High-Value Insurance Guide

How to Create a Home Inventory for Insurance

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Quick answer: A home inventory is a documented record of your belongings, photos, descriptions, values, and receipts, that proves what you owned and what it was worth at claim time. For a high-value home it is the difference between a full, fast settlement and a drawn-out negotiation. Building one is straightforward if you work room by room and keep it updated.

Why a Home Inventory Matters

After a major loss, the burden of proving what you owned falls on you. A thorough inventory removes the guesswork, supports a full settlement, and dramatically speeds the claims process. For high-value homes with extensive contents and valuables, it is one of the highest-leverage things you can do before a loss ever occurs.

  1. Go room by room with video and photos, capturing each space and its contents, including closets, storage, and the garage.
  2. Record the details for significant items, make, model, serial number, purchase date, and price.
  3. Gather documentation, receipts, appraisals, and certificates of authenticity for valuables.
  4. Schedule high-value items separately on a floater rather than relying on blanket limits.
  5. Store the inventory off-site or in the cloud so it survives the same event that damages your home.
  6. Update it annually and whenever you make a significant purchase.

What to Document for Each Item

  • A photo or video of the item
  • Make, model, and serial number where applicable
  • Purchase date and price, or appraised value
  • Receipts, appraisals, and certificates
  • Location within the home

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need a home inventory?
It proves what you owned and its value after a loss, supporting a full, faster settlement and removing the burden of reconstructing your belongings from memory.
What should a home inventory include?
Photos or video, item details such as make, model, and serial number, purchase price or appraised value, and supporting documents like receipts and appraisals.
How should I store my inventory?
Off-site or in the cloud, so it is not destroyed by the same fire, flood, or theft that affects your home.
How often should I update it?
At least annually, and whenever you acquire a significant new item, especially valuables that should be scheduled.

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Build Your Inventory, Then Make Sure It Is Covered

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