Creating a Home Inventory List

As anyone who has experienced the loss of their home and property will tell you, making an inventory of your belongings AFTER they are gone can be extremely difficult and stressful. While it may seems tedious and unnecessary, a complete and detailed home inventory list could prove invaluable in the event of a partial or total loss of your home and belongings.

How to Create Your  Home Inventory List

Here are few tips to get started:

• Start now! The thought of making a list of everything in your home may be overwhelming but just start somewhere. Perhaps start with your recent purchases and then work backwards.
• Most Valuable Items. Check the value of items such as jewelry, art, antiques, etc…and consider additional coverage for high value property items.
• Take photos or video. Photos can help keep track of your belongings and provide a visual record of your possessions. Even better, make a video of each room, closet, cupboard in your house.
• Create a digital inventory. Whether on a spreadsheet or inventory app, make a list room-by-room of everything you own.
• Store it in a safe place. If your inventory is digital, you can store it in an online database. If not, keep it at a friend’s/relative’s house or in a safety deposit box.
• Update it. It is much easier to keep track of your belongings as you purchase them. Make sure once you have your inventory cataloged to add new property as you acquire it.

In the event of the loss of your home, having a complete record of your personal property to give to your insurance agent will greatly simplify the claims process and reduce the stress of a very difficult situation.