1/3 of Americans don't know the value of their belongings. In the event that your home is damaged or destroyed from an emergency or disaster, an inventory can save you -- not only in terms of time, but also in terms of how much you'll recover from your insurance company. It’s estimated that a home inventory will help recover about 60% to 70% of your home's value from insurance companies, while those who do not keep inventories recover only about 30%.

5 Reasons For A Home Inventory

  1. Under Insured
    • Home Improvements?
    • New Possessions?
    • Will your insurance cover everything you own?
  2. Claim Reimbursement
    • Most common claims are for fire, water damage, hail or wind and disasters. Do you know what you would need to replace?
  3. Maintenance
    • Taking inventory of fixed assets can remind you of small maintenance tasks to avoid repair costs later.
  4. Moving List
    • An inventory of home items before and after a move will help if items are lost  or damaged during a move.
  5. Estate Planning
    • Planning distribution of your estate assets from your inventory list saving frustration for family later.
  • Establish an evacuation plan, travel route, and probable destination
  • Prepare an "information note" to leave on the door detailing who you are, where you have gone, where flammables are (such as lawnmower gas, ammo, chemicals - move them all into one place)
  • Take still pictures of the inside and outside of your home and belongings as a backup
  • Release or prepare to take any livestock in the area
  • If time, take video of belongings talking about items as you move about
Print Evacuation Doorhanger

Here are some examples of third party professional home inventory programs. RCPCEM does not officially sponsor any particular brand.

  • Everspruce
  • Sortly
  • Itemtopia
  • Find My Stuff (Home Inventory)

Here are some basic and practical ways to get started without an app: 

1. Start room by room

     Walk through your home and create a section (digital or paper) for each room-including closets, hallways, storage areas, garages, and sheds.

2. List your items

     Write down everything in each room—furniture, electronics, clothing, valuables, and everyday items.

3. Add details

     Include the make, model, serial number, and estimated value when possible. You can also note where and when items were purchased.

4. Save important documents

     Keep receipts, warranties, and appraisals with your inventory. Scan or photograph paper copies if you’re storing things digitally.

5. Take photos or video

     Capture each room and your belongings. A quick walkthrough video is an easy way to document everything at once.

6. Capture serial numbers

     Take close-up photos of labels or tags on electronics and appliances—this can be especially helpful for insurance claims.

7. Store it safely

     Save your inventory somewhere you can access anytime, such as cloud storage, email, or a mobile app.

8. Create a backup copy

     Keep a second copy outside your home to ensure it’s available if disaster strikes.

9. Keep it current
     Update your inventory regularly - especially after major purchases or once a year.