If you suffer from information overload and you want a fast, simple and secure way to stay on top of all your information, Keeptrackofmythings.com is the solution you've been looking for. By cataloguing your information on a daily basis you eliminate the struggle of remembering where everything is. Keeptrackofmythings.com can be set to send emails to remind a user of when licences need to be renewed, or when a filter needs to be changed. You’ll even know the relevant information for each item or any side notes you’ve added. Keeptrackofmythings.com is VSP Inc's response to the impact and demands of the information age on ordinary citizens. It was designed to help simplify the management of vital information that is too important to be ignored, floundered, or lost.

Keeping track of your collections and home contents

2010-06-26T08:13:00.000-07:00

If you suffer from information overload and you want a fast, simple and secure way to stay on top of all your information, Keeptrackofmythings.com is the solution you've been looking for. There is no other platform that offers the safety and security of all a person’s relevant information. Keeptrackofmythings.com is VSP Inc's response to the impact and demands of the information age on ordinary citizens. It was designed to help simplify the management of vital information that is too important to be ignored, floundered, or lost.

Unlike current collection software, with Keeptrackofmythings.com you do not need to load any software on to any of your computers to use the service. The information however is available from any computer (with internet access) with just the username and password. Keeptrackofmythings.com gives you complete control by organizing everything at a level of detail you choose; including style, model and serial numbers...colors, sizes, and so much more...along with manufacturer, supplier and installer contact information. You can also keep a running log of notes, so you don't have to remember anything (makes obtaining the information for replacements and repairs a breeze).

Keeptrackofmythings.com caters for all kinds of collections from coins, matchbook covers, firearms, animals ect. If KTOMT does not suit your particular collection, we will customize it for you free of charge. Simple email reminders provide you with timely, advanced notice associated with any item (e.g. motor vehicle inspection), renewal (e.g. driver’s permit) or event (e.g. passport renewal) you choose. Clears your mind of needless clutter, so you have less to worry about. From account numbers to part numbers to digital images of certificates, auto registration, etc...you can store it all and more, anonymously and privately.

There is also provision for any other type of information you might want stored. All your personal possessions from every room of every house you own can be stored in a secure place for your access from anywhere you choose. Any medical information, creating a catalog of the medicine’s you have or still do use. You could even log in the information on all your pets, vet certificates can be loaded in and reminders can be set for their check-ups. “The key is to make the process of archiving one’s possessions as simple and painless as possible. Otherwise, people are not likely to keep their records current, and they could miss out on a good portion of their insurance benefit,“ says, Jan van Zyl, Developer of Keeptrackofmythings.com.

The problem with collection software is that it is limited to one type of collection and they need to be loaded and updated on all the computers you use. Keeptrackofmythings.com has a solution to all these drawbacks. KTOMT.com stores and organizes your sensitive information of any kind—securely and off your premises—away from hazards and preying eyes.

Information lost forever in 2010 Tornado season

2010-06-23T06:55:00.000-07:00

Wisconsin – 135mph winds tore through Eagle on Tuesday destroying 6 homes, and in total, damaging about 100 homes. With heavy rains and high winds expected to follow in by the end of the week all home owners are scrambling to collect whatever information and possessions they still have left.

On Sunday an F1 tornado touched down across Lake Erie near Toledo, Ohio. At least 50 homes were devastated, gutted by the storm in a 100 metre wide band that stretched for 16 kilometres.

Falling trees crushed cars and landed on houses in Leamington, Ont., causing at least 13 homes to be condemned, but town officials expected that number to climb.

Milbury was hit by an F3 tornado with winds between 218 to 265 km/h

Environment Canada confirmed Monday that another F1 tornado touched down Saturday afternoon in eastern Ontario near the Quebec border. "Environment Canada investigators documented extensive damage to barns, grain bins, corn silos, houses and mobile homes, as well as countless broken and uprooted trees," said a posting on its website.

These storms appeared as quickly as they disappeared leaving distressed home owners with the task of recounting what possessions they had and no way to justify them in an insurance claim.

All information kept on paper will be vulnerable to damage and loss, but an online storage site is always available to the user giving them access to all the information they need. Keeptrackofmythings.com stores all your information about your pets, art, collections, medical, passwords, possessions, home contents or any other information you would want to keep safe and accessible.

“The key is to make the process of archiving one’s possessions as simple and painless as possible. Otherwise, people are not likely to keep their records current, and they could miss out on a good portion of their insurance benefit, “says, Jan van Zyl, Developer of KeepTrackOfMyThings.com.

No software downloads. Your information is stored in an online vault that can only be accessed with your username and password from anywhere where you have internet access.

Go to KeepTrackOfMyThings.com for access to a free account.

Stores, Protects and Organizes Your Most Important Information in One Place

2010-06-22T03:17:00.000-07:00

Keep Track Of My Things (KTOMT) is a private online information vault that saves you time and simplifies your life. Here's how…

KTOMT stores and organizes your sensitive information of any kind—securely and off your premises—away from hazards and preying eyes.

