It’s best to know what is kept inside your home so you have one less thing to deal with while rebuilding your life should the worst happen. A home inventory is a visual and written inventory of your personal belongings. Here’s some quick guidance on how to do it.

Think about it this way. Would you rather go through the hassle of making a quick inventory of your belongings now or try to do it from memory after a catastrophe like a fire or a hurricane?

Start your home inventory with a written list of your items.

First, draft a written list of your household items. Go room to room and write down exactly what you have. Include descriptions of all furniture, electronics, and appliances. Be descriptive with each item’s information. If you have receipts on file, note the date and value of the item when you bought it. If you have serial numbers for your appliances or electronics, make a note of those as well.

Do a photo or video journal of your belongings.

Second, do a photo or video journal of your belongings, much like you do with the written list, and include copies of any receipts you might have. Send this along with the written list directly to your insurance agent. Your agent can keep this information on file in their office should you have anything disastrous happen to your home or computer, thus causing you to lose the data. If you prefer, you can also use online/mobile software to track your inventory.

Schedule high-value items.

Third, schedule high-value items on your homeowners or valuables policy. This will help ensure a better chance of getting the full value of those items. Items you should schedule, rather than lumping into your general personal property coverage, include high-value jewelry, guns, artwork, collectibles, and antiques. Scheduling items is much more affordable than you think and definitely worth the cost if you are faced with a significant loss to your home.

We can help you with how to go about making a schedule of your high-value items for your home inventory. Just give any of our team a shout. Depending on what items are on your schedule, insurance companies sometimes want a professional appraisal. If that’s needed, you can find a local appraiser at the links below.