Inventory List


Take a look around you and think about how much it would cost to replace the possessions in your home if you were hit by flood or fire. We are hoping you will never experience the disasters of losing your home and everything in it, though we want you to be prepared all the same. Use the following guide to make a formal Inventory List, and share this with your friends and neighbors, too.
Building the List

Build a record showing the description of the item, including make/model/serial number if available; the date purchased; and the cost. If you don't have a computer to record this information just get a writing tablet or an accounting journal and start your list. The important thing is to have all of this information in one, easy-to-access place.

You probably had to hunt down a few receipts in order to compile this Inventory List. Now that you have your receipts and your list, you need to figure out a safe place to keep in the event of fire. The obvious choice is to stash them away in your safe deposit box. If you don't have one, how about storing them at your brother's house, or your mother's house. In other words, it is best not to keep them at your property.

A Few Things to Remember

  1. Do you have antiques, jewelry, or other items which might need to be appraised? Now is the time, don't wait until it's too late. Once you have the items appraised be sure to record the appraiser's name, address and phone numbers somewhere on the item, if possible.

  2. When doing your electronic equipment, start in one section of the room and record everything, working from top to bottom and left to right. Be sure to open, view and record contents of drawers and cabinets, as you can easily forget how many CDs, video cassettes and other small items are there, and it adds up in a hurry.

  3. Remember to add phone equipment to your list. The newer phones can be a bit costly, and chances are you have more than one phone in your house.

  4. Make sure you record contents of all closets, you might forget you have some family heirlooms stored away. If your home or apt has a basement, attic or storage room, be sure to examine/record the contents there as well. And open things up, Grandma's jewelry might be inside a box inside a trunk. Don't take anything for granted, open it up. Who knows, maybe this would be a good time to do some spring cleaning!

  5. For those of you with access to a video camera, either your own or borrowed from a relative, it is a tremendous idea to capture the contents of your house. Use a blank tape and start filming each room, going from corner to corner, floor to ceiling. Make sure you include your furniture, the contents of your closets and drawers, your kitchen cabinets, your garage, an outside storage shed if you have one, and so on. A video camera is the easiest way to keep an overview of what you have, and be sure to update regularly.