Here's something most people don't think about until it's too late: if your home burned down tomorrow, could you list everything you own? Not just the big stuff like your couch and TV, but the kitchen gadgets, the clothes in your closet, the tools in your garage? Most of us would struggle. In fact, only 48% of homeowners have prepared a full inventory of their possessions. That's a problem when you need to file an insurance claim and prove what you lost.
A home inventory isn't just a nice-to-have—it's your financial safety net. When disaster strikes, whether it's a fire, theft, or flood, you'll need documentation to get fair compensation from your insurance company. Without it, you're relying on memory and guesswork, which usually means leaving money on the table. The good news? Creating a home inventory is easier than ever, thanks to smartphone apps and simple video walkthroughs. Let's walk through exactly how to protect yourself.
Why You Actually Need a Home Inventory
Think of your home inventory as evidence for your insurance claim. In 2023, homeowners filed over 5 million insurance claims, with wind and water damage being the most common culprits. When you're standing in front of your damaged home trying to remember what was in your bedroom closet, you'll understand why documentation matters. The average claim processing time hit 32.4 days in 2024—the longest since tracking began—and incomplete documentation only slows things down further.
Beyond speeding up claims, a home inventory helps you figure out if you're actually insured for enough. According to a 2024 Insurance Information Institute study, 60% of homeowners don't have adequate coverage. When you add up everything you own—from furniture and electronics to kitchenware and clothing—the total value might surprise you. That $100,000 in personal property coverage might not be enough if you're replacing everything from scratch.
The Quick and Easy Method: Video Walkthrough
If the thought of cataloging every item in your home feels overwhelming, start with this: grab your smartphone and record a video walkthrough. Seriously, that's it. Walk through every room, open closets and drawers, narrate what you're seeing, and capture everything on camera. This isn't about creating a Hollywood production—it's about having visual proof of what you owned.
While you're recording, speak clearly and mention details that matter: brand names, approximate purchase dates, and anything special about valuable items. Zoom in on serial numbers for electronics, model numbers for appliances, and designer labels on furniture. The goal is to create a visual record that jogs your memory and proves to your insurer what you had. Once you're done, upload the video to cloud storage like Google Drive or Dropbox, and keep a backup on an external hard drive stored away from your home. If your house is destroyed, you don't want your only inventory backup destroyed with it.
Level Up with Home Inventory Apps
For a more organized approach, home inventory apps make the process painless. These apps let you photograph items, scan barcodes to auto-fill product details, attach receipts, and organize everything by room or category. The best part? Your inventory lives in the cloud, so it's accessible anywhere and protected even if something happens to your phone.
Encircle is a favorite among insurance professionals because it was designed specifically for claims. You can create detailed profiles for each item with photos, receipts, warranty information, and even generate comprehensive reports to send directly to your insurer. Sortly offers a free version that holds up to 200 items—perfect for renters or people just starting out. Need something free with no limits? The NAIC Home Inventory app, created by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, lets you catalog unlimited items, scan barcodes, and export your entire inventory as a PDF.
For Apple users willing to spend a little, Under My Roof and Nest Egg offer premium features like insurance coverage analysis and barcode scanning that automatically pulls product details. These apps can even flag if you're underinsured based on the total value of your documented possessions. Think of them as a personal insurance advisor in your pocket.
What to Document and How to Store It
Focus your energy on the items that matter most. High-value possessions like jewelry, electronics, collectibles, and antiques deserve special attention. Take multiple photos from different angles, save receipts or proof of purchase, record serial numbers and model information, and note the purchase date and original price. For inherited or antique items, get an appraisal and keep the documentation with your inventory.
Don't ignore the everyday stuff, though. That collection of kitchen appliances, the power tools in your garage, the clothes in your closet—it all adds up. You don't need to photograph every fork and spoon, but capture your kitchen drawer open to show what's there. Same with your closet: a photo showing your wardrobe gives you proof of what you owned. When you're replacing everything after a disaster, even the mundane items cost money.
Storage is critical—your inventory is worthless if it's destroyed along with your home. Use cloud storage as your primary backup and keep a secondary copy on an external hard drive stored at a different location, like a safe deposit box or a trusted family member's house. Email yourself a copy or share it with your insurance agent. The point is redundancy. Multiple backups in multiple places means you'll always have access when you need it.
Keeping Your Inventory Current
Creating your inventory is half the battle—maintaining it is the other half. Make it a habit to update your inventory whenever you make a major purchase. Bought a new laptop? Take a photo of the receipt and add it to your app. Upgraded your TV? Document it immediately while you still have the box and paperwork. The fresher your inventory, the easier your life will be during a claim.
Set a calendar reminder to review your full inventory annually. This doesn't have to be a massive undertaking—just walk through your home and update anything that's changed. Did you get rid of old furniture? Remove it from your inventory. Accumulated new possessions? Add them. This annual check-in also helps you reassess whether your insurance coverage still matches your needs. As your possessions grow in value, your policy limits might need to increase, too.
What to Do with Your Inventory
Once you've created your inventory, share it with your insurance agent or store it in a place they can access if needed. Some insurance companies even have specific apps or portals where you can upload your inventory directly. This creates a record on file before any disaster happens, which can prevent disputes about what you owned.
Use your inventory to evaluate your coverage limits, too. Add up the replacement value of everything you've documented. If the total exceeds your policy's personal property limit, talk to your agent about increasing your coverage. It's better to pay a slightly higher premium now than to discover you're underinsured after a loss. And if you have particularly valuable items like engagement rings, musical instruments, or art, ask about scheduling them separately on your policy for full protection.
Creating a home inventory might not sound exciting, but it's one of the smartest things you can do to protect yourself financially. Whether you spend 30 minutes recording a video walkthrough or a few hours cataloging everything in an app, you're building peace of mind. When the unexpected happens—and it does to millions of homeowners every year—you'll be ready to file your claim quickly, accurately, and confidently. Start today, because tomorrow might be too late.
