If you own a home, it's important to have a complete inventory of your belongings. You can get reimbursed for your property if it is damaged in a fire, natural disaster or theft. This can also help you to determine if the homeowner's policy is sufficient.
What is a home inventory?
A home inventory is a list of everything you own in your house, including furniture, appliances, electronics and personal items. It should be in a paper-based or digital format. Include important details like date of acquisition, model, and serial numbers. It should also be updated periodically to reflect any significant purchases you have made.
How can you best inventory your home?
It is important to keep an inventory, especially when you have high-end goods or expensive items. It's a great idea to create an inventory at least once annually and update it any time you make a major purchase, such as a new computer or TV.
You should keep your inventory updated because many insurance policies limit what they pay for. If you own expensive art or jewelry, you may have to purchase separate insurance for these items.
The task of creating a home inventory can seem overwhelming.
It's intimidating to create either a digital or a physical inventory. To make it easier to manage, it is a good idea for you to break your inventory down into smaller sections.
If you want to create a digital home inventory, for example, you should walk through each room of your house and take pictures of every item. You'll be able to quickly find items and remember their location.
You may also want to keep receipts for any items on your list. You can easily prove the worth of your belongings if you ever need to make an insurance claim. It will also help your agent and broker determine the value.
Don't Give Up if You Can't Finish Right Away
It's tempting to just give up after the initial step. Keep going and you'll soon have an accurate list of all your items.
Begin in the Kitchen. Work your way Out
To get started, it is best to focus on an organized space or room. This can be a closet, chest of drawers or a cabinet full of your most important documents.
If you have a lot of clutter, don't be afraid to throw out or donate anything that isn't useful or necessary anymore. It's a good way to free up some space and declutter your home.