When you buy a house, I bet your first thought isn’t “Man I should really make an inventory list of every single item that I own”. It sounds ridiculous, right?

In the insurance world, the idea isn’t so far-fetched. Having an up-to-date record of your belongings can optimize your renters or home insurance and facilitate the process of filing an insurance claim

Trust me when I say the very LAST thing you want to be doing if your whole house has burnt down with everything you own in it is trying to recall every single item you and your family members owned. It is painstaking and adds to the extremely stressful situation you are already in, but unfortunately our Claims Department sees it happen far too often. That’s why we created some helpful tips on how to create a home inventory list.

Home Inventory Checklist:

• Start small: It’s easy to begin in a small area like your closet or garage. Then work your way around the home to complete your house. We also recommend starting with your most recent purchases which are more top of mind and working your way back to older items.

• Details matter: Describe your items by make, model, price, company, serial numbers, and more to be more specific. Another easy way to track inventory, start counting your shoes, clothing items, etc. “I have 3 pairs of jeans, 12 tops, 10 shoes, 4 jackets, and 5 handbags.” While you’re going through your home, make note of any high-ticket items. Don’t forget to make a list of your belongings that may be kept in a storage facility or outside of the home.

• Proof of purchase: Keep sales receipts, contracts, and anything else that proves proof of purchase. Everything should be stored in a safe and secure place!

Now that you’ve started your home inventory list, keep it on-going and continue to make updates, because it’s better to have a list than nothing at all.

Let technology do the work for you!

Use your phone or digital camera to create a photo album of all your belongings. Take photos of valuable items individually, as well as photos of the entire room. Label and categorize your photos so it easily accessible in the event you need to make a claim.

If you’d like to get more detailed, then start a video recording and walk around room by room describing your items. Remember to add details when talking such as describing the make, model, purchase date, etc.

If you have questions about creating a home inventory list or filing an insurance claim, call our service department at 757-448-3820 to speak to our dedicated Claims Team.