How to Make a Home Inventory

A good home inventory is something you can use under stress. It doesn't need to be fancy, but it should answer what you owned, where it was and what replacing it would cost.

What to do first

Work room by room. Capture photos or short videos, note serial numbers for electronics, and record important purchases. Store a copy somewhere accessible even if your phone or laptop is lost.

How the insurance question fits

Open a kitchen drawer, a closet or a box under the bed. Those areas show how easily small belongings add up; don't limit the inventory to expensive electronics and furniture.

A realistic situation

A list prepared after a loss can be harder to support. Do not keep the only copy on a device located in the insured apartment.

Mistakes that can delay progress

When was the inventory last updated? Are jewelry and collectible values documented? Does the total align with your property limit?

Make the inventory reusable

Include room, description, brand, approximate age, purchase price or replacement estimate, and a photo if possible. A spreadsheet is useful, but a simple video walkthrough is better than having no records.

A short checklist

• Compare the issued policy and declarations page, not just the summary shown in a quote.
• Keep written records, receipts and photographs when they would help establish what you own or what occurred.
• Confirm exclusions, special property limits and deductibles before assuming a particular loss will be paid.

Sources and further reading

• NAIC: U.S. state insurance departments
• NAIC: actual cash value versus replacement cost
• California insurance department: residential insurance consumer guide