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Home Inventory
With the stress of a major or total loss, the last thing you need to worry about is making a list of your belongings. Preparing a home inventory
now could save you valuable time as well as expedite the settling of your claim.
You may not think you have enough personal property to warrant a home inventory. Even the smallest of apartments will hold thousands of
dollars of personal property. Remember, in the event of a major or total loss, you could be replacing everything in a room or home from
socks to furniture, Christmas decorations to table linens, lawnmowers to carpeting. Well, you get the idea.
The best home inventory will be a combination of a physical written list, photographs and video tape. We have included some suggestions to
help get you started. This is not a task that will be completed in a day. It will also require you to update the list from time to time to add
new purchases and delete discarded items.
- You will want to start in one room, complete that room and then move on to the next. Be sure to remember hallways, closets, basements,
attics, detached storage buildings and garages. Don’t forget to look in drawers and cabinets.
- Clothing can be grouped by category, quantity and/or overall cost. Note anything of special value.
- Video tape the outside of your home and grounds to show the general appearance and quality of your home.
- Video tape each room, closet, basement, etc. If you have a written inventory list you should have a video tape of that property. Move
slowly and deliberately.
- If you have receipts, put copies with your written list. When available, list serial number, date purchased and cost new.
- Collections and/or specialty items, such as jewelry and art, should be professionally appraised to establish their value. Such items may
need to be insured on a personal articles floater attached to your homeowners policy. Attach a copy of the appraisal to the written list.
- Take photographs of valuable items with color film. You will want to get as much detail as possible. For smaller items, photograph with a
ruler to show size.
- We have provided a form to help get you started along with a list, by room, of possible property. Also attached is a
blank form which can be completed.
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