Got Questions?
Please check the list of frequently asked questions below, where we hope you will find the answer. But if not, or if you have a comment or suggestion, please use the form to let us know.
Why Use Smarter Safe?
Smarter Safe makes sense because, if you keep your inventory list in your home, it could be stolen or destroyed along with your other belongings through theft, flood or fire.
Why do I need to keep an inventory?
The main reason for keeping a list of all your belonging is to give you something to use in case of burglary or accidental damage, so that you can let the insurance company and police know what is missing or destroyed.
Another reason to keep a list like this is for when you move home, as it can be a great aid to planning a successful house move. You can give the list to your removal company; add new purchases to the list straight away; use it to decide where to place items in your new home; and then upload it to Smarter Safe.
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I already have an inventory, why bother with Smarter Safe as well?
First off, good for you! It is a hard job making and maintaining an invetory, and you deserve credit for your efforts. Smarter Safe is still a good idea for you if you need somewhere safe to store that precious list, and if you have it in a spreadsheet format, then the Premium Membership bulk upload facility will make it really simple to create your online inventory.
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How does Smarter Safe work?
You have to register to use the site. After registering, you will receive a confirmation at the email address you gave during sign-up. You can then log in and start to add items individually, or use our Smarter Template to create a spreadsheet for uploading several items at once. Please note that this bulk upload feature requires Premium Membership.
Each of your entries can have several items of information added, as well as images or documents, such as an electronic copy of the receipt. Don't worry if you haven't got much technical know-how, we have written a few simple guides to help you get started, and there is also a guide to using Smarter Safe you can see here.
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OK, it's Smart. Is it Safe?
We have worked hard to make Smarter Safe as anonymous and secure as we can for our members. Read more about our methods here.
The one potential loophole would be if you use an email address when you register that has already been linked to other personal information about you, such as your address. To avoid even the slightest chance that you are traceable through an existing email address, you could create a new free email account and use it specifically for the purpose of registering on Smarter Safe.
Other sensible precautions include not sharing your username or password, and not storing them anywhere they may be discovered, such as on your home PC or mobile phone.
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Why are there two Membership Levels?
Smarter Safe offers free membership for everyone, but we thought it would be useful to offer extra features at a reasonable price. The money from Premium Memberships covers the cost of developing and maintaining the site. If you like Smarter Safe, we hope you will tell all your contacts, but if you really like it, and would enjoy those extra benefits, you can buy a Premium Membership for just $25.00 (£15.00, €20.00) a year.
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What is included in Free Membership?
- Smarter Safe Members can use the system to enter up to 20 items using the 'Add Item' form.
- Attach Files or Images
The system allows members to attach one image or electronic document (eg a copy of the receipt) to each item on their inventory. - Edit or Delete
Members are able to update or delete records as often as required.
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What is included in Premium Membership?
Smarter Safe Premium Members can benefit from our extra services:
- Unlimited Items
Premium Members can store unlimited items in their inventory - Extra Attachments
Up to 5 images or electronic documents can be attached to each item. - Smarter Template
lets you download a template, enter all your items using a spreadsheet program like Microsoft Excel®, and then upload the list to your Smarter Safe account. - Price Finder
offers a simple way to check the value of your items on shopping.com - very convenient when it is time to renew your contents insurance. - Auction Item Finder
is a tool to look on eBay for items similar to your own, for example if they have been lost, damaged or stolen. - List Export
lets you export the complete list of your inventory, which may be helpful when:- checking your inventory
- making insurance claims
- reporting stolen items to the police
- renewing your insurance
- having items appraised or valued
- re-modelling or moving home
- making a will
How much is Premium Membership?
Smarter Safe Premium Membership costs just $25.00 (£15.00, €20.00) per year. You can pay quickly and securely online using PayPal. Please note the information you priovide will be encrypted and shared between PayPal and the Smarter Safe website during the transaction. Use the contact form on the right to inquire about alternative payment options.
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Is this really a safe way to track my stuff?
Our first priority was to create a site where people could safely enter their details without fear of creating a burglar's 'dream database'. The only personal item of information required to create your account is an email address: we do not ask for your personal details, especially not your address or location. Your password is encrypted from the very start, and even we can't decipher it!
When you buy a Premium Membership, the payment is processed on PayPal's secure server, and your details are encrypted before they are exchanged between the websites. Only payment confirmation is sent to Smarter Safe from PayPal using a secure connection.
So, you can safely keep and maintain a record of all your things here without worrying that anyone else can access it or work out where you live. Of course, this requires you to keep your username and password safe at all times. Do not store it on your mobile phone or computer, for example.
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