A home inventory can help you ensure that you have adequate insurance in the event of catastrophe and can help you verify your losses.

A home inventory is a complete record of your belongings, including their purchase date and approximate value. A complete inventory can help you identify items that may be difficult to document after damage, especially smaller items, and can serve as a starting place when you report a claim.

Home Inventory Options

Video

Complete a video inventory by walking through your home or apartment and narrating the items in each room.

Photo

Create a photo inventory by taking photographs of your items, including serial numbers, and creating an album of your home’s contents.

Online

Online inventory templates or smartphone apps are available to document your belongings. These resources may provide useful checklists to ensure you do not miss anything and may even allow you to store a copy of your information in the digital “cloud” so you can access the information even if your computer or phone is lost or damaged.

Be Thorough

Whatever method you choose, go room by room, taking note of each item’s value, serial number (if applicable), unique design details and date of purchase. If you have receipts for the items, keep copies with your inventory documentation.

Keep Your Inventory Safe

Store a copy of your inventory in a safe place outside of your home (in the “cloud,” in a safe deposit box, etc.). You also may want to keep a copy with your other important financial information (home insurance policy, mortgage documents, bank information, etc.). Consider storing electronic copies of these documents on an external storage device (portable hard drive or thumb drive) or cloud service so you have one go-to location following a loss.

Update Regularly

Once you have completed your home inventory, set a calendar reminder to update it quarterly or whenever you make a major purchase, such as a new TV or refrigerator. Your inventory also can help you perform your annual insurance policy review by helping you and your agent more easily determine the value of your personal property and evaluate whether your policy coverages are adequate.