Ep 025 – Out of Sight, Out of Mind – Inventory Your Storage Unit

Summary:
In this episode of Be a Smarter Homeowner, Beth Dodson and John Bodrozic dive into a topic you might not think about often — what’s hiding inside your storage unit or other outbuildings? Whether it’s transitional moves, seasonal gear, heirlooms, or forgotten treasures, too many people lose track of what they own simply because it’s out of sight.

Beth and John break down why it’s critical to inventory your storage units, sheds, barns, or other structures — and how doing so can save you money, protect your investments, and ease the burden on your family in the future. They share real-life stories (including some pretty wild finds!), practical tips for getting started with a simple photo inventory, and why HomeZada makes managing all these spaces easier than ever.

You’ll also hear how taking just a few hours upfront can prevent the costly mistakes of duplicate purchases, lost heirlooms, and even unwanted appearances on shows like Storage Wars!

This is a must-listen if you have any kind of off-site or extra storage — and even if you think you don’t! Chances are, you’ve got more stored away than you realize.

Keywords

storage units, inventory management, home organization, climate control, estate planning, home inventory, storage solutions, organizing tips, family heirlooms, moving

Takeaways

  • People often forget what they have in storage units.
  • Storage units are used for transitional moves and seasonal items.
  • Climate-controlled storage is important for items like wine and art.
  • Documenting items helps avoid duplicate purchases.
  • An inventory can assist in estate planning and passing on belongings.
  • Taking photos of items can simplify inventory management.
  • Hiring professionals can ease the burden of inventorying storage units.
  • Organizing storage units can save time in the long run.
  • Understanding what’s in storage can prevent unnecessary expenses.
  • Communication with heirs about storage contents is crucial.

Sound Bites

  • “I can’t remember what was in them.”
  • “It’s super easy to take an inventory.”
  • “Documenting is a huge reason to inventory.”
  • “You may be able to see large items.”
  • “It’s a waste of money.”
  • “You can hire somebody to do it.”

Chapters

00:40 Introduction to Storage Units and Their Importance

03:27 Reasons for Using Storage Units

06:46 Unique Storage Needs and Climate Control

11:24 The Challenge of Managing Storage Units

13:16 The Importance of Inventorying Storage Units

18:30 Inventorying Other Structures

21:17 The Value of Documenting for Future Generations

24:21 Advice for Managing Storage Units

30:34 Conclusion and Final Thoughts


Ep 023 – Revolutionizing Home Inventory with Generative Photo AI

Summary

In this episode of the Be a Smarter Homeowner podcast, hosts Beth Dodson and John Bodrozic explore the intersection of home inventory management and AI technology. They discuss the importance of understanding fixed assets versus personal property, the significance of photo composition for accurate inventory, and the balance between speed and accuracy in documenting home contents. The conversation also highlights real-life applications of HomeZada’s AI features, demonstrating how homeowners can efficiently create detailed inventories for insurance and estate planning purposes. In this conversation, Beth Dodson and John Bodrozic explore the innovative features of Home Inventory AI, focusing on how it simplifies the process of managing home assets. They discuss the importance of photo composition for accurate inventory tracking, the power of AI in recognizing items and tracking warranties, and the convenience of finding manuals and managing documents. The conversation emphasizes the significance of keeping receipts and educating homeowners about their assets, ultimately showcasing how technology can streamline home management.

Keywords

home inventory, AI technology, fixed assets, personal property, photo composition, speed vs accuracy, HomeZada, estate planning, homeowner AI, insurance claims, Home Inventory, AI Technology, Warranty Tracking, Document Management, Home Maintenance, Smart Home, Homeowners, Asset Management, Home Organization, Home Automation

Takeaways

  • Home inventory is essential for managing home details.
  • AI technology can simplify the home inventory process.
  • Understanding fixed assets versus personal property is crucial.
  • Photo composition affects AI’s ability to recognize items.
  • Speed and accuracy are both important in inventory management.
  • Involving family can make inventory tasks more enjoyable.
  • AI can process photos quickly and accurately.
  • Detailed inventories aid in insurance claims and estate planning.
  • HomeZada’s AI features enhance the inventory experience.
  • Creating an inventory can prevent duplicate purchases.  Home Inventory AI can identify items in seconds.
  • Photo composition is crucial for accurate inventory.
  • AI helps track warranties and replacement dates.
  • Finding manuals is simplified with AI technology.
  • Keeping receipts is essential for warranty claims.
  • Homeowners can manage assets more efficiently.
  • AI can educate homeowners about their properties.
  • Document management is streamlined with Home Inventory AI.
  • The importance of being prepared for home emergencies.
  • Technology can significantly reduce time spent on home management.

Sound Bites

Sound Bites

“Where do I start?”

“Speed versus accuracy.”

“You brought up a good point.”

“The power continues.”

“I can’t believe it. Like 10 seconds.”

“Amazing! Again, in less than 10 seconds.”

“This just makes my life so easy.”

“You need to know all that information.”

Chapters

Chapters

00:40 Introduction to Home Inventory and AI

03:35 Understanding Fixed Assets vs Personal Property

06:42 The Importance of Photo Composition

09:41 Speed vs Accuracy in Home Inventory

12:51 Real-Life Applications of Home Inventory AI

15:40 Demonstrating HomeZada’s AI Features

18:44 Maximizing Detail in Home Inventory

21:35 Estate Planning and Long-Term Benefits of Inventory

22:50 Introduction to Home Inventory AI

25:32 Understanding Photo Composition for Inventory

27:35 AI Recognition and Warranty Tracking

30:40 Finding Manuals and Document Management

34:50 The Importance of Keeping Receipts

38:33 Educating Homeowners on Their Assets


Ring in The New Year with a Family Command Center

Modern family life—it isn’t a cakewalk these days. Sometimes it can feel like you’re orchestrating a three-ring circus while juggling flaming torches. 

Between band practice, dentist appointments, work deadlines, and remembering to buy more toilet paper, keeping everything straight is enough to make anyone’s head spin. But here’s the good news: there’s a solution that can bring order to the chaos, and it’s called a family command center.

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Kickstart Your Year with a Tidy Home: Easy Tips for New Year Organization

If one of your resolutions for this year is to get more organized, the following strategies and insights will help you leverage the motivation that often accompanies the start of a new year.

By reflecting on the past year and setting achievable goals, you can create a more functional living space, helping you knock that resolution off your list!

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Trends in Those that Hire Professional Organizers

Do you feel like your home needs some help because you have crowded areas like drawers and closets? With the new year, are you considering some organizational techniques for your home? Maybe you are considering decluttering or refreshing your space resulting in out with the old and in with the new. It turns out that StorageCafe decided to conduct a study on who is the most likely to use professional organizers to help organize their home.

Here are their findings.

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