How to Take a Home Inventory

A home inventory of your personal property can seem tedious, but it can save you a lot of time and exhaustion in trying to remember every item in your home in the event of a large-scale loss. For example, if your personal belongings are damaged or destroyed by a covered peril, you may be able to be reimbursed in whole or in part for those items under your homeowner’s policy. However, to be reimbursed, you must be able to accurately inform your insurance carrier of the items that were damaged. Doing so without the benefit of an accurate home inventory could prove to be very difficult. The following tips can be used to help you take your home inventory.

Steps for Taking Your Inventory

• Start somewhere easy that won’t overwhelm you. Starting with a closet or a specific area can help to ease yourself into the process

• When making your list, start with your most recent purchases, taking inventory of the things freshest in your mind.
• Taking pictures and videos throughout your home is a good idea, as it can allow you to rewatch inside your home and see your items later. It can also provide you with evidence of the pre-loss condition of your belongings.

• Include detail about your items. Basic information like make, model, color, serial number, year purchased, and price paid is always helpful. Save receipts and bills of sale for expensive, rare, or collectible items.
• Creating a list or spreadsheet with the entirety of your belongings can help organize what you have.
• Prioritize valuable items. Taking the inventory of every object in your home can be daunting, so prioritizing is important.
• Don’t forget items that may not be at your home, such as items and valuables that may be at a storage facility, a secondary home, or even a family member’s home.
• Update your inventory list yearly and after substantial purchases.

• Keep two copies of your inventory – one with you in your home, and a backup copy in a safe location outside of your home (such as a safe deposit box).
• If you have expensive jewelry, collectibles, antiques, or other rare or valuable items, consider adding a rider or a floater to your policy.

To see what coverages you should consider and compare rates, connect with your local office.  

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This article is for general informational purposes only and is not to be relied upon or used for any particular purpose. Cross Insurance shall not be held responsible in any way for, and specifically disclaims any liability arising out of or in any way connected to, reliance on or use of any of the information contained in this article. The information contained or referenced in this article is not intended to constitute and should not be considered legal, insurance, accounting or other professional advice, nor shall it serve as a substitute for the recipient obtaining such advice. The views expressed in this article are that of its author and do not necessarily represent the views of Cross Financial Corp. and its subsidiaries and affiliates (“Cross Insurance”) or Cross Insurance’s management or shareholders.