You never know when disaster may strike and all your personal possessions are lost or damaged. Do you know how much your coin collection is worth? Do you know how many pairs of Nikes you have? That’s where a home inventory can help. Having a home inventory can help you purchase the amount of insurance you need, get your insurance claim settled faster, verify losses for your income tax return, and keep track of all the things you’ve accumulated over the years.
It may seem like a daunting task having to create a list of every item you own, but don’t let that scare you off! There are many ways to create your list, you just have to decide what works best for you. You can go room by room, category by category (furniture, electronics, etc.), newest to oldest, or the most expensive to least expensive. You can write everything down on a notepad, or take pictures and write the information on the back of the photos, or put everything into your computer.
It’s also very important to keep a record of legal documents – birth certificates, passports, and financial documents. You can use your home inventory to record information about these papers. You can note insurance policy numbers, bank account numbers, and insurance policy contact information.
You should keep your home inventory and your important records in a safe place, such as a fireproof lock box. Keeping copies of the items outside of the home is a great idea too. You can keep them at a friend’s house or a safe deposit box. Always remember, after you make a significant purchase to add the information to your home inventory and keep it up to date.