From account numbers to part numbers to digital images of certificates, auto registration, etc...you can store it all and more, anonymously and privately.

You get the convenience you want with the security you need...Now your private Information is always at your fingertips—anytime from any Internet connection in the world.

Keep Track Of My Things gives you complete control by organizing everything at a level of detail you choose; including style, model and serial numbers...colors, sizes, and so much more...along with manufacturer, supplier and installer contact information.

Plus, you can keep a running log of notes, so you don't have to remember anything (makes replacements and repairs a breeze).

Simple email reminders provide you with timely, advanced notice associated with any item (e.g. motor vehicle inspection), renewal (e.g. driver’s permit) or event (e.g. passport renewal) you choose. Clears your mind of needless clutter, so you have less to worry

about.

Ultimately, KTOMT eliminates stress by bringing all the information you need to your finger tips, instantly and securely - no matter where you are.

Personal information management

2010-06-16T06:36:00.000-07:00

KTOMT information storage.

“The key is to make the process of archiving one’s possessions as simple and painless as possible. Otherwise, people are not likely to keep their records current, and they could miss out on a good portion of their insurance benefit,“

The interface provides an expandable online form, providing control and organization at a level of detail chosen by the user. Notes can also be added to expand upon any item. To suit unique needs or hobbies, it can also be customized with help by the system's developer at no additional cost.

Homeowners Insurance Alone Often Not Enough to Recover Losses

2010-06-03T11:33:00.000-07:00

Glen Allen, VA, May 21, 2010 – It is the start of a new summer, which can bring devastating storms. Being prepared with an insurance policy can mean the difference between financial survival or ruin. However, insurance is only part of the puzzle. Where most fall short is in the ability to substantiate a claim when the need arises.

Unfortunately, there is not much incentive to maintain a list of every item in the home. Without a fill-in-the-blank structure to organize one’s home contents, the task can be intimidating. The challenge is even greater when one owns multiple homes.

KeepTrackOfMyThings.com (KTOMT) – a private and secure online information vault – has been created to address all these issues and provide additional benefits from maintaining a catalog of all one’s possessions and collections.

KTOMT stores and organizes sensitive information of any kind (securely and off premises) away from hazards and preying eyes. From account numbers to part numbers to digital images of certificates, auto registration and artwork, KTOMT stores it all, anonymously and privately.

Email reminders provide timely, advanced notice associated with any item (e.g. motor vehicle inspection), renewal (e.g. insurance review) or selected event (e.g. passport renewal).

2010-05-02T10:09:00.000-07:00

There is software out there for almost any collection. But keeptrackofmythings is the only website where you can collect anything and everything without wasting money on tons of different software packages. If KTOMT does not suit your particular collection, we will customize it for you at no additional fee! Visit www.KTOMT.com and sign on for free or premium access.

2010-04-29T05:32:00.000-07:00

Keeptrackofmythings.com website is secure and backed up at regular intervals. If your possessions ever become lost, stolen or damaged, you can retrieve and print an inventory list to support insurance claims. Free or Premium access at KTOMT.com

2010-04-28T06:56:00.000-07:00

Do you know what is in your home? What furniture you have? What is the value of the paintings you've bought? Could you easily find the user manuals for your appliances? With keeptrackofmythings.com all this information would be accessible to you in less than 15 minutes. Go to www.KTOMT.com or www.keeptrackofmythings.com and sign up for free.

2010-04-24T04:28:00.000-07:00

I was told recently of someone who found that a glass light cover in their study had broken and they needed to find a replacement. Having recorded the information of the light when it was purchased, they were able to get the relevant serial number and manufacturers details and order a replacement within 15 minutes. No scratching in drawers for lost papers and no need to waste time on a mundane task. Such is the life of the members of keeptrackofmythings. Sign on for free at www.keeptrackofmythings.com or at www.KTOMT.com.

2010-04-22T03:43:00.000-07:00

Do you collect? If you have a collection, you will find that keeptrackofmythings.com will help you catalog any item you collect. If we do not provide for your specific type of collection, we will assist you in developing the best platform for your collection. You can have your collection available to you anywhere you are and you can even invite others to view your collection. Visit us at www.KTOMT.com or www.keeptrackofmythings.com for free access to our website.

Keep track of my things

2010-04-20T04:48:00.000-07:00

This blog is to inform you of a new website designed for the safe digital storage of all your personal information, possessions, collections, pets or any other information a person would want to access via the internet.

We have recently cataloged the contents of an entire hotel. The owners can now access the information without visiting the hotel and have the information and pictures of every item located in every room.

This website is essentially a digital vault that can be used by business owners or home owners that wish to to store their information is a single place for easy access.

There are four levels of access to the site. The lowest level (tracker in waiting) is available free of charge, and updating to the higher levels will save all the information already entered and open more levels to the the user.

In the hectic lifestyles we find ourselves in, this website will remember so you don't have to.

For free access go to http://www.keeptrackofmythings.com