What Is a Home Inventory List?
A home inventory list is a list of the items or personal belongings you have in your home. The list can be categorized by room, type of item, collection, or other relevant criteria. A home inventory list should include as much of the following information for the items as possible:
Description of the itemMake, model, or serial number if applicableAppraisals or cost at the time of purchaseWhere the item was purchasedDate of purchase Receipts or photos in an attachment, if relevantEstimated replacement cost if you were to buy today
When to Make a Home Inventory List
The best time to make a home inventory list is now. Even a basic list is better than nothing and will give you a head start on a claim. If you are a first-time homebuyer or getting your first apartment or condo, having a list or going through the process of starting one will also help you understand: Insurance has certain limits on what will and won’t be covered for some items. Just because you have an item on a list, that doesn’t mean you will get paid for it. Special limits also exist for particular categories of merchandise. You may need to purchase an insurance rider for items such as jewelry.
Why Do You Need a Home Inventory List?
The main reason to have a home inventory list is to be able to prove your loss and get paid the most money by your insurance company if you have to make a claim. If you miss items on your list or don’t know the details, you might not get paid enough money, or you might not get compensated at all. When you have a major claim, it can be difficult to remember everything, because so much is going on. Having a list ready means one fewer thing to think about.
The Easiest Way to Start a Home Inventory
There are many home inventory apps available to help, but the easiest way to start your home inventory is by walking through your home and capturing video. A video alone will not be enough in a home insurance claim, but if you have one, you can use it as a reference to make an itemized list, and it can serve as part of your “proof of loss.” Take a video of all the rooms in your home, one at a time. If you have large items, consider a video of the serial numbers and models of these items. Open drawers and closets, and record the contents in a way that you can see what is there. If you have a liquor cabinet, wine cellar, art, collections of any kind, or even a jewelry box, take video.
Photos vs. Video: Create a Digital Home Inventory List
Taking photos of what you own is a good practice and can also serve as your starting point for making a home inventory. Do the same thing as with a video: take photos of entire rooms, specific areas, drawers, closets, and items. If items have model numbers or serial numbers, take photos of those, then use them to create your home inventory list as soon as you have time. The video is a great first step, and it will offer some protection until you have the time to document everything in a more formal app. Having something on hand (even photos) during a claim is better than nothing.
Figure Out the Value of What You Own
Besides having a list of items to give the insurance company to get compensated in a claim, knowing the value of your stuff is important to help you figure out whether you have the right insurance and how much coverage you need on your contents. Consider the amount of replacement cost and not actual cash value. This is also a good time to ask your insurance company what the basis of claims settlement would be, and whether you would get replacement cost. If not, it’s a good time to review your insurance coverage, because no one wants to be surprised to find out that they won’t get enough money to replace their items if a claim happens. Learn about replacement cost vs. actual cash value and why it’s important to know the difference.
Don’t Think What You Have Is Worth Much?
One quick way to figure out whether what you have is even worth making a home inventory of is to walk around one room of your home with a calculator. The value of the “stuff in your home” may surprise you. Not convinced? Try the five-minute calculator challenge. Start adding up on your calculator the replacement cost of anything you see. Don’t list the great sale price you paid; list what it costs full-price, because in a claim you won’t be guaranteed to find a deal like you did when you picked up the item originally. How much did you end up with in five minutes? Still not convinced? Go to your closet, and take your calculator with you. Start adding up the replacement value of your shoes, dresses, suits, jeans, purses, sweaters, and t-shirts. Don’t forget your jackets and coats! You probably won’t make it through the whole closet before you realize that the things you own are worth a lot more than you thought. Another room where possessions cost a surprising amount is the kitchen: pots, pans, and other kitchen utensils and tools add up very quickly. Test it for yourself.
Free Home Inventory Apps and Other Digital Tools
Many tools are available that will help you collect all of the information you would need to make a home inventory list that would hold up in a claim. You can also search in your app store to find other options. Be sure to read the reviews before downloading any home inventory app. Make sure any app you choose allows you the chance to export lists and information, so you won’t lose everything if the company stops making the product or app.
Keep Your Home Inventory List Safe and Accessible
Having a home inventory is important, but keeping it in your home might not be the best idea. Technology provides options to store information in the cloud or a place accessible from anywhere at any time. It’s no longer necessary to keep a home inventory in a safe deposit box or give a copy to a friend. (Of course, you still can if you choose.) Make sure that you:
Understand the privacy settings and security of the service you chooseKeep your information private and not publicly accessibleKeep your home address off your inventory list—in case it falls into the wrong handsConsider putting your insurance policy number and claims phone number on the form, so you can also use it to report a claim Research the service you are using and determine whether it is reliableGive access to the principal adult members of the home in case one person is not available when you need the information, for any reason
You can consider secure cloud file storage services to save your video and pictures, then append a detailed list once it’s ready. Just make sure you have any info backed up somewhere other than your cell phone or home computer, and somewhere besides your home. Some people keep a copy at their office. You’ll need it available if you’re in an emergency, and you’ll want to make sure it is stored securely and remains private.
