If a fire breaks out in your home or a thief breaks in, your homeowners insurance policy should compensate you for lost personal possessions, from the dishes to high-value electronics. However, your insurer will likely need an itemized list of your belongings, which can be difficult to produce if your items have already been lost. Preparing and maintaining a detailed home inventory is the best way to streamline your claim and ensure you’re fairly compensated if disaster strikes. Use the following advice to get started.

How to Put Together a Home Inventory List

1. Start Small

Cataloging the entire contents of your home can be overwhelming, especially if your family has a lot of stuff. To make the project more manageable, start in a smaller space like a closet or appliance cabinet before moving on to larger areas. Taking inventory one space at a time will also help you avoid duplicating items or leaving items off the list.

2. Be Detailed

In addition to the list of belongings, your inventory should also include details like serial numbers and when the item was purchased. Clothing can be grouped together into categories, but be sure to write down the make and model of electronics, watches, and kitchen appliances.

3. Harness Modern Technology

Having a smartphone in your pocket makes the inventory process significantly easier. Just take a picture of each area, list the contents in a caption, and save them all into their own folder. Alternatively, you can take a video tour of your house, describing your possessions as you go along. There are also a variety of specialized apps available designed to make inventorying your home as easily as possible. 

4. Keep Your Inventory Updated

To ensure your homeowners insurance claim covers all of your belongings, add new purchases to the inventory immediately. Otherwise, you might have trouble getting compensation for your newest possessions if they’re lost or destroyed in a covered event.

Homeowners insurance is one of the most important investments you can make, so you need professional guidance from an agent who can tailor a policy to your needs. Since 1998, Tammy Ross Insurance has helped homeowners throughout the Charlotte, NC, area protect the things that matter most, providing customized coverage and customer service that goes above and beyond. Visit their website for more on their homeowners coverage options or call (704) 233-4981 to request your free quote today